Mortgage Strategy
23 January 2006

  • PT links with The Exchange

    23 Jan 2006

    Personal Touch has integrated its Toolbox back office and administration system with The Exchange.

  • Senior Halifax appointment

    23 Jan 2006

    Halifax has appointed Paul Chapman as national intermediary sales manager for Halifax intermediaries.

  • 2005 a good year for equity release

    24 Jan 2006

    Detailed sector analysis from Key Retirement Solutions has revealed that 2005 was a successful year for equity release with 26,654 plans worth 1.21bn being sold. Last year was also the second consecutive year in which over 1bn worth of equity release products were sold (2004: 1.4bn) and saw the number of outstanding equity release plans rise by 18% to 120,750 - positive signs of this markets potential.

  • 27,000 Child Trust Funds opened in December

    24 Jan 2006

    Statistics show 27,000 Child Trust Fund accounts were opened in December by providers that offer both the cash and stakeholder option, with net receipts into cash CTFs in December of 7.9m.

  • A product of a time-warped mind

    23 Jan 2006

    Children of a certain age (guilty as charged) will know that Doctor Who has made a magnificent comeback. The Doctor has many tools at his disposal of course, with the TARDIS being an icon of time travel.

  • A&L revises fixed rate mortgages

    23 Jan 2006

    Alliance & Leicester has cut its two-year fixed rate by 20 base points to 4.39% and repriced other fixed rate mortgages.

  • Abbey home insurance awarded five star rating

    23 Jan 2006

    Abbey has been awarded a top five star rating by Defaqto for its peace of mind home insurance, following the addition of some features to the policy.

  • Abbey publicity makes selling insurance even harder for us

    23 Jan 2006

    From Jim Gillespie As a financial adviser I have always recommended critical illness cover to my clients - more so than permanent health insurance. This had something to do with the bad press given to life companies failing to pay out on PHI claims. Sadly it appears, largely thanks to Abbey/Scottish Provident's coverage in the Financial Mail on Sunday, the same fate is to befall CI. In recent weeks two CI cases have been highlighted where Abbey/Scottish Provident have failed ...

  • Accord chat room lets brokers discuss issues

    23 Jan 2006

    Accord Mortgages has set up a chat room on its website for brokers to discuss their problems and ask the lender questions.

  • Advisers should think twice before slandering estate agents

    23 Jan 2006

    From Chris Shelton Regarding Rick Gifford's letter in the January 16 issue, what is he scared of? Is he scared of HIPs or of competition from estate agents? Why should customers not shop around to ensure that a) they are getting the best advice or b) they are getting the best mortgage? Estate agents do indeed work for the seller but in the case of mortgage advisers they work for their client in the same way Rick does. With respect to how Rick is sick of agents asking how ...

  • Alan Duncan urges lenders to act responsibly

    25 Jan 2006

    Following his visit this morning to Blackfriars Advice Centre and Southwark Credit Union, Alan Duncan, shadow secretary for trade and industry, echoed a CAB Report out this week, saying banks are merely paying lip service to their most vulnerable customers.

  • Alliance & Leicester launches secured loan product

    27 Jan 2006

    Alliance & Leicester has launched a product to bridge the gap between its unsecured personal loan and range of mortgages by introducing a secured loan into its product portfolio.

  • American Express to help AIDS sufferers with American Express RED

    26 Jan 2006

    American Express has launched American Express RED. The credit card is part of an economic initiative titled Product RED, created and launched by Bono and Bobby Shriver, Chairman of Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa designed to deliver a sustainable flow of private sector money to help to support HIV/AIDS programmes in Africa.

  • AMI publishes concerns over HIPs

    25 Jan 2006

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has today published its response to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's consultation on the introduction of Home Information Packs.

  • AMPD is up and running

    23 Jan 2006

    The Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors has formally launched.

  • B2L landlords must be more self-disciplined

    23 Jan 2006

    Landlords who spend their rental income on a lavish lifestyle could see themselves financially hit hard if the buy-to-let market takes a dive, experts are warning.

  • Bank of Scotland Mortgages launches 1m self-cert range

    23 Jan 2006

    The Bank of Scotland Mortgages is introducing 1m lending limit within its self-cert range this month, along with two fixed rates of self-cert products.

  • Big IT players will target mortgages

    23 Jan 2006

    This is a time of growing IT spend in the mortgage market and BancTec is one of the global technology players already staking its claim on a piece of the action, says Frank Eve

  • BMS launches sub-prime range

    25 Jan 2006

    BM Solutions is launching a range of sub-prime products on Friday January 27.

