How Will the New Mortgage Guarantee Scheme Affect the Market?

The Government has recently announced a new mortgage guarantee scheme. Here we’ll explain how it works and what it might mean for the property market.

What is the new Mortgage Guarantee Scheme?

The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme is an official scheme where the government backs mortgages that are larger than a bank or building society may be willing to offer.

In practical terms, this means that buyers who can’t get together a 10% deposit may be able to purchase with just a 5% deposit.

Many … Continue Reading…

Messy Neighbours Could Cost You Dear: Here’s What to Do About It

Unattractive or poorly maintained neighbouring properties can slash the selling price of a home by an average of £42,880, according to Churchill Home Insurance.

The biggest value losers are rubbish in the front garden (a possible 30% loss), too many garden ornaments or statues (28%) and broken/boarded up windows (27%). Losses range from almost £89,000 in expensive places like London to £25,000 in others.

If you have a problem with messy neighbours, here are some possible solutions.

Have a quiet chat

Sometimes neighbours … Continue Reading…

New Survey Sheds Light on How Often Brits Move Home

While some people only move a few times in their lives, for others it’s a very different story.

When it comes to moving home, how typical are you?

Are you the restless type who ups sticks every few years?

Or have you been settled in the same property for decades and have no intention of moving again, ever?

To find out how you compare with the rest of the country, take a look at the results of a new survey on how frequently people … Continue Reading…

Property Update: The Latest on Mortgages, Market Activity and Prices

New housing market data indicates that buyer interest is increasing, while prices remain resilient.

Industry analysts had plenty of numbers to crunch last month, with the Bank of England and property portal Zoopla releasing insights on the state of the economy and housing market.

Let’s look at what the figures mean for buyers and sellers.

Mortgage approvals

Perhaps the best news came from the Bank of England’s Money and Credit report, which covered activity in May.

It showed that net mortgage approvals (an indicator of … Continue Reading…

Should Mortgage Rules Be More Flexible to Help First-Time Buyers and the Self-Employed?

The financial watchdog is asking whether mortgage rules should be more flexible to help older buyers, the self-employed and reliable renters get on the property ladder.

UK society has changed dramatically over the past decade.

There have been huge shifts in the way Brits live and work and when they retire.

Meanwhile, property prices have grown faster than wages, impacting affordability.

But has the mortgage landscape kept pace with this transformation?

Or should more be done to boost access to home ownership?

The Financial Conduct Authority … Continue Reading…

Has Your Property Listing Gone Stale? Here’s How to Revive It

Is your home taking longer to sell than you’d like? It’s possible that your listing has gone stale. Here are some ideas for reviving a stale property listing.

Give your home a lift

Chances are that when you first listed your property you kept everything spick and span for viewings. But maybe, just maybe, you’ve let things slip since.

So take an objective look at your home.

Would it benefit from a spring clean?

Is some tidying or decluttering in order?

Could it do with a … Continue Reading…

June Market Update

The first six months of the year have certainly been tougher for the housing market than expected, as we began the year there was optimism that the market would be more buoyant than it has proved to be.

The general feedback we hear from both buyers and sellers relates to lack of confidence, mainly in the economy, government and issues in the wider world.  It feels that first time buyers are short in supply, reluctant to enter the market for all … Continue Reading…

New EPC Rules Now in Force: What Homeowners Need to Know

New rules on preparing Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, have just come into operation. Here’s what you need to know about EPCs going forward.

What is an EPC?

An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate.

EPCs show you how energy efficient a property is using a rating from A (most efficient, lower energy costs) to G (least efficient, higher energy running costs).

EPCs take into account factors such as how well your property is insulated, double glazing, the type of heating and even whether … Continue Reading…

Your Mortgage Interest Rate – How Is It Set?

The Bank of England will announce its latest decision on interest rates later this week. But have you ever wondered who decides what your mortgage interest rate will be? Here we’ll explain how it all works.

The Bank Rate vs the mortgage rate

The first important thing to know is the difference between the BankRate (also known as the base rate) and your mortgage rate. They’re two different things.

The Bank Rate is set by the Bank of England (BoE).

Your mortgage rate is … Continue Reading…

Eight (Property-Related) Things to Consider If You’re Expecting a New Baby

If you’re expecting a new baby, then big congrats from us. You certainly have lots to think about, including whether to move home or stay where you are. Here are our tips to help you decide.

Do you have enough space?

You might need an extra bedroom or two, and outdoor space really comes into its own when you have kids.

Now could be the ideal time to upsize and look for that perfect family house.

Sooner might be better than later

Moving with babies … Continue Reading…