Mortgage Strategy
10 April 2006

  • NAEA picks LMS for HIPs

    10 Apr 2006

    LMS, the independent supplier of Home Information Packs, was last week appointed as the preferred supplier of HIPs for the 10,000 members of the National Association of Estate Agents, the largest organisation for estate agents in the UK.

  • Newcastle CEO to retire in June

    10 Apr 2006

    Robert Hollinshead is to take early retirement from his position of chief executive officer of Newcastle due to poor health. He will leave on June 30 and be succeeded by Colin Seccombe, currently finance director at the society.

  • 64% Say TCF is being used to police brokers

    10 Apr 2006

    Some 64% of Mortgage Strategy Online readers say the Financial Services Authority is using the Treating Customers Fairly initiative to make lenders responsible for brokers' actions. With news of the latest event to hit the market (see Mole), this week Mortgage Strategy asks: "Do you think the mortgage industry has too many awards?"

  • A crucial development in drawdown

    10 Apr 2006

    On the face of it, last week was a relatively quiet one for the equity release market. However, a crucial development took place, although it went seemingly unnoticed.

  • Accord adds to prime range

    10 Apr 2006

    Accord Mortgages is adding to its prime range. Deals include long-term fixed rate products with higher income multiples, self-cert fixes, professional and professional 100% plus fixes, along with fixed rates for borrowers requiring additional loans or product transfers.

  • Advances don't mean miracle cures

    10 Apr 2006

    Taking into account the advances in medical science in recent years, it would be easy to become complacent and expect to be treated or cured when our health fails us.

  • Advantage moves a step closer to lending

    10 Apr 2006

    Advantage Home Loans moved a step closer to launching as a lender with the appointment last week of Jeremy Duncombe, former head of sales at Platform.

  • Advantage online offer continues

    10 Apr 2006

    Advantage Home Loans is continuing to reward intermediaries who use its online tool e:valuate. Following completion of an online decision in principle request, intermediaries can take advantage of the online premium offer by receiving an additional proc fee of between 0.05% and 0.25%. The offer remains in place until the end of this month.

  • Affordability calculation reduces self-cert at Mortgages PLC

    12 Apr 2006

    Mortgages PLC says that since launching its affordability calculator it has noticed a marked reduction in the number of self-cert applications being submitted.

  • Alexander Hall clarification

    10 Apr 2006

    Mortgage Strategy would like to clarify incorrect statements about the BBC Whistleblower programme made in Rosemary Gallagher's cloumn titled 'An expos?hat surprised nobody' in the April 3 issue. Alexander Hall advisers were not filmed telling Foxtons estate agents clients could stretch themselves or disclosing client data. Alexander Hall refutes the allegations made in the programme and has asked the BBC for evidence to substantiate the claims it made.

  • AMI calls for all PPI products to be made portable

    10 Apr 2006

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is calling on payment protection insurance providers to make all PPI products portable after a survey revealed the vast majority of brokers would support such a move.

  • AMI updates fraud prevention factsheet

    12 Apr 2006

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has updated its factsheet on fraud prevention, following the announcement by the FSA of its initiative to reduce the level of mortgage fraud. The AMI factsheet gives firms tips and advice in the fight against fraud, and outlines what they should do to fight fraud in their own businesses and ensure they meet their FSA obligations. It also includes a checklist of basic questions to help firms understand and tackle fraud risks, such ...

  • B2L renovation product from CHL

    10 Apr 2006

    Capital Home Loans has launched a light refurbishment mortgage that targets landlords looking to improve the value of their portfolios.

  • Balancing act that could harm lenders

    10 Apr 2006

    In the modern mortgage market, lenders with branch networks face a dilemma.

  • Bankruptcy annulment remortgage service launches

    11 Apr 2006

    A bankruptcy annulment remortgage service has been launched by mortgage broker firm Glow Mortgages in association with the Bankruptcy Protection Fund.

  • Banks push insurance

    10 Apr 2006

    A poll by Moneyfacts.co.uk shows that 53% of consumers feel their bank has been too pushy when trying to sell insurance with loans or credit cards. The poll also shows 83% of consumers feel safer using chip and pin while 81% think online banking is secure. But 74% have seen a fall in disposable income in the past two years due to higher petrol and utility costs.

