Mortgage Strategy
14 April 2008

  • Debt portal adds bankruptcy service

    14 Apr 2008

    Debt Advice Portal has added bankruptcy management firm Debt Alliance to its panel. The portal says brokers using it can now offer clients unable to get mortgages access to an increased range of services.

  • G-7 and the next 100 days

    14 Apr 2008

    The meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers and central bankers in Washington over the weekend acknowledged that the downside risks to the outlook persisted “in view of the ongoing weakness in US residential housing markets” and that the turmoil in global financial markets remained challenging and more protracted than they had anticipated.

  • M2000 helps brokers keep up

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgage 2000 has added a product watch facility to its mortgage sourcing system to help brokers stay abreast of the market at a time when lenders are withdrawing deals at short notice.

  • Outsourcing tipped to grow

    14 Apr 2008

    Newcastle says the unpredictable mortgage market will lead more financial services firms to outsource services this year. The society has seen significant growth in its outsourcing arm, Newcastle Strategic Solutions.

  • US mutual gets $5bn bailout

    14 Apr 2008

    The US' largest building society, Washington Mutual, is to be bailed out with a $5bn (£2.51bn) injection from a consortium led by TPG. The 119 year old lender has reported more than $3bn in mortgage write-downs and loan losses since the start of the credit crisis.

  • A little optimism goes a long way

    18 Apr 2008

  • £290m equity released in Q1 2008

    16 Apr 2008

    More than £290m was released from UK homes in Q1 2008, reveals Key Retirement Solutions.

  • 50% profit fall at JPMorgan Chase

    16 Apr 2008

    JPMorgan Chase has revealed its Q1 profit plunged more than 50% after suffering $5.1bn (£2.5bn) in writedowns on mortgage-backed security investments.

  • A&L to cut its SVR by 0.25%

    14 Apr 2008

    Alliance & Leicester is to cut its SVR by 0.25%. This change will come into effect on April 23 for new borrowers and on May 2 for existing mortgage holders.

  • Abbey to pass on rate cut

    16 Apr 2008

    Abbey is applying last week's Bank of England base rate cut to its SVR and base-rate tracker mortgages.

  • Accord pulls deals at short notice

    14 Apr 2008

    Accord Mortgages has pulled its prime fixed and tracker rates in response to high business volumes. The lender says it gave brokers only 90 minutes' notice to avoid a spike in mortgage applications.

  • Adapting to the inevitability of change

    14 Apr 2008

    My old friend Rob Clifford, managing director of mortgageforce, was on Radio Five last week explaining to listeners how the market had got itself into a mess and what should be done to weather the storm.

  • AFB publishes secured loan customer fact sheet

    14 Apr 2008

    The Association of Finance Brokers has published a customer information fact sheet on secured loans in response to requests from its members.

  • AFB success as European Parliament adopts directive

    15 Apr 2008

    The Association of Finance Brokers has welcomed the news that the European Parliament has adopted the Consumer Credit Directive.

  • All quiet on the western front

    18 Apr 2008

    Adam Tyler, chief Executive, National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers

  • Alliance & Leicester approved to issue covered bonds

    14 Apr 2008

    Alliance & Leicester has been approved to issue up to around £8bn in covered bonds.

  • AMPD guarantees proc fees

    18 Apr 2008

    The Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors has radically altered the reporting and payment structure for members, to guarantee proc fees.

  • AMPD guarantees proc fees

    18 Apr 2008

    The Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors has radically altered the reporting and payment structure for members, to guarantee proc fees.

  • Application fees on best buy deals double

    15 Apr 2008

    Application fees on the best buy fixed-rate mortgage deals have nearly doubled in the past year, claims Mform.co.uk.

  • At last, an effort to resolve the crisis

    14 Apr 2008

    Although the weather has been topsy-turvy for the past six months, a permanent storm cloud has been hanging over the mortgage market.