  • Bright Grey appoints Webline as extranet portal partner

    24 Jan 2006

    Bright Grey has appointed Webline, part of the Capita Group, as its latest extranet portal partner.

  • Bright Grey extranet live

    23 Jan 2006

    Bright Grey has gone live with its extranet, providing financial advisers with an online quote and apply capability. Over 300 applications have been received in the first four days, either direct via www.brightadviser.co.uk or via The Exchange.

  • Brits running out of time for chip and pin, warns moneysupermarket.com

    26 Jan 2006

    With the impending chip and pin deadline, moneysupermarket.com is warning that nearly a million people in the UK could be left without the ability to pay for goods at the checkout.

  • Brokers can help UK singletons to grow up

    23 Jan 2006

    Yet more evidence that you are worse off if you're single caught my eye recently.

  • Brokers don't know FTB options

    23 Jan 2006

    Brokers could be limiting the options of their first-time buyer clients because they don't know enough about schemes and initiatives designed to help them.

  • Brokers miss out on cover sales

    23 Jan 2006

    Paymentshield has advised brokers to make sure they don't continue to miss out on largely untapped protection markets.

  • Brokers must encourage innovation

    23 Jan 2006

    This week I shall look at the issue of how well developed commercial products are. In the fairly recent past, there was little choice. You went to your bank and it would offer you a variable loan linked to the base rate on a capital and interest repayment basis, probably over a maximum 15-year term. Things have improved, with innovations from the residential mortgage market creeping in, but products are still much less developed than they could be. Let's look at a few examples.

  • Building a market

    23 Jan 2006

    Creating the demand for portfolio sales - to be fair we did not invent the idea of lenders selling portfolios and whole loans to each other. That had been going on for years. But there was no liquidity in this market and no regular players. There were one-off trades that, in almost all instances, reflected the selling lenders' exit from the market, either by withdrawal or merger.Our goal was to create a market where purchasing portfolios was built into the business plans of enough ...

  • BuildLoan business doubles

    23 Jan 2006

    BuildLoan, the intermediary arm of self-build and renovations specialist BuildStore, says it saw applications for its mortgage products rose by 56% during 2005 compared with 2004.

  • c2 holds secured loan workshop

    23 Jan 2006

    c2-secured is holding a secured loan workshop in Birmingham on January 26 to tell brokers how they can maximise their income and provide clients with best advice by considering secured loans rather than remortgages. c2s sales team will explain secured loans do not require as much processing as mortgage applications, are more flexible, and turnaround times are much quicker - on average less than three weeks. Applications are processed over the phone, with brokers phoning ...

  • Call for inspectors to be independent

    23 Jan 2006

    Home inspectors should not have links with anyone involved in the sale of the property they are inspecting, the Council of Mortgage Lenders has advised the government.

  • Callcredit appoints Preston senior business consultant

    23 Jan 2006

    Leeds-based credit reference agency Callcredit has recruited Steven Preston as senior business consultant.

  • Cameron's banana challenge

    23 Jan 2006

    Prime Minister in waiting David Cameron has redefined Nimbyism with a new acronym and briefed John Gummer to put together a strategy to address the problem of housing supply - something he clearly believes John Prescott and the Barker report have failed to do.

  • Charcol predicts cuts in base rate

    23 Jan 2006

    John Charcol predicts a 5.5% rise in house prices in 2006, along with interest rate cuts.

  • Chelsea appointment

    23 Jan 2006

    Chris Maggs has joined Chelsea as intermediary sales controller. Maggs will be responsible for developing a new intermediary sales team in the south of England and raising awareness of Chelsea's product proposition.

  • Clegg Gifford launches webcam mortgage advice

    27 Jan 2006

    Clegg Gifford Private Clients is planning to capitalise on technological advancement by offering mortgage advice via a webcam.

  • Clients must learn that they need good advice

    23 Jan 2006

    While the advice process is closely scrutinised when it comes to equity release, consumer education should be high on the agenda too.

  • CML says consumer still likely to consult intermediary since regulation

    27 Jan 2006

    A survey from the Council of Mortgage Lenders examining borrowers' behaviour and attitudes to taking out a mortgage reveals borrowers are just as likely to consult an intermediary now as they were before regulation.

  • Commercial First expands

    24 Jan 2006

    Commercial First is recruiting 10 to12 underwriters to be based at its head office in Brentwood, bringing total staff numbers to over the 100 mark.

  • Complete adds Rooftop to branded lender range

    25 Jan 2006

    Complete Mortgage and Loan Services has added Rooftop Mortgages to its range of branded lenders.