  • BBC stands by its allegations

    10 Apr 2006

    The BBC says it stands by the allegations it made in its Whistleblower programme against Alexander Hall, the mortgage broking arm of Foxtons, despite being threatened with legal action.

  • BDS kicks off its World Cup deal

    10 Apr 2006

    BDS has launched a football promotion in conjunction with its sub-prime lenders to coincide with the World Cup this summer.

  • Blemain Group appoint new marketing manager

    12 Apr 2006

    The Blemain Group of Lending Companies, specialists in sub-prime secured loans, mortgages and bridging finance have appointed Ron Bell as Marketing Manager.

  • BM Solutions refreshes sub-prime and self-cert sub-prime

    12 Apr 2006

    BM Solutions launches a new suite of three year products across its Sub-Prime and Self-Cert Sub-Prime ranges.

  • Brokers are well placed to sell HIPs

    10 Apr 2006

    It was the turn of estate agency to come under the spotlight last month, with the BBC's Whistleblower programme. It was the typical format - hidden cameras, taped conversations, shocking revelations and consumer exploitation.

  • Brokers can help educate our young

    10 Apr 2006

    It will come as a shock to many parents to learn that their teenage children are not, after all, infallible.

  • Budget changes to trust taxation

    12 Apr 2006

    The publication of the Finance Bill on April 7 shed further light on the proposals to alter trust taxation contained in the Budget on March 22 2006, in particular, the accompanying Guidance Note from HM Revenue & Customs.

  • Bulgarian Home Loans welcomes new lender

    13 Apr 2006

    BHL has welcomed its 7th lender into the Bulgarian property market.

  • Buying a house the new till death do us part

    13 Apr 2006

    Research by Alliance & Leicester Mortgages shows that one in four, 28% of single first-time buyers are putting off buying their first home until theyve met Mr or Mrs Right.

  • C2 denies targeting rival firm's personnel

    10 Apr 2006

    c2-financial has rubbished claims it is deliberately targeting its competitors in its latest recruitment campaign.Phil Jay, managing director of BDS, says vehicles in the staff car park have been targeted with leaflets advertising jobs at c2.He adds: "We're not best pleased with the ethics of this but when you have great staff you must expect these sorts of approaches from competitors."But David Wylie, managing director of c2, says the leaflet campaign is part of a general ...

  • C2 says packagers should come clean

    10 Apr 2006

    c2-financial is calling on packagers to open their books and show their financial stability as its parent group reports record profits of 142% for 2005.

  • Cerberus pays $14bn for 51% of GMAC

    10 Apr 2006

    Cerberus Capital Management, a New York-based investment fund, and two partners last week paid $14bn for 51%of General Motors Acceptance Corporation.

  • Cheltenham & Gloucester establishes presence in Northern Ireland

    12 Apr 2006

    C&G is establishing a presence in Northern Ireland for the first time in 10 years with the appointment of a Belfast-based intermediary sales manager.

  • CII reports on its most successful year

    13 Apr 2006

    The Chartered Insurance Institute is reporting that 2005 was one of the most successful years in its 109 year history with a raft of new initiatives and services backed by muscular financial performance.

  • Cobalt expands into City of London

    10 Apr 2006

    Cobalt Capital has expanded its business with the opening of a new office in the City of London.

  • Connells Group appoint group operations manager

    12 Apr 2006

    Connells have appointed Alan Ord to the newly created position of group operations manager overseeing both Connells Residential and Sequence Mortgage Business Units. Ord has significant senior management experience in the insurance industry, most recently at First Assist and Unum Provident.

  • Cost of running a home is 10,048

    10 Apr 2006

    Sainsbury's Bank estimates that the annual cost of running a home is now around 10,048.This is as much as 1,389 or 16% higher than the equivalent cost in 2004.

  • Coventry CEO retires

    13 Apr 2006

    Coventry has today revealed that Martin Ritchley will be retiring as chief executive and director of the society on June 30. Ritchley joined the Coventry as chief accountant in 1970, becoming a director in 1985 and chief executive in 1990.

  • Curriculum Vitae

    10 Apr 2006

    That would be almost joining Bassets to sell Liquorice Allsorts when AXA wouldn't let me become a broker consultant - but my boss talked me out of it.