  • AToM looking for eight BDMs

    15 Apr 2008

    Mortgage distributor All Types of Mortgages is looking to grow its business development team and appoint eight new BDMs and two sales managers.

  • AToM moves into bridging

    15 Apr 2008

    Mortgage distributor, All Types of Mortgages is launching AToM Bridging in association with bridging and property specialists GB Finance.

  • AToM to recruit 10 new staff

    15 Apr 2008

    All Types of Mortgages is on the hunt for eight new BDMs and two sales managers.

  • Automation rules, with a human touch

    14 Apr 2008

    I've read a good deal of comment recently about the relative merits of automated and manual underwriting.

  • B&B denies rights issue

    14 Apr 2008

    Bradford & Bingley has denied reports that it was planning to raise hundreds of millions of pounds in a rights issue this week.

  • B&B denies rights issue

    14 Apr 2008

    Bradford & Bingley has denied reports that it was planning to raise hundreds of millions of pounds in a rights issue this week.

  • B2L could thrive despite market turmoil

    14 Apr 2008

    At the beginning of 2008 it was widely predicted that turbulent times lay ahead for the mortgage industry and Q1 has certainly seen the market undergo significant changes.

  • Bank bosses go head to head with PM

    15 Apr 2008

    Bosses of the UK’s biggest banks will today hold talks with the Prime Minister in a bid to devise urgent solutions to the credit squeeze.

  • Banker says crisis over in six months

    14 Apr 2008

    John Mack, chairman and chief executive of Morgan Stanley, predicts the crisis in US sub-prime and leveraged loans could be over in six months. He says the investment bank would consider buying portfolios of mortgage assets when potential returns become attractive.

  • Base rate cut may not be reflected in deals

    14 Apr 2008

    The Building Societies Association warns that last week's 0.25% base rate cut may not be passed onto borrowers immediately.

  • BDS hosts roundtable at London Zoo

    15 Apr 2008

    The BDS Mortgage Group has urged intermediaries to ‘find a way through the trees’ by attending BDS’ very own mortgage jungle event at London Zoo.

  • BDS sees 50% growth in Q1

    14 Apr 2008

    BDS Secured Loans has seen 50% growth in its business this year. In December 2007 the lender moved into the black and this momentum has carried into Q1 2008.

  • BoE bond plan under fire

    17 Apr 2008

    The Bank of England’s plan to swap mortgage-backed securities for government bonds has come under fire this morning.

  • Borrowers urged to remain vigilant

    14 Apr 2008

    Paymentcare.co.uk is warning borrowers against becoming complacent about potential rate cuts by lenders.

  • Borrowing binge sparks fear over repossessions

    14 Apr 2008

    A law firm has warned that the increase in unsecured personal borrowing could result in a repossessions surge this year.

  • Brokers are sick of wasting time hanging on the telephone

    14 Apr 2008

    I would like to share my thoughts with Mortgage Strategy readers about the unacceptable way brokers are being treated by most lenders.

  • Brokers can help troubled borrowers

    14 Apr 2008

    Statistics from the Department for Communities and Local Government show that more than 60,000 households are under threat of repossession. If this transpired it would be a disaster for the market as well as for those affected.

  • Brokers could benefit from squeeze

    14 Apr 2008

    Soon there will be few lenders looking for new business but brokers have a vital role to play by finding the best mortgages still available to borrowers, says Sue Read

  • Brokers must tread carefully with debt management firms

    14 Apr 2008

    There’s little for brokers to feel bullish about right now but one of the few bright spots for developing new business – providing debt solutions to clients – is in danger of being hijacked by companies that have neither the expertise nor the required knowledge of the broker sector.

  • Brown lays down his agenda for lenders in News of the World

    14 Apr 2008

    Gordon Brown used the News of the World as a populist platform to lay down the government’s pre- conditions for further help to mortgage lenders but gave his approach an international dimension

  • Chase UK closes its doors

    15 Apr 2008

    Portsmouth-based packager Chase UK has today made the decision to wind down the business in the face of current market conditions.