  • Conflicting views on FTB activity

    23 Jan 2006

    Conflicting views on the state of the first-time buyer market have emerged from several reports out last week.

  • Consumers want commercial mortgages, says Commercial First

    23 Jan 2006

    Recent research by Commercial First among nearly 400 mortgage and loan brokers and independent financial advisers has revealed high consumer demand for commercial mortgages.

  • Coventry chooses Experian

    23 Jan 2006

    Coventry has chosen Experian for its risk management needs. The three-year deal will see the society benefiting from Experian's Delphi solution for customer management.

  • Crime watch

    23 Jan 2006

    Financial fraud is a growing problem and all players in the house buying process can play their part in combating it, says Harvey Jones

  • CurriculumVitae

    23 Jan 2006

    Name: Bob Sturges

  • Dear Delia

    23 Jan 2006

    Dear Delia My client is a housewife with no income. Her property is valued at 110,000 and her mortgage debt is 35,000. She would like to add her new husband to the mortgage, convert it to a repayment basis and raise 9,000 to consolidate debts. The husband earns 17,000 and his previous property was repossessed in 2003, when his ex-wife stopped paying the mortgage. He also had to repay 50% of a repossession shortfall of 9,000. This amount was cleared in June 2004. What are their options? ...

  • Deutsche Bank launches new lender db mortgages

    24 Jan 2006

    Deutsche Bank has today revealed db mortgages as the name of the new mortgage lender it will be launching into the UK intermediary mortgage market.

  • Docucorp offers IT product to HIP firms

    25 Jan 2006

    Docucorp has launched of an IT offering for firms seeking to provide Home Information Packs.

  • Dudgeon starts at Deutsche

    23 Jan 2006

    Bill Dudgeon, former managing director of The Mortgage Business, has officially started work at Deutsche Bank amid rumours that it may be reconsidering its plans to enter the UK mortgage market.

  • e.surv wins Cheshire contract

    23 Jan 2006

    e.surv, which was appointed by the Cheshire over five years ago to panel manage its valuation requirements, has confirmed it has won the contract again having beaten a large number of competitors.

  • ELA offers free meetings for landlords

    25 Jan 2006

    The Money Centre is actively promoting the importance of the Eastern Landlords Association for buy-to-let landlords and encouraging them to make the most of their free branch meetings.

  • em- reports good response for Scottish roadshow

    24 Jan 2006

    em- has reported a good response from the Scottish broker community following the announcement of the first dates on the 2006 em- nationwide roadshow programme.

  • Equity partners

    23 Jan 2006

    m2i, the support services solution for directly authorised firms, has entered into a partnership with the Equity Release Advisory Service. ERAS is an independent, telephone-based equity release advice centre.

  • ERAS adds Get Mortgaged to distribution

    23 Jan 2006

    The Equity Release Advisory Service is to further expand its distribution.

  • Everton's FU link was an own goal

    23 Jan 2006

    Everton FC, the football club from the blue side of Liverpool, has scored an own goal with its mortgage advertising on its website www.evertonfc. com.

  • Ex-smokers should stop coughing up

    23 Jan 2006

    Sainsbury's Bank is urging ex-smokers and the 6.1 million planning to quit this year to review their life insurance policies. Over the past five years, some 6.78 million people have given up smoking, but research by Sainsbury's shows only 26% have informed their life insurance company.

  • Few readers upset - must try harder

    23 Jan 2006

    Following the latest update on the state of mortgage networks in my article on January 9, I find myself on the receiving end of the wrath of Chris French at the Mortgage Marketing Centre and Lee Birkett of Prestbury Holdings.

  • First National and Optoma launch key relationship agreement

    27 Jan 2006

    Optoma Broker Solutions and First National, a GE Money Home Lending brand, have launched a key relationship agreement.

  • Freedom Lending appoints Bignall

    26 Jan 2006

    Mel Bignall has been appointed to the role of packager relationship manager at Freedom Lending with total responsibility for establishing and developing new relationships with packagers throughout the UK.

  • FSA continues to streamline anti-money laundering requirements

    27 Jan 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has confirmed in a policy statement that it will press ahead with streamlining its anti-money laundering requirements for firms as part of its drive to simplify the FSA Handbook and remove rules and guidance that are no longer needed.

  • FSA to streamline anti-money laundering requirements

    27 Jan 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has confirmed it will press ahead with streamlining its anti-money laundering requirements for firms as part of its drive to simplify its Handbook and remove rules and guidance that are no longer needed.