  • D&D Homecare is signed by Tenet Quotesure

    10 Apr 2006

    D&D Homecare has been added to the Tenet Group's general insurance sourcing system Quotesure.

  • DB Launch Countdown

    10 Apr 2006

    This week sees the first external visitors to DBM House in the shape of the em-financial team, the intensive training continues and there's yet more BlackBerry confusion, says Bill Dudgeon.

  • Dear Delia

    10 Apr 2006

    Dear Delia My self-employed client earns 32,000 a year and his wife earns 4,000 a year. They have a 100,000 mortgage with no tie-ins on a property worth 155,000. They have had problems making their 500 monthly payments but have paid at least 400.

  • Details of HIPs dry run revealed

    10 Apr 2006

    The government last week revealed details of a dry run to test Home Information Packs prior to their introduction on June 1 2007.

  • Distributors must focus on profits

    10 Apr 2006

    Depolarisation should have led to a shift in distribution but instead all the players have concentrated on growing their size at the expense of profitability, says Richard Coulson.

  • Don't be blinded by the latest great idea

    10 Apr 2006

    First-time buyers are taking the plunge again according to a trading statement from Northern Rock last week. The former building society admits it is seeing a "gentle trend" with an increase in the number of first-time buyers braving that first rung of the housing ladder.

  • Don't blame valuers for giving honest answers

    10 Apr 2006

    Observant readers will have noticed that e.surv responded in the same issue to the suggestions made by an anonymous contributor to the letters pages in the March 27 issue of Mortgage Strategy that we are part of a conspiracy to downvalue properties.

  • Don't get burned in overseas hotspots

    10 Apr 2006

    When I was a kid, Bulgaria was the chief Womble. But Bulgaria is now seen more as a retirement plan or an opportunity for first-time buyers to get on the housing ladder, as investors go international.

  • Dubai property market booming

    10 Apr 2006

    HomesGoFast.com has reported an upturn in the Dubai property market, which it says is a global hot spot with stellar growth in its tourism industry and its population rising by 200,000 annually.

  • em- roundtable date announced for North West

    13 Apr 2006

    em-, has announced a date for its next roundtable event to take place on the May 11 at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

  • em-homeloans to hold roundtable in Midlands

    11 Apr 2006

    em-homeloans is to hold another of its roundtable events on May 10 at the Hinckley Island Hotel in Leicester.

  • Equifax improves credit screening

    11 Apr 2006

    With increased government focus on indebtedness, the pressure is on financial services marketers to continue to reduce the risk of making offers to those who cannot afford them.

  • Equity release could be a political issue soon

    10 Apr 2006

    In the past couple of weeks, two reports have highlighted how financially fragile our old age could be.

  • Former BBB manager joins Park Row

    10 Apr 2006

    Phil Burgess, has joined the corporate and private clients division of the Park Row Group.

  • Friend to oversee PMP expansion

    10 Apr 2006

    Kevin Friend has joined London-based packager Primrose Mortgage Processing to roll out its rebranded proposition nationwide.

  • FSA fines Deutsche Bank 6.3m

    11 Apr 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has today imposed a penalty of 6,363,643 on Deutsche Bank AG.

  • FSA fines Millfield CEO 35K

    12 Apr 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has fined Paul Tebbutt, chief executive of financial advisers Millfield Partnership Limited 35,000 for providing misleading information to the FSA in connection with an application by MPL to merge with another financial advisor group Inter Alliance. The misleading information relates to a signed letter supplied to the FSA on September 30 2004 confirming the intention of seven directors of the merged company, including Tebbutt, to provide a directors' ...

  • FSA warns on property scam

    10 Apr 2006

    The Financial Services Authority is warning lenders they could be victims of a commercial property scam as police investigate a suspected 10m fraud at The Cheshire.

  • FTBs expect to own at 30

    10 Apr 2006

    A survey of potential first-time buyers shows the average age by which they expect to buy their first home is 30, with almost 40% not expecting to own a home until they are over the age of 30.

  • Ftbs need help

    10 Apr 2006

    Despite worries about affordability the first-time buyer sector is flourishing and more of these buyers than ever are seeking advice, says Rob Clifford.