  • Citigroup reports $5.1bn net loss in Q1

    18 Apr 2008

    Citigroup has this morning reported a net loss of $5.1bn for Q1 2008.

  • CML calls on BoE to spearhead global recovery

    14 Apr 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders is urging the Bank of England to lead a global action plan to alleviate financial market turmoil.

  • CML sets out its agenda for the mortgage summit

    14 Apr 2008

    With the G7 meeting in Washington over the weekend and a lenders summit with Alistair Darling planned for next week, CML chairman Steven Crawshaw used his address to the Council’s annual lunch in London on Friday to urge the Bank of England to lead a global action plan to alleviate turmoil in the financial markets and to lay down its position ahead of the talks.

  • Commercial First in consultation

    14 Apr 2008

    Commercial First has entered into a redundancy consultation with 50% of its staff - around 93 employees - after it suspended new lending last month. The lender says it hopes to return to the market soon but will have to reduce staffing levels in the meantime.

  • Cool reception for FTB plan

    14 Apr 2008

    Building societies claim the Prime Minister's £3m pledge to help individuals get on the pro-perty ladder will make little difference to the majority of first-time buyers.

  • Costs and benefits of ERC-free deals

    14 Apr 2008

    When considering equity release advice solutions, some options can be costly red herrings unless they are fully explored.

  • Crisis could cost $1trillion

    14 Apr 2008

    The International Monetary Fund predicts the losses resulting from the global economic crisis could hit nearly $1trillion. Its Global financial stability report suggests that what began as a liquidity crisis is now evolving into a more serious long-term problem.

  • Crunch blamed on ratings agencies

    14 Apr 2008

    Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke has blamed the credit crunch on ratings agencies and the sub-prime securities investors who believed them. He delivered the verdict as he unveiled the findings of the President's Working Group on Financial Markets.

  • Crunch forces Opus to shut Glasgow office

    14 Apr 2008

    Opus Mortgages has blamed the ongoing liquidity crisis and market downturn for the closure of its Glasgow-based operations.

  • CurriculumVitae: John Digman

    14 Apr 2008

    "I planned to join the RAF but ended up training as an accountant"

  • Darling accused of underestimating crunch risks

    14 Apr 2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling is under fire for underestimating the risks posed to the economy by the liquidity crisis.

  • Dear Delia...

    14 Apr 2008

    My client is looking to buy a house in need of renovation for £250,000. He wants the deal to be done as quickly as possible to secure the best terms from the seller and intends to refurbish it. If improved, he knows it will be worth considerably more than it is now. He anticipates a selling price of £330,000 for the improved property. What deals should he consider for buying and then improving the property?

  • Demand sees Nationwide pull deals

    14 Apr 2008

    Nationwide has blamed high demand for the withdrawal of a number of fixed rate products and the increase in the rates of other deals.

  • Different strokes from different folks

    14 Apr 2008

    London's rich architectural heritage makes surveying in the capital a pleasure because every part of the city offers properties with different styles, colours and materials, says Simon White

  • Disappointment over Chase UK exit

    15 Apr 2008

    Portsmouth-based packager Chase UK made the decision yesterday to wind down the business in the face of current market conditions.

  • Disorderly

    14 Apr 2008

    Twelve members of Nottingham’s marketing team are likely to remember a recent 40th birthday celebration forever.

  • E2M says brokers may have lost £330m

    14 Apr 2008

    Easier2move claims IFAs could have lost up to £330m during the past five years by failing to refer conveyancing services on mortgage sales.

  • EDGE V2 adds online DIP facility

    14 Apr 2008

    EDGE V2, the on-line sourcing system from Enterprise has added an online decision in principle facility, for every lender on the panel that provides online DIPs.

  • Enterprise launches online marketing tool

    14 Apr 2008

    Enterprise Group has launched an online marketing toolbox following demand from brokers.

  • Exclusive sees its applications soar

    14 Apr 2008

    Exclusive Connections received re-cord applications for membership in February.