  • Future Mortgages' lies made me look bad to my client

    23 Jan 2006

    From Steve Foster Please tell me I'm not the only one having trouble with Future Mortgages, and the blatant lies being told by its staff. In one instance I was told that a case was offered on January 4. On January 5 I received a fax copy of the offer, which was presumably offered that day. The solicitor and the client never received anything so I rang again (and you have to wait at least half an hour to speak to anyone) to be told the offer had definitely gone out on January ...

  • Give your finances a health check, says CIS

    23 Jan 2006

    UK consumers should have a financial health-check at least once a year to keep pace with their hectic lifestyles and future ambitions, says the Co-operative Insurance Society.

  • Gross mortgage lending falls

    23 Jan 2006

    Gross mortgage lending fell by 6% in December to an estimated 26.3bn according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • Halifax reinforces Home Office crime rates

    27 Jan 2006

    Figures released by the Home Office on recorded crime have shown an increase in the number of street robberies between July and September last year. Vicky Emmott, senior underwriting manager at Halifax Home Insurance, says: These trends are reinforced by Halifax Home Insurance claims data which shows a 13% increase in theft claims for items stolen when customers are away from home between July and September 2005 compared to the same period in 2004."

  • Has the FSA investigation into payment protection insurance put borrowers off taking out mppi?

    23 Jan 2006

    Recent publicity has caused confusion between PPI and MPPI and this is leading clients to be more cautious about the latter, say our experts

  • Here's hoping we will learn financial lessons

    23 Jan 2006

    This week, we are taking a trip through time so fasten your seat belts - and here we are in the year 2016.

  • Hodge Equity Release appoints e.surv as panel manager

    26 Jan 2006

    e.surv has been appointed as panel manager by equity release lender Hodge Equity Release.

  • Home Buyer Systems and MortgageStream launch case management system

    23 Jan 2006

    Home Buyer Systems and MortgageStream have launched an integrated mortgage and general insurance sales and case management solution.

  • Homebuyers put confidence in housing market

    26 Jan 2006

    Homebuyers are putting their confidence in the UK housing market this year, with almost 80% expecting average UK house prices to rise over 2006, research carried out by The Homebuyer Show has revealed. Only 15% expect a fall in the average cost of a property.

  • Homes owners worse off by 10bn, says CML

    24 Jan 2006

    Fiscal policy has left home owners more than 10bn a year worse off than they were in 1994, says an article published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • IFAP helps consumers understand financial advice

    24 Jan 2006

    As part of its campaign to tackle consumer confusion around financial advice, IFA Promotion has produced a free fact sheet to explain the key facts disclosure documents, and what they mean to people seeking financial advice. The fact sheet explains in clear terms how readers can use the mandatory information covered by the two key facts documents.

  • Intelligent Finance adds three products to offset range

    25 Jan 2006

    Intelligent Finance is adding three products to its offset mortgage range from Friday January 27.

  • Internet banking security the responsibility of banks, say consumers

    23 Jan 2006

    Nearly 100% of consumers believe security for internet banking is the responsibility of banks, with 77% saying they would abandon online services if they were accountable for losses through fraud.

  • Internet Insite

    23 Jan 2006

    It's a clean sweep of ineffective websites this week. We are now coming towards the end of the alphabet but I didn't expect to be fishing around at the bottom of the barrel as well.

  • Internet plays its part in resolving debt issues

    24 Jan 2006

    With reports of increasing levels of consumer debt hitting the headlines on a weekly basis, debt solutions consultancy Thomas Charles says the single source of information that has had more impact than any other in helping consumers resolve their debt problems is the internet.

  • Ipswich appoints Mutual One as internal auditor

    27 Jan 2006

    Mutual One has been chosen by Ipswich as its internal auditor.

  • Ipswich unveils no-fees remortgage product

    23 Jan 2006

    Ipswich has launched a two-year remortgage product fixed at 4.90% with no upfront fees or extended tie-ins.

  • Is another packagers' association needed?

    23 Jan 2006

    The Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance has been at the centre of a number of rumours about the future of its membership in past few weeks.

  • Jon Pain appointed as CML chairman

    26 Jan 2006

    Jon Pain, managing director of Cheltenham & Gloucester, is the latest Council of Mortgage Lenders chairman and John Maltby, chief executive of the Kensington Group, is the CML deputy chairman. Pain succeeds Nationwides Stuart Bernau.

  • Kensington cuts its fixed rates

    23 Jan 2006

    Kensington Mortgages has cut the fixed rates on its near prime and low adverse products.