  • Future made deal a catalogue of incompetence and delay

    10 Apr 2006

    When it comes to Future Mortgages I am in the same boat as Michael Muir of Connells, Brian Melling of Mortgage2Move and probably hundreds of others.

  • Future Mortgages seems to be in a mess from its BDMs ot administration

    10 Apr 2006

    I am writing further to Brian Melling's recent letter regarding Future Mortgages (Mortgage Strategy March 27).

  • GHL announce new packaging partner proposition

    13 Apr 2006

    Guaranteed and Genesis Home Loans has launched a simplified and improved packaging network proposition as part of recent enhancements made to its overall service.

  • GHL announce new packaging partner proposition

    13 Apr 2006

    Guaranteed and Genesis Home Loans have launched a simplified and improved packaging network proposition as part of recent enhancements made to its overall service. The groups previous packaging network consisted of three separate categories, franchises, licences and satellites, and these have now been simplified to appointed representative packager partners and directly authorised packager partners.

  • GMAC-RFC lending rises

    10 Apr 2006

    GMAC-RFC's results for 2005 show a 9% rise in mortgage lending, beating the market average for the sixth year running.Mortgage trading by way of securitisation and portfolio sales increased to 6.2bn. Pre-tax profits rose to 153.2m.

  • haart estate agents prepare for record number of appointments this Easter.

    12 Apr 2006

    haart estate agents, part of Spicerhaart group the largest independent network of estate agents in the UK, is gearing up for a busy Easter weekend as it reports a 32% increase in appointments booked compared to Easter last year.

  • Halifax warns on IHT

    10 Apr 2006

    Halifax estimates that the number of properties valued at more than the 2006/07 Inheritance Tax threshold of 285,000 now stands at 1.5 million, or 8% of all owner-occupied properties. Halifax says this will nearly treble to 4.2 million properties by 2020 if the threshold is raised only in line with inflation.

  • Have your say on FSCS funding

    10 Apr 2006

    The funding of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme is under the spotlight and mortgage intermediaries should be giving their feedback on this issue, says Bill Warren.

  • HBOS joins Origo initiative

    10 Apr 2006

    Origo says it hopes to sign up more lenders to its e-standards initiative after HBOS became the 14th lender to join the industry standards body last week.

  • HIP trial had better prove successful

    10 Apr 2006

    On Friday last week the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister finally set out the details for a Home Information Pack dry run. As you should all be aware by now, the government plans to introduce HIPs to address what it calls "serious problems and delays" home buyers and sellers face when they can't get early reliable information about properties.

  • HMO licences will have limited effect

    10 Apr 2006

    Landlord Mortgages says it hopes the mandatory 1,100 licences for houses in multiple occupancy wont lead to additional draconian requirements. Lee Grandin, managing director of Landlord Mortgages, says: "Although some pundits have predicted these regulations will cause rents to rocket, I believe they will only affect selected areas of the market."

  • Home selling web service launched

    10 Apr 2006

    High street financial service firms are looking to cash in on consumer fears of dodgy estate agency practices by launching their own home selling websites.

  • Homeloan gets security certificate

    10 Apr 2006

    Homeloan Management has been awarded the certification of ISO27001 for information security. Accredited firms must adhere to international guidelines and follow globally agreed codes of best practice.

  • Infinity to spread its lending wings

    10 Apr 2006

    Infinity Mortgages plans to launch into the second charge market over the next few months.

  • Insurance customers are warned to check their cover

    10 Apr 2006

    Insurance customers are seeing their claims fall short by up to 1.2bna year, new research reveals.

  • Interest rates held at 4.5% again

    10 Apr 2006

    The Bank of England has held interest rates at 4.5% for the ninth month running. The Monetary Policy Committee reduced interest rates to 4.5% on August 4 last year.

  • Interest-only on CML radar

    10 Apr 2006

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders says it is looking closely at the consequences of interest-only mortgages as it fears many borrowers do not have suitable repayment vehicles in mind.

  • Investors gear up for A-Day

    10 Apr 2006

    Investors planning for their retirement are gearing up for A-Day when they will be able to invest in residential property through their SIPPs, reports Assetz. The property investment specialist has seen a 30% rise in enquiries regarding its residential property funds.