  • Fears for market as last 100% LTV deal is pulled

    14 Apr 2008

    Brokers are warning the mortgage market will suffer following Abbey's withdrawal of the last 100% LTV deal last week.

  • Fed auction oversubscribed

    14 Apr 2008

    The US Federal Reserve's short-term auction received over $91bn worth of bids from 76 institutions last week. The central bank offered $50bn to the market.

  • Final Strait

    14 Apr 2008

    All he agony and hard work is finally over for eConveyancer’s Vanessa Blount after she ran the London Marathon yesterday.

  • Financiers urge landlords to release equity

    16 Apr 2008

    Cardiff-based property financiers Kingswood Associates is calling on landlords and businesses to release finance from their properties while there is still time.

  • Financing taskforce unveiled

    14 Apr 2008

    The Treasury taskforce that will aim to help reopen the mortgage-backed securities market will play a major role in stabilising the cost of mortgage deals.

  • Fixed rates popular, says John Charcol

    14 Apr 2008

    Nearly 65% of borrowers opted for the security of fixed rates in March, according to John Charcol's latest Mortgage Monitor.

  • Free leads on Mortgage Next's packaged business

    17 Apr 2008

    Mortgage Next is offering brokers a free mortgage lead for every mortgage case which is put through its packaging department.

  • FSA sets up team to fix NR failings

    14 Apr 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has appointed a nine-strong team to implement the recommendations made by a damning report into the Northern Rock crisis.

  • Future in secured loans rumour

    14 Apr 2008

    Future Mortgages is rumoured to have temporarily halted its secured loans business. The Citigroup subsidiary is expected to make an announcement about the rumour this week.

  • Future returns to secured loan market

    15 Apr 2008

    Following a review of its secured loan proposition, Future Mortgages has decided to stay in the secured loan market and is accepting cases again.Ian Warrilow, head of secured lending at Future says it will be making an official announcement this afternoon regarding policy changes it will be making.Warrilow says: “We are back to where we were and are now accepting applications, we have no plans to withdraw from the market at this stage, but we will be making some policy changes.”

  • G7 meets to discuss crisis

    14 Apr 2008

    The G7 group of industrialised nations met at the weekend to discuss ways of tackling the global credit crisis. The agenda included talks on the transparency of banks' exposure to risk, rules concerning credit ratings and the role of central banks.

  • GE reports 6% drop in Q1 profits

    14 Apr 2008

    General Electric reported a 6% drop in Q1 profits on Friday, a result one American pundit says indicates the beginning of a recession in the US.

  • GEMHL backs packagers

    14 Apr 2008

    GE Money Home Lending says packagers are still a big part of its business and hopes to get more of them on board to offer its igroup range. The lender says it won't cut its packaging panel and instead will work more closely with its members.

  • GEMHL slashes B2L rates

    14 Apr 2008

    GE Money Home Lending has cut the rates on its buy-to-let range.

  • GMAC-RFC cuts 280 jobs

    15 Apr 2008

    GMAC-RFC has revealed that is set to cut its workforce by 280 staff as a result of the continued market downturn.

  • Going green in UAE

    14 Apr 2008

    The world's first zero-carbon city is being built near Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.Masdar City has a development budget of US$22bn and is expected to be completed in 2016.It is a project of the World Wild-life Fund's One Planet Living programme, aimed at proving it is possible to build in a green way while improving residents' quality of life.Using only sustainable energy, Masdar will host 15,000 businesses and 50,000 residents.

  • Goldsmith beefs up sales team

    14 Apr 2008

    Goldsmith Williams has beefed up its national sales team to 15 members of staff to provide brokers and distributors with an enhanced level of service.

  • Goldsmith Williams replaces Dring

    18 Apr 2008

    Goldsmith Williams has appointed Andy Milburn, formerly of Royal Liver, to replace Alan Dring as head of marketing.