  • Knight slams rigidity of Homebuy framework

    23 Jan 2006

    Stephen Knight, executive chairman of GMAC-RFC, has raised concerns about the rigid framework of the government's Homebuy scheme.

  • Leadbay online enquiries boom

    23 Jan 2006

    On the verge of its first anniversary Leadbay says itis seeing unprecedented volumes of enquiries through its online bidding system for mortgage leads.

  • Lenders are challenged to reveal profits from cases

    23 Jan 2006

    Lenders have been challenged once again to disclose the income and profit they make from each mortgage case.

  • Lending rises

    23 Jan 2006

    Advantage Home Loans has released the results of its December index findings which represent the sub-prime mortgage sector.

  • Let's invest now in all our futures

    23 Jan 2006

    It is in everybody's interests that financial service companies get involved in programmes designed to help schoolchildren manage their money in later life, says Simon Burgess

  • MAB reveals record year

    23 Jan 2006

    Mortgage Advice Bureau has revealed 2005 was a record year for its advisers. MAB arranged over 2bn in lending over the course of the year, an increase of 35% from 2004.

  • Market Watch

    23 Jan 2006

    Swaps fell last week. Interestingly, the longer term rates came down more than the shorter term ones. We now have a rather strange situation whereby it is cheaper to borrow money over a longer period than a shorter period - the reverse is normally true. The official expression for this is that the yield curve has inverted. Economists are watching the situation carefully as recessions have followed inversions of the yield curve before now.

  • MEX changes

    23 Jan 2006

    Mortgage Express has changed the structure of its sales team.

  • Money worries make you sick

    23 Jan 2006

    Money worries are a significant cause of anxiety and stress according to GP and leading mental health expert Dr Roger Henderson, who has published a paper identifying the condition Money Sickness Syndrome.

  • Moneyfacts reveals awards shortlists

    23 Jan 2006

    Moneyfacts has revealed the shortlists for The Business Moneyfacts Annual Awards Lunch, including five mortgage related categories.

  • MORE TH>N says crime risk is shifting away from the home

    26 Jan 2006

    MORE THN is warning that the nature of crime risk is shifting, as this weeks Home Office crime figures look set to show a drop in burglary alongside a rise in street crime.

  • Mortgage Brain gets the Personal Touch

    26 Jan 2006

    Personal Touch Financial Services, one of the UK's top ten financial services networks, has exclusively chosen Mortgage Brain and the Mortgage Trading Exchange to integrate with its own point-of-sale and compliance system. The network will exclusively provide its 1,200 mortgage advisers with Mortgage Brain's broker sourcing system, which will enable them to select the best products to meet this client's needs from over 22,000 mortgages available.

  • Mortgage Choice increases proc fee on Rooftop product

    25 Jan 2006

    Mortgage Choice has increased the net procuration fee on the no minimum rental yield requirement buy-to-let product with Rooftop.

  • Mortgage Talk celebrates most profitable year ever

    23 Jan 2006

    Rotherham-based brokerage Mortgage Talk says it had its most profitable year in 2005 with some 7,500 mortgage applications placed.

  • Mortgage Times to hold roadshows and compliance clinics

    24 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Times Group has decided to embark on a series of 26 national roadshows and compliance clinics during 2006. These free events are taking place on the back of its successful 2005 roadshow campaign.

  • Mortgage Trust's new-build policy remains consistent

    23 Jan 2006

    From Paul Clampin I write to highlight an error in the article in your December 19 issue under the headline 'A fruitful year' by Martin Reynolds. While there may well be concerns over the valuation process applied to new-build properties, in particular new-build city centre flats, there has been no recent change in Mortgage Trust's lending policy in respect of such properties. In reaching a decision on any prospective security, Mortgage Trust relies on valuer comment and ...

  • MPLC launches On Demand online system

    26 Jan 2006

    Mortgages PLC is launching its On Demand online mortgage system which will be available to intermediaries 24 hours a day, seven days a week, from Monday.

  • MPLC poised for big launch

    23 Jan 2006

    Mortgages PLC is poised to unveil its new product range and online mortgage system this Friday, and says these moves will make it unrecognisable from the business it was just a year ago.

  • MPLC to switch to Bank base rate

    27 Jan 2006

    Mortgages PLC has announced that with effect from February 1 2006 all mortgage pricing will be based on the Bank of England base rate rather than a LIBOR-based standard variable rate. Additionally, the majority of interest rates have been reduced across all adverse product ranges.