  • Isabelle Kassam should get her facts straight on SPASU

    10 Apr 2006

    I am writing in reference to Isabelle Kassam's article in the March 27 issue of Mortgage Strategy.

  • Islamic deals roadshow

    10 Apr 2006

    Lloyds TSB Islamic Financial Services will visit Glasgow in one of a series of events showcasing the products it offers to the Muslim community.

  • Knight attacks regulation

    10 Apr 2006

    Mortgage regulation has held back product innovation, says Stephen Knight, executive chairman of GMAC-RFC.

  • Labour to fund 500 debt advisers

    10 Apr 2006

    The government has pledged 45m over two years to recruit 500 debt advisers and help tens of thousands of people get their debts under control.

  • Landlord jailed for 42,000 tax fraud

    10 Apr 2006

    A 39-year-old man was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment on Friday, April 9 at Liverpool Crown Court, after attempting to defraud HM Revenue & Customs of over 42,000.

  • Landlords are on the licensing ball

    10 Apr 2006

    A survey by Mortgage Express shows that 59% of landlords are up to speed with the Multiple Occupancy Act. Andrew Moss, buy-to-let product manager at Mortgage Express, says: "We have asked over 2,000 landlords if they were aware of licencing and encouragingly 59% said yes."

  • Landlords efforts to improve quality of rented accomodation bear fruit

    11 Apr 2006

    The latest research from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister shows that the condition of houses in the private rented sector has consistently improved since 1996, and vulnerable households have seen the biggest improvement.

  • Leeds extends self-cert base rate tracker products

    11 Apr 2006

    Leeds has extended the end dates on its three-year tracker mortgage, which is currently at only 4.99%, with the fee freeoption at only 5.49%.

  • Lenders should thank intermediaries

    10 Apr 2006

    I'm too old for hero worship (Bob Dylan excepted) but if Sir Alan Sugar has a fan club, count me in. I'm fond of the immortal quote in his TV show The Apprentice: "Never underestimate me because you will be making a fatal error. I don't like liars, I don't like cheats, I don't like bullsh***ers, I don't like schmoozers and I don't like a*** lickers."

  • MAB advises care when considering a longer mortgage term

    12 Apr 2006

    The introduction of up to 40 year mortgage terms is illustrative of just how far house affordability has stretched out of the reach of most people.

  • MAB advises care when considering longer mortgage terms

    10 Apr 2006

    The introduction of up to 40 year mortgage terms is illustrative of just how far house affordability has stretched out of the reach of most people says the Mortgage Advice Bureau.

  • Management changes at Swift

    10 Apr 2006

    Swift Group has promoted Zena Campbell, formerly marketing manager, to the post of sales manager and Nigel Grinsted has been appointed as the group's marketing manager.

  • Manchester sign up to Trigolds ENC

    12 Apr 2006

    Manchester today announced that it has become the 15th lender supporting the Enhanced Non Conforming sourcing module on Trigold.

  • Marbella buyers risk ruin

    10 Apr 2006

    Reports in the press last week revealed that a US$1bn property scam in Marbella could mean thousands of Britons face having their holiday homes demolished.

  • Marketing Brief

    10 Apr 2006

    Support is critical in the mortgage industry. Kevin Paterson's A-Z review rates the marketing material that lenders issue to help brokers with sales and business development.

  • Marketwatch

    10 Apr 2006

    Last week, swaps reversed some of their recent increases and closed the week down.

  • MI to unveil clubs

    10 Apr 2006

    Mortgage Intelligence is to launch its exclusive 5* and 7* Elan mortgage clubs in May, offering directly authorised brokers a range of bespoke services.

  • Mint links with equity specialist

    10 Apr 2006

    Mint Financial Services has become the first network to agree a alliance with In Retirement Services, the official distributor of HSBC's equity release product.This will allow network members outsourcing their equity release clients to the specialist provider to receive full commission without compliance risks.

  • Mortgage Brain kick-off premier mortgage events at top football venues

    13 Apr 2006

    Mortgage Brain, the market-leading supplier of mortgage sourcing, point-of-sale, compliance and electronic trading solutions, is preparing for World Cup fever by kicking-off a series of free key industry events.