  • Good intentions sparked credit crisis

    14 Apr 2008

    Kevin Paterson takes a weekly look at the latest developments in the market and brings you what's hot and what's not in the world of mortgages

  • Gross lending up 5% in March

    18 Apr 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has revealed gross lending increased to an estimated £26.3bn in March, up by 5% from £25bn in February.

  • Have you noticed the cost of living rising since the start of this year?

    14 Apr 2008

    The Bank of England's February report on lending to individuals revealed a dramatic £2.4m rise in the value of unsecured loans in a single month. This was the highest monthly increase for five years and economists are forecasting further rises in the cost of living soon due to increasing energy and food prices. So, this week Mortgage Strategy asks...

  • HBOS to review proc fees

    17 Apr 2008

    HBOS is reviewing its proc fee levels, with Halifax’s set to tumble by 0.03% and BM Solutions’ by 0.05%.

  • Helen Hymos

    18 Apr 2008

    A recent news item in Mortgage Distributor voiced an opinion from a leading industry spokesperson that the FSA was getting tough on lender distribution, which would result in packagers being culled from lender panels. Thankfully, the report ended with this reassuring statement from the FSA: “We are doing some work into responsible lending, but we do not determine lenders' panels.”

  • HML hires director of financial control

    16 Apr 2008

    Homeloan Management has appointed Gary Talbot as its director of financial control.

  • Home Buyer Systems appoints head of outsourced compliance service

    18 Apr 2008

    Home Buyer Systems has appointed Alison Griffiths to head its outsourced compliance and monitoring system for firms and networks.

  • Homebank to expand sales team

    15 Apr 2008

    Homebank Financial Services is expanding its sales team to deal with soaring enquiring levels.

  • HomeLoan Partnership's sales show healthy increase

    17 Apr 2008

    Worthing based mortgage network, HomeLoan Partnership, is embarking on a round of business development forums in Manchester and Crawley this month as sales increase.

  • Hometrack reports 400% rise in AVM use

    15 Apr 2008

    Mortgage intelligence business Hometrack has reported a 400% increase in the use of automated valuation models so far this year.

  • Housing benefit system is nonsense

    14 Apr 2008

    A few years ago I found myself at a parliamentary breakfast at which I defined a key worker as the son or daughter of a politician, a quip that the MPs around the table found hard to digest.

  • IMF predicts price correction

    14 Apr 2008

    An International Monetary Fund report predicts a significant correction to UK pro- perty prices, which it claims are overvalued by 25% to 30%.

  • In The Hot Seat

    14 Apr 2008

    How have you adapted to the April 2008 changes to the CCA?

  • JP Morgan predicts 40,000 city job losses

    16 Apr 2008

    Analysts from JP Morgan have predicted 40,000 jobs will be lost in the city during the next two years.

  • Kensington shares funding

    14 Apr 2008

    Brokers are calling for len-ders to copy Kensington Mortgages' move to share mort- gage funding equally between brokers and packagers.

  • L&G club's DA brokers see business rise 33%

    14 Apr 2008

    Legal & General has revealed that completions by its mortgage club's di-rectly authorised brokers were up 33% in Q1 2008 compared with the previous quarter.

  • Leadpoint sees remortgage demand skyrocket

    14 Apr 2008

    LeadPoint has revealed demand for remortgage leads is continuing to soar.

  • Let's talk business

    14 Apr 2008

    Commercial self-cert is the latest sector to be hit by the credit crunch and criteria have tightened, but brokers still have an important role, says Laura Howard

  • Long-term deals are OK but Darling should stay out of it

    14 Apr 2008

    I recently read in Moneyfacts magazine that chancellor Alistair Darling believes over 35% of home owners would opt for 25-year fixed rate mortgages.

  • Majority back individual registration for brokers

    14 Apr 2008

    Last week's straw poll shows that 62% of Mortgage Strategy Online readers believe the Financial Services Authority should regulate individual brokers.

