Mortgage Strategy
23 June 2008

  • Secured adds GB to bridging panel

    23 Jun 2008

    Southend-based master broker Secured Solutions has added GB Finance Group to its panel of bridging lenders. Brokers can now access a range of GB's products via Secured, which employs consultants to help with enquiries and applications.

  • A&L launches 5.98% two year tracker

    27 Jun 2008

    Alliance & Leicester has launched today a new two year tracker mortgage product at 5.98%.

  • Abbey survey reveals buying still cheaper than renting for most

    27 Jun 2008

    A survey from Abbey has revealed buying remains cheaper than renting for most UK consumers despite the downturn in the housing market.

  • Accord shows brokers support with policy changes

    25 Jun 2008

    Accord Mortgages is making changes to its policy in a bid to reinforce its target business while at the same time showing support to the intermediary market.

  • AHIPP attacks idea of voluntary HIPs

    23 Jun 2008

    The Association of Home Information Pack Providers has hit out at the Carsberg Review of Residential Property's proposal that HIPs should be made voluntary.

  • AHIPP calls for councils to be clear on access

    23 Jun 2008

    The Association of Home Information Pack Providers is calling on local authorities to outline the access private firms will have to properties in terms of assessment.

  • AIM suspends Prestbury

    27 Jun 2008

    Prestbury Holdings has been suspended from the Alternative Investment Market having breached its six month limit on firms filing their annual results.

  • AMI launches blog

    23 Jun 2008

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has launched a blog to keep members informed about the trade body's activities.

  • AMI rejig sees Farr depart

    23 Jun 2008

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries unveiled a raft of changes last week including the departure of director Richard Farr and the appointment of a policy director.

  • AMI’s warning to brokers over structured products

    23 Jun 2008

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has warned its members about a potential conflict of interest when selling mortgages alongside investment products.

  • B&B refuses to open books to Resolution

    26 Jun 2008

    Investment vehicle Resolution's hopes to formalise the Bradford & Bingley takeover bid have been dashed again by the lender's refusal of access to its books.

  • B&B rejects Resolution bid

    24 Jun 2008

    Bradford & Bingley has turned down a proposal from investment vehicle Resolution which would have seen it take control of the company.

  • B&B rejects Resolution takeover bid

    24 Jun 2008

    Bradford & Bingley has today rejected a takeover bid from four major City investors led by Clive Cowdery’s acquisition vehicle Resolution.

  • B&B shares plunge 20% as Resolution withdraws offer

    27 Jun 2008

    Bradford & Bingley's share price plunged 20% on the back of Resolution's announcement that it was withdrawing its offer for the lender in response to management opposition.

  • B2L regulation plan slammed

    23 Jun 2008

    A trade body has cautioned against wrapping landlords in red tape following proposals for the buy-to-let industry to be regulated.

  • BDS gives ARs access to Simply Off Plan

    23 Jun 2008

    The BDS Mortgage Group is giving its appointed representatives access to property firm Simply Off Plan.

  • BDS offers ARs overseas property advice

    23 Jun 2008

    The BDS Mortgage Group is offering its appointed representatives access to UK and overseas property specialists Simply Off Plan.

  • Beacon rebrands B2B packaging arms

    27 Jun 2008

    Beacon has announced that their two business-to-business mortgage packagers, Beacon