  • Mortgage Intelligence members save on Platforms self-cert & BTL semi-exclusives

    12 Apr 2006

    MI members can now take advantage of a 0.20% reduction off Platform's core range of three year buy-to-let fixed rate products and three year self-certification fixed rate products. Rates for buy-to-let are: 5.25% fixed until June 1 2009 BTL (up to 75% LTV), 5.35% fixed until June 1 2009 BTL (up to 85% LTV), rental calculation 125% at payrate ERC's - 6%, 6%, 5% until June 1 2009. Rates for self-cert are: 5.19% fixed until June 1 2008 Self-Cert (up to 75% LTV) 5.24% fixed ...

  • Mortgage Next offers commercial support for ARs

    11 Apr 2006

    Mortgage Next Network has launched a specialist support service for appointed representatives who want to help clients apply for commercial mortgages.

  • MT joins panel

    10 Apr 2006

    Personal Touch Packaging has appointed specialist buy-to-let provider Mortgage Trust to its lender panel.This will allow the packager to offer its members access to Mortgage Trust's MT Select range.

  • MT launches email offers

    10 Apr 2006

    Mortgage Trust has launched an email offer facility. Offerswill now be distributed via email rather than the traditional method of post. MT says this will significantly boost the speed at which the mortgage process takes place and allow intermediaries to offer better service to their clients.

  • MT sees applications hit 500m mark in March

    10 Apr 2006

    The Mortgage Times Group is celebrating after originating 500m worth of mortgage applications in March with aims to double its business figures for 2006.

  • NACFB wants all brokers to sign up to code

    10 Apr 2006

    The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers is undertaking a major recruitment drive to get all commercial brokers signed up to its Code of Practice to ensure the sector remains self-regulated.

  • NAEA recommends Spring Move for HIPs

    12 Apr 2006

    Spring Move Ltd has been recommended as one of the top providers of Home Information Packs by the National Association of Estate Agents following an investigation into the required industry standards expected of a HIP provider.

  • Networks are growing steadily

    10 Apr 2006

    The number of appointed representative firms in networks has grown steadily this year and the widely predicted spate of mergers in the sector has not yet occurred, says Richard Griffiths.

  • New director of finance at Universal

    12 Apr 2006

    North East building society Universal has appointed Angela Russell asfinance director.

  • New fixed rate products from Nationwide

    11 Apr 2006

    Nationwide announces an increase in rates on its range of fixed rate mortgages.

  • New inheritance tax rules incomprehensible to non-professionals

    10 Apr 2006

    The anticipated changes to the Inheritance Tax rules for trusts are set out in Schedule 20 of todays Finance Bill.

  • Newcastle employee gets top marks on anti-fraud course

    10 Apr 2006

    Newcastle is celebrating after one of its employees, Hazel Spence, gained the highest marks in a national anti-money laundering qualification.

  • Newly trained advisers enter market

    11 Apr 2006

    The new Advanced Certificate in Mortgage Advice and Practice was launched last year by the Institute of Financial Services having been designed to give advisers the advanced skills they need to compete in a regulated sales environment.

  • Northern Irish market hots up with launch of landmark new development

    12 Apr 2006

    The residential tower development in Belfast is being insured by Premier Guarantee.

  • NR lends more

    10 Apr 2006

    Northern Rock's net lending in Q1 2006 was 26% higher than the same period last year.NR attributes this to good gross market share enhanced by customer retention. In Q1, gross and net lending market shares were in line with those for 2005 as a whole.

  • One out of eight estate agents are HIP ignorant, says Easier2Move

    10 Apr 2006

    Research out from Easier2Move has revealed that one in eight estate agents don't have a clue what a Home Information Pack is.

  • Online conveyancing

    10 Apr 2006

    Intrinsic Financial Services Limited is the latest company to sign up to the online conveyancing system provided by Conveyancing Alliance.

  • Paymentshield in list of fastest growing firms

    10 Apr 2006

    Paymentshield has been recognised as one of the UK's 100 fastest growing companies.

  • Pink appoints regional BDM

    10 Apr 2006

    Pink Home Loans has appointed a business development manager to cover East Anglia and the Home Counties.Ross Paterson joins from Mortgage Express where he held a similar position covering the same geographical area.He has seven years' experience in the financial services sector in product development, marketing and relationship management.