  • Mark Clinton, director at BDS Secured

    14 Apr 2008

    Mark Clinton, director at BDS Secured

  • Market watch 14 April 2008

    14 Apr 2008

    Swaps continued to fall last week but I don't remember many lenders cutting their fixed rates.

  • Merrill Lynch to cut 4,000 jobs worldwide

    17 Apr 2008

    Merrill Lynch has revealed plans to cut 4,000 jobs worldwide and a loss of $1.96bn (£1bn) in its Q1 results.

  • Mortgage Next offers free lead for completed cases

    17 Apr 2008

    Mortgage Next is offering brokers a free mortgage lead for every case put through its packaging department.

  • Mortgage Next partners Evaluate

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgage Next has partnered Evaluate Technologies to enhance its online decision in principle and application service.

  • Mortgage Next seminars deemed a success

    15 Apr 2008

    Mortgage Next seminars hosted in Edinburgh and Manchester have been deemed a success by brokers, says the firm.

  • Mortgage Next workshops prove popular

    15 Apr 2008

    Two regional broker workshops, hosted recently by Mortgage Next in Edinburgh and Manchester, have been declared a great success by intermediaries who say they have helped them identify and exploit additional income earning opportunities.

  • Mortgage:box adds First National

    14 Apr 2008

    Personal Touch Financial Services' Mortgage:box has added First National's 'Direct 2 U' range.

  • Mortgages for Business urges brokers not to overlook packagers

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgages for Business is advising brokers to make the most of packagers in the Current Market Climate Mortgage brokers struggling to place cases can save time, add value for clients and maintain client relationships if they go to the right packager says Mortgages for Business. The latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have revealed a 16 year low for new mortgage lending in February and there is no sign of this market contraction stopping in the near future. ...

  • Mortgages.co.uk teams up with KRS

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgages.co.uk has linked up with Key Retirement Solutions to help pensioners looking to take out equity release plans.

  • MPPI deal offers tailored insurance

    14 Apr 2008

    Brokers can now individually tailor customers' mortgage payment protection insurance through a new product from Paymentshield.

  • Networks could be brokers' lifeline

    14 Apr 2008

    It seems the market crisis will last for some time so brokers should put precautionary plans in place including fostering strong ties with their networks, says Sally Laker

  • NLA launches free sourcing service

    14 Apr 2008

    The National Landlords Association has launched a service that allows all landlords to source competitive buy-to-let mortgages from the most popular lenders.

  • Norton set to launch secured loan network

    17 Apr 2008

    Norton Broker Services is creating a secured loan packager network and has exclusively bought the rights to the client base of the Loan Directory Network.

  • Overseas danger

    14 Apr 2008

    Customers buying overseas aren't protected by regulation so brokers must refer them to specialists to shield them from a variety of dangers, says Jane Ayliff

  • Paymentshield to host roadshows at the races

    18 Apr 2008

    Paymentshield is hosting its 2008 broker roadshows at racecourses this May and June.

  • Perceptions are often deceiving

    14 Apr 2008

    Mark Clinton, director at BDS Secured

  • Platform integrates with Enterprise

    15 Apr 2008

    Platform has completed the first stage of its technology integration with broker services provider Enterprise Group.

  • PNG teams up with TCF Debt Solutions

    17 Apr 2008

    Premier Network Group, the mortgage network and distribution company, has linked with TCF Debt Solutions to provide a dedicated service for the provision of debt solutions.

  • Pop Strategy winner

    14 Apr 2008

    This week's winner is A. Sen, London.

  • Positive picture for networks in Q1

    14 Apr 2008

    The Q1 network table is based on the Financial Services Authority's figures as of April 10. The data shows that the top 18 networks had a positive net growth of just three appointed representative firms in the quarter.

  • Proc fee guarantee leads to 40% rise at c2

    14 Apr 2008

    Packager c2-financial says it has seen a 40% rise in broker introduced business in the first four months of 2008 as a result of its proc fee guarantee.