  • MS is quite right to stand up for the industry against this government

    23 Jan 2006

    From Mark Cocking In response to the letter from Craig Douglas (Mortgage Strategy January 9) in which he chastises Mortgage Strategy for not being apolitical I would like to say one thing - "Baa!" Our industry is tossed between political interests, be they UK or European. We are expected to abide by whatever political principle motivates change in the industry, be it regulation or integration into a corrupt EU system. And we are not supposed to raise any questions or pass comment ...

  • MT launches packager association

    27 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Times Group has revealed it is setting up its own packaging association with the view to eventually launching its own lender.

  • Nationwide signs up to Mortgagebundles.com

    24 Jan 2006

    Nationwide has signed up to Mortgagebundles.com for an initial three-month pilot scheme.

  • Network Data freezes membership fees for 2006

    25 Jan 2006

    Network Data today announced that it will be freezing membership fees for all appointed representatives for the whole of 2006.

  • Network Data hosts first AR annual conference

    24 Jan 2006

    Network Data will be hosting its first appointed representative annual conference on February 22 at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales.

  • Network Data would not do well on a good service list

    23 Jan 2006

    From Brian Rossiter So, Network Data is ranked first again by number of appointed representatives, according to Richard Griffiths. My response is, who cares? I believe it would be near the bottom if a list of satisfactory service standards was published (data not compiled by Griffiths). Is this all this man does, gather meaningless stats? He never appears to address significant industry issues. In 2005 I carried out consultancy compliance work for a firm using Network Data. ...

  • Newcastle gives Duffy team run for money

    23 Jan 2006

    Newcastle is entering 12 runners in the ING New York City Marathon 2006 to compete with Duffy's Dirty Dozen.

  • Nick Kirwan, director of protection marketing at Scottish Widows, comments on the DWP's incapacity benefit reform Green Paper

    25 Jan 2006

    "Scottish Widows fully supports the government's aims to encourage a more positive approach to incapacity benefit - including dropping the outdated incapacity reference in favour of Employment and Support Allowance.

  • Offset borrowers could save 22,000

    23 Jan 2006

    Abbey says borrowers with an offset mortgage who overpay by 3 per day could save themselves 22,000 in interest and pay off their mortgage three and a half years early.

  • Offset on the road

    23 Jan 2006

    Premier Mortgage Service and Intelligent Finance are running a series of roadshows in the next few weeks to demonstrate to mortgage brokers the benefits of offset mortgages and show them how to sell the products effectively.

  • Online competence tool is a success

    23 Jan 2006

    The online Competence Maintenance Tool launched last week by the Institute of Financial Services and Absolutely Training had great success with over 70 demonstration requests in the first three days.

  • Overseas investment fund

    23 Jan 2006

    Mutual fund manager Fidelity International is promoting its property fund as a tax-efficient and hassle-free way of investing in property around the world from 50 per month.

  • Packagers commit to MTE

    23 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Times Group, Solent Mortgage Services and Mortgage 2000's packaging arm m2-D&P have committed to make their generic application forms available to all introducers on the Mortgage Trading Exchange.

  • Page retires from FSA

    25 Jan 2006

    Oliver Page has retired from his position as director of major retail groups and financial stability sector leader for the Financial Services Authority.

  • Parental apathy could cost the next generation dear

    23 Jan 2006

    With nearly half of Child Trust Fund vouchers still not invested, parental apathy could be seriously harming the chances of the next generation of first-time buyers.

  • Partnership Assurance launches dedicated mortgage broker service

    23 Jan 2006

    Partnership Assurance has launched a dedicated mortgage broker service and cut protection rates by up to 15%.

  • Payment proposals

    23 Jan 2006

    The government has published proposals to improve payment to firms in the construction industry.

  • Pink launches affordability directory

    23 Jan 2006

    Pink Home Loans has launched an affordability directory aimed at making life easier for busy intermediaries.

  • Play it safe with risk management

    23 Jan 2006

    Risk assessment is an important aspect of compliance with FSA regulations and senior management within firms must take the risk-based approach seriously, says Bill Warren

  • Please tell me how this deal is fair

    23 Jan 2006

    Treating customers fairly is the new buzz phrase in financial services. It is a shame it has taken such a long time to catch on. But while some lenders are getting excited about this concept and some claim to have been operating under the goody-goody umbrella for some time, others seem to be waiting until they are forced to take action.For instance, where is the fairness idea when mortgage products are designed and launched that do not look like a good option for any borrower? Surely ...

  • PMN members told BBB will not be closed down

    23 Jan 2006

    The Professional Mortgage Network has reassured members it is confident parent company Berkeley Berry Birch will not be forced to shut down by the Financial Services Authority.