  • Pink launches discount deal

    10 Apr 2006

    Pink Home Loans has launched an exclusive two-year discount deal funded by Barnsley in association with Mutual One.

  • Pink links with LifeQuote

    10 Apr 2006

    Pink Home Loans has formed a working partnership with LifeQuote, the insurance service provider.

  • Platform appointment

    10 Apr 2006

    Platform has appointed Mark Gordon head of product development. Reporting to the sales and marketing director, Gordon will manage a team of three and take responsibility for maintaining the lender's product range from prime to sub-prime to ensure Platform meets its volume and business mix objectives.

  • Platform wins

    10 Apr 2006

    Platform has scooped the prestigious Best Overall Lender prize at the 2006 Mortgage Times Awards. The ceremony was held at Claridges in London. Platform beat off competition from BM Solutions and Abbey and also landed the award for Best Product Innovator.

  • Poverty housing across Europe highlighted at ceremony in Ballymun

    11 Apr 2006

    The Lord Mayor of Dublin, councillor Catherine Byrne has dedicated four Habitat for Humanity homes in Ballymun, Dublin.

  • Press must compete for attention

    10 Apr 2006

    Mortgage publications are an important source of information and education but they can't afford to ignore the growing competition they face from the internet, says Payam Azadi .

  • RBS equity product could cost consumers too much

    10 Apr 2006

    The Royal Bank of Scotland Group's equity release product could cost consumers up to 49,000 more than the nearest comparable on the market, industry experts have warned.

  • Research the investment vehicle options

    10 Apr 2006

    With the continued growth in the buy-to-let market, landlords are being advised to consider the option of buying investment properties through limited companies.

  • Retention fees on agenda

    10 Apr 2006

    HBOS and Abbey are thought to be discussing the introduction of a retention fee for intermediaries across their product ranges.

  • Reynolds and Charge leave HBOS to join Oakwood trail

    10 Apr 2006

    In a move that shocked the industry last week Martin Reynolds, head of sales at BM Solutions, and Peter Charge, director of sales and marketing at The Mortgage Business, both quit HBOS to join the Oakwood Group.

  • Single premium policies do not protect consumers

    10 Apr 2006

    One of the most commonly heard justifications for the sale of single premium payment protection insurance is that the product protect clients against themselves. This assertion could not be further from the truth.

  • Skipton in TV ad campaign

    10 Apr 2006

    Skipton has launched an advertising campaign which sees the mutual appearing on the nation's television screens for the first time in over 15 years, as well as on outdoor posters and in the press.

  • Small firms to benefit from FSA audit changes

    10 Apr 2006

    The Financial Services Authority says its proposal to remove statutory audit requirements for small firms and appointed representatives could lead to savings of 12.9m.

  • SPML appoints new BDM for London/South

    11 Apr 2006

    Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited has appointed Matthew Calton as business development manager for London / South, reporting to regional manager Paul Lipton-Rose.

  • SPML launches near prime online product

    10 Apr 2006

    Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited has launched its near prime online mortgage as the second product in its SPML Online range, which is accessible only via SPMLs online decision in principle.

  • Standing by for specialist turf wars

    10 Apr 2006

    Specialist lenders represent a significant part of the market but they will find things tough as an increasing number of prime lenders and new entrants target their patch, says Frank Eve.

  • Strange picture of FSA art collection

    10 Apr 2006

    The third edition of Lending Strategy, out last week, lifts the lid on the 250,000 art collection owned by the Financial Services Authority and displayed at its Canary Wharf headquarters.

  • The Finance Centre in move to protect IMBs future

    13 Apr 2006

    The Finance Centre is working on a proposal to take over the mortgage packaging company IMB.

  • The Irish are waking up to mortgages

    10 Apr 2006

    I'm writing this from my parents' home on a farm - miles from the nearest pub unfortunately - in County Donegal, Ireland, where mortgages were the last thing on people's minds until recently.

  • The Mortgage Mole

    10 Apr 2006

    High Life Mole was living the high life last week at posh Chinese restaurant Hakkasan with Money Partner's Bob Sturges and Kevin Friend from Primrose Mortgage Processing.Noticing that the restaurant sold whisky at a cool 750 per glass, deputy news editor Natalie decided to try her luck and order a glass of the liquid gold but after a stern look from the bill payer, she decided against it and instead let Bob 'Wine Connoisseur' Sturges do the ordering.Shooting Stars ...