  • Promise Homepacks launches website

    16 Apr 2008

    Promise Homepacks has launched a website for consumers and estate agents that features a new pricing matrix.

  • PTP added to UCB Home Loans panel

    17 Apr 2008

    Personal Touch Packaging has bucked the market trend by being added to a specialist lender's panel.

  • Rate Matcher deal branded a gimmick

    14 Apr 2008

    Borrowers are likely to be left confused and disappointed by HSBC's Rate Matcher range.

  • RBS Intermediary Partners launches new two-year fixed

    16 Apr 2008

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners is launching a two-year fixed rate mortgage under its RBS brand.

  • RBS rumoured to be preparing rights issue

    18 Apr 2008

    Speculation is rife that the Royal Bank of Scotland is preparing for a rights issue to raise as much as £12bn.

  • RICS survey is bleakest for 30 years

    15 Apr 2008

    Confidence in the UK housing market plunged to its lowest level for 30 years in Q1, a survey from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors shows.

  • Rooftop Mortgages to close

    17 Apr 2008

    Rooftop Mortgages has blamed unsustainable market conditions for its decision to close today.

  • Rooftop RMBS not affected by closure, says Fitch

    18 Apr 2008

    Fitch Ratings says the recent closure of Rooftop Mortgages will not have any immediate impact on the ratings of its residential mortgage backed securities.

  • Save the FTB fund must be established

    14 Apr 2008

    First-time buyers are so endangered that I hope Sir David Attenborough bases his next series on them.

  • Senior management reshuffle at PTP

    17 Apr 2008

    Personal Touch Packaging has undergone a senior management reshuffle, to help boost its customer service team.

  • Skipton fee cashes in on market crisis

    14 Apr 2008

    Last week I pointed the finger at the dark art of spin doctoring and criticised lenders that dress up their sows' ears as silk purses. I think Skipton's announcement that the £799 arrangement fee on its SVR deals is 'relatively modest' edges into this territory.

  • Skipton takes shares in IFA

    14 Apr 2008

    Skipton has acquired a 75% shareholding in Thomson Shepherd, the IFA that trades as Coggans Wood in Edinburgh.

  • SMS creates account for broker fees

    17 Apr 2008

    Solent Mortgage Services has revealed that all commission fees earned by brokers are now being paid into a separate client bank account.

  • Stock Picker

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgage lenders were under pressure last week following the release of HBOS' March house price index.

  • Sub-prime lenders immoral, says IFA

    14 Apr 2008

    An IFA has attacked sub-prime lenders, claiming those that earn high fees from customers with bad debts could be seen as immoral. Harry Katz, principal at Norwest Consultants, says: "Bad debts used to be a cause for shame but today the government is encouraging debt and bankruptcy by removing the stigma."

  • TFC extends free legals across panel

    16 Apr 2008

    TFC Homeloans is expanding its offer of free legals and a £99 application fee on First National and Beacon remortgages.

  • TFC sees 30% increase in business

    18 Apr 2008

    TFC Homeloans, part of the Orbiter Group, has seen an increase of business of around 30% in the last month and its application volumes are now up nearly 90% since December 2007.

  • The Insider

    15 Apr 2008

    Group hugs and punctuation There’s nothing like a crisis to bring out the Dunkirk spirit. Poor old lenders have come in for a bit of stick of late, with many people crying foul about the timing of product withdrawals.

  • The regulator is failing to back brokers and needs to treat them more fairly

    14 Apr 2008

    On March 31 the BBC website carried a story entitled ‘Sub-prime buyers rely on brokers’. I hoped that it would support the work we do, particularly during these challenging market conditions. The public should be encouraged to use independent advice rather than Google.

  • Tiuta launches online case tracking

    15 Apr 2008

    Bridging lender Tiuta has launched an online case tracking system for brokers giving them instant access to the status of clients' applications.

  • TMA adds conveyancing partners

    14 Apr 2008

    The Mortgage Alliance has teamed up with CAL and Easier2Move to offer its members competitive and flexible online conveyancing services.