  • PTFS adds Rooftop to panel

    23 Jan 2006

    Rooftop Mortgages has been added to Personal Touch Financial Services' panel of lenders.

  • RBS listens and learns from brokers

    23 Jan 2006

    Last September at the Mortgage Strategy Summit, the Royal Bank of Scotland group undertook an exercise across all its brands to gather feedback from brokers on the perception of each sector. It was interested in seeing not only how brokers perceived RBS lenders, but also what they would like to see from each brand.

  • Ref to tackle selling

    24 Jan 2006

    He's not shy of giving the red card in football and we assume Iain Williamson (right) will take a similar hardline approach in his role as sales manager for the southern region for BM Solutions.

  • Regulation to blame for drop in MPPI sales

    23 Jan 2006

    A survey by Paymentshield reveals three quarters of intermediaries experienced a drop in sales of Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance during the second half of 2005.

  • Rentokil thought to be eyeing HIP opportunity

    23 Jan 2006

    Bug exterminator Rentokil is rumoured to be thinking of expanding into the Home Information Pack market, turning its insect fighters into home inspectors.

  • Rise in rental yields bodes well for B2L sector in 2006

    23 Jan 2006

    A rise in rental yields across England bodes well for the buy-to-let market in 2006, say experts.

  • Roadshows head in right direction

    23 Jan 2006

    The roadshow is now an established event in the mortgage broker's calendar, enabling intermediaries to meet providers and gather information about product and service offerings. But over the past few years they have become much more than just sales pitches to promote companies' services. Product providers are now under pressure to add more value to each event in order to increase future sales by boosting attendee numbers.My research shows that brokers do not mind taking a day out of ...

  • Rooftop joins AMI

    27 Jan 2006

    Rooftop Mortgages is the latest lender to join the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries as an associate member.

  • Royal Mint boss steps down

    23 Jan 2006

    Gerald Sheehan, chief executive and deputy master of the Royal Mint, is leaving after four years to pursue other interests.

  • Scarborough unveils credit repair range to help debtors

    23 Jan 2006

    Scarborough is launching credit repair mortgages to help people trapped by spiralling debts.

  • SPML launches buy-to-let online mortgage

    23 Jan 2006

    Southern Pacific Mortgages Limited has launched its buy-to-let online mortgage, with three-year fixed and discounted rate options and no extended early repayment charge tie ins.

  • SPML offers online B2L deal with rate options

    23 Jan 2006

    Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited is launching an online buy-to-let mortgage with three-year fixed and discounted rate options and no extended early redemption charge tie-ins.

  • Steady growth

    23 Jan 2006

    This year is likely to be better than 2005 for the UK economy but it will not be marked by a spectacular recovery in consumer confidence, says Mark Baker

  • Stroud & Swindon replaces buy-to-let product

    24 Jan 2006

    Stroud & Swindon has withdrawn its buy-to-let 2.09% discount mortgage. The product discount was until February 28 2009.

  • Students and squatters are worst neighbours, says propertyfinder.com

    26 Jan 2006

    Forget about damp in the cellar, who lives next door can be just as important when deciding where to live, and how much to pay.

  • Survey raises concern over sub-prime and self-cert

    24 Jan 2006

    The BM Solutions One Specialist survey has found that 28% of brokers surveyed are unaware of the Financial Services Authority's reports on sub-prime and self-cert. The findings highlight a cause for concern for the industry, as the FSA's reports showed that there was room for improvement in areas such as record keeping.

  • Survey reveals positive attitude to technology among brokers

    26 Jan 2006

    Intermediaries have an increasingly positive attitude towards technology, with 89% indicating that they now use e-commerce at some point within their business process.

  • SWB appoints credit director

    23 Jan 2006

    Scottish Widows Bank has appointed Mark Thomson as credit director.

  • Swift Group appoint John Webster as CEO

    27 Jan 2006

    Swift Group, the non-conforming specialist lender based in Brentwood, Essex, has announced the appointment of John Webster as its new Chief Executive Officer from 1st February 2006.

  • Take care when selling equity release

    23 Jan 2006

    In a recent survey of AMI members, fewer than 5% said they saw equity release as a "key business opportunity in 2006". I am taking a great deal of comfort from this statistic.

  • Taylor's Tour.....

    23 Jan 2006

    January is the time for everybody involved in the motorsport industry to make their way to Birmingham for the Autosport International show at the NEC.This is the place to meet people from all over Europe and find out what's really going on in the motorsport world. I met up with a few people regarding possible drives for the coming season. One of the meetings was with the Lexus British Touring Car team, which I am hoping to test for next month.The NEC is packed with stands and ...