  • The Woolwich must boost its service

    10 Apr 2006

    A press release from The Woolwich recently landed on my desk proclaiming that capped rates are back.

  • Thinc destini chooses exchange portal

    12 Apr 2006

    Thinc destini says it has selected The Exchange's Exweb service to power its full range of business models, from single and multi-ties to whole of market, through both its national and network distribution channels.

  • Thinc to cull less than 100 staff

    10 Apr 2006

    The Thinc Destini Group says that considerably less than 100 staff will be culled, after industry rumours had put the number at 250.

  • Threesixty says IFAs can resume Inheritance Tax planning

    11 Apr 2006

    Threesixty, the fee-based IFA support services provider, says IFAs can now resume IHT planning for their clients following clarification of tax on trusts in the 2006 finance bill last Friday.

  • Time for action

    10 Apr 2006

    The fallout from the recent television expos?hows estate agents must be licensed and professional qualifications introduced, says Mira Butterworth

  • Time to look beyond the South-East

    10 Apr 2006

    More affordable housing is the answer to the chronic shortage of first-time buyers but this will mean stopping thinking of the South-East as the centre of the universe, says Sue Read.

  • TML Finacial Solutions appoints new director of affinity

    12 Apr 2006

    TML has appointed Adam Naylor as the affinity director to head up its sub prime mortgage division.

  • Tory HIP plan could be a vote-loser

    10 Apr 2006

    David Cameron's pledge to axe HIPs is surprising considering they will speed the house buying system and improve the lot of first-time buyers, says Paul Broadhead.

  • Tynemouth estate agents give undertakings to the OFT

    11 Apr 2006

    Two Tynemouth estate agents have been required to change their conduct and be more transparent in their dealings with consumers, following action by the Office of Fair Trading.

  • Website will help consumers find local advisers

    10 Apr 2006

    Broker Finder, a lead generation website, is soon to be launched with the intention of helping consumers find advisers in their local area.

  • West Brom drops NU link

    10 Apr 2006

    West Bromwich has be-come the latest lender to terminate its mortgage protection partnership with Norwich Union.

  • What conveyancing advice can I give first-time buyers?

    12 Apr 2006

    Things aren’t easy for first-time buyers in today’s housing market but for those taking their first step onto the property ladder, brokers should try to make the process as simple and stress free as possible.

  • Whatever happened to true market valuations?

    10 Apr 2006

    "The property has been downvalued." This is a phrase I am sure all brokers have heard on more than one occasion. The phrase means the death of many a deal and the hopes of many a client well and truly dashed.

  • Whitechurch AR enquiries surge

    10 Apr 2006

    The Whitechurch Network says it is seeing the biggest increase in enquiries to join its mortgage network since regulation.The network puts the surge down to recommendations from its appointed representatives. It says not only is it receiving enquiries from directly authorised brokers but also from members of existing mortgage and IFA networks.

  • Will the conservatives' pledge to scrap home information packs be a vote-winner?

    10 Apr 2006

    Our experts are sharply divided on the merits of the Tory pledge, with one saying it is misguided and the other saying it will appeal to voters.

  • Wills service

    10 Apr 2006

    Just Wills is offering a free review service to brokers for any of their clients worried about how changes in the latest Budget will affect their wills. David McMaster, managing director of Just Wills, says: "The Budget has caused confusion. People don't know whether they need to rewrite their wills."

  • Wolton takes on senior surveyors

    10 Apr 2006

    Wolton Commercial, a division of Wolton Chartered Surveyors, has made two key appointments to expand the business. It has recruited Giles Cooper and David Linsley as senior commercial surveyors.

  • Word on the Street

    10 Apr 2006

    This year is predicted to be the year of the lender, with several new firms expected to make a big impact on the market when they launch. But how much does the man on the street know and understand about the different types of lenders, and does this play a part when they choose which lender to use? So this week Mortages Strategy asks...Which type of mortgage lender will you choose?Ben Houston, 23, sales assistant Barclays has been loyal to me and when ...

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