  • TMA links up with conveyancing firms

    14 Apr 2008

    The Mortgage Alliance has teamed up with two conveyancing partners to offer members competitive online conveyancing services.

  • TMA registers 7,000th broker

    14 Apr 2008

    The Mortgage Alliance has registered its 7,000th broker. The mortgage club says it is pleased with its growth levels at a time when it's important for brokers to choose their business partners wisely.

  • TMO folds amid reports of unpaid fees

    14 Apr 2008

    A senior employee at The Mortgage Operation claims the writing was on the wall for the firm as far back as January.

  • TMW pulls all products

    14 Apr 2008

    The Mortgage Works has pulled its entire product range. Nationwide's specialist lending arm says it took the decision to avoid climbing the best buy tables.

  • Training pack to help brokers thrive in bridging loan sector

    14 Apr 2008

    Diversification was a major concern at last autumn’s Mortgage Business Expo and continues to build momentum as the supply of core mortgage products in the residential and commercial sectors shrinks.

  • Treat clients like VIPs, says Expo

    14 Apr 2008

    Clarion Events, organiser of the Mortgage Business Expo Manchester, is urging delegates to offer clients VIP status. Exhibitors at the show, to be held on May 14 and 15, can nominate clients as VIPs, giving them access to reserved seating and wireless internet facilities.

  • Treat customers fairly with fixed price insurance deals

    14 Apr 2008

    A recent article on fixed rate mortgages (Mortgage Strategy Online April 4) indicated that borrowers would opt for long-term deals.

  • Trust crunch is the biggest threat of all

    14 Apr 2008

    First there was the global credit crunch, then the liquidity crisis and now we're facing a new threat - the trust crunch.

  • UK pessimism could be our salvation

    14 Apr 2008

    The link between the UK and the US has become integral to both cultures and the phrase 'special relationship' was first coined by Winston Chur- chill in 1945.

  • Unified approach can save the day

    14 Apr 2008

    Some say it's like the Wild West in the mortgage sector at the moment but thankfully we have our own magnificent seven.

  • Up to 20,000 city jobs may be axed

    14 Apr 2008

    Up to 20,000 jobs in the city could be axed during the next two years, says the Centre for Economic and Business Research.

  • Wacky Races

    14 Apr 2008

    Mortgage Strategy deputy editor Robert Thickett disgraced himself at last week’s mortgage market rally courtesy of HBOS.

  • Warning to PM over small lenders' survival

    16 Apr 2008

    The UK’s biggest banks and societies have warned the government that smaller mortgage lenders could be forced out of the market entirely unless it intervenes.

  • Wave modifies product range

    14 Apr 2008

    Wave has revamped its mortgage range. Its buy-to-let rental income calculations are now set at 120% of the reversion rate and its maximum loan size has fallen to 300,000. The lender has also withdrawn its near-prime rates.

  • We all deserve a pat on the back

    14 Apr 2008

    Industry professionals may have been feeling overworked and underappreciated in the past few weeks but most have been doing a fine job in trying circumstances, says Katie Tucker

  • We should be drowning in it!

    14 Apr 2008

    This time three years ago I was speculating about the wave of capital that would be released into the mortgage market in 2008 and envisaged a far livelier business environment than we are experiencing today.

  • We value brokers and promise to help them to help clients

    14 Apr 2008

    An open letter to brokers from lenders. We are sorry that the liquidity crisis is having such a profound affect on the broker market. Brokers provide us with business and we value them and want to treat them fairly.

  • White Label Money partners with SYH Charterhouse

    18 Apr 2008

    Specialist packager White Label Money has partnered with SYH Charterhouse to launch an online campaign, to provide home reversion options for introducers and their clients.

  • Will recruitment in the mortgage industry be affected by the ongoing liquidity crisis?

    14 Apr 2008

    Market turmoil is putting off quality applicants and discouraging firms from investing in new staff, say our experts

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