  • TBMC names lenders on its strategic B2L panel

    23 Jan 2006

    The Business Mortgage Company has confirmed the names of the six lenders on its buy-to-let strategic lending panel.

  • Tearing up the script will please customers

    23 Jan 2006

    Good heavens, last week I suggested a few new year resolutions that might benefit the industry and stone me, within days Lloyds TSB has adopted one of them. It's abandoning call centre scripts, Recently commissioned research reveals that customers don't like them. Now there's a surprise.

  • Thanks to The One account for speeding case through

    23 Jan 2006

    From William Watt Credit where credit is due. I received a call from The One account staff recently advising that a remortgage was due to settle that day (January 12). Given that my customers called at my office on December 23 to finalise the application, I had asked The One account and the legal team at RA Direct to treat the case as urgent. My client was due to travel abroad for 10 weeks from January 10 and obtaining his signature after that would be difficult. Given the seasonal ...

  • The Exchange launches Advisernet

    23 Jan 2006

    The Exchange has revamped its web building system called Advisernet.

  • The Exchange takes to the road to demonstrate Exweb

    23 Jan 2006

    The Exchange is once again taking to the road to demonstrate the benefits of Exwebs business service. Existing subscribers can find out how to maximise the benefit and value they get from their licences, plus find out how to qualify for additional benefits and services with a free six-month upgrade to Exweb Gold. Events are being held at:

  • The Mortgage Mole

    23 Jan 2006

    Nanny state

  • The Yorkshire hosts art exhibition

    24 Jan 2006

    The Yorkshire is set to become the first financial institution in Edinburgh to use its high street office to exhibit the work of two local artists.

  • Think about your HIP sales pitch now

    23 Jan 2006

    In the numerous conversations I have with brokers about Home Information Packs a theme keeps recurring - why should sellers approach a mortgage adviser about a HIP rather than go straight to an estate agent?

  • TMB increases commission to brokers

    23 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Business has increased commission to brokers for cases submitted through its online conveyancing platform, TMB Mover.

  • TMB launches regional roadshow tour

    27 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Business has kicked off its regional roadshow tour to highlight 2006 business plans to brokers and packagers.

  • TMP adds Rooftop to lender panel

    27 Jan 2006

    The Mortgage Partnership has added Rooftop Mortgages to its lender panel.

  • Wachovia joins race for ResCap

    23 Jan 2006

    US banking giant Wachovia is the latest name to surface in the bidding sweepstakes for Residential Capital Corporation, the holding company of GMAC Residential and its affiliates.

  • We can help fight mortgage fraud

    23 Jan 2006

    Fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK, affecting all types of business - and the mortgage industry is no exception. While everyone in the sector likes to think fraud is not a problem, lenders and brokers should be worrying about it and they must do their best to remain vigilant.

  • We must heed the voices of concern

    23 Jan 2006

    The year kicked off with a row between Which? and equity release providers. If that was round one, then last week the House of Commons was the setting for round two, and MPs were spoiling for a fight.

  • Web auction site slammed for selling fool's gold

    23 Jan 2006

    An online auction site where lenders bid for bulk business has been criticised for offering fool's gold to borrowers.

  • West Brom moves into sub-prime

    23 Jan 2006

    West Bromwich is moving into the sub-prime market with near prime, light adverse and medium adverse product ranges.

  • Which? reveals consumers confusion over fee-charging cashpoints

    24 Jan 2006

    Half of bank customers are confused about whether they can use the big four banks cashpoints for free, reveals research from Which? News.

  • Which? should listen to customers

    23 Jan 2006

    A representative of Which? should come to a client meeting to see just how responsible most financial advisers are when it comes to equity release, says Sue Read

  • Working together more efficiently

    23 Jan 2006

    In the past decade, the number of companies in the mortgage market has risen rapidly. The growth in specialist lenders, brokerage firms and third party service providers has been great for the market, helping to develop greater sophistication. But it has also increased the need for effective interaction between firms, something companies often find difficult. Firms must improve their use of technology so they can work together more efficiently.When working with third party service ...

  • Yorkshire denies merger rumours

    23 Jan 2006

    The Yorkshire and Coventry have denied rumours they are in talks about a possible merger.

  • Yorkshire launches 10-year fixed deal

    26 Jan 2006

    The Yorkshire is launching a 10-year fixed rate mortgage at 4.69%. The deal will be available in branches, online and by phone from Friday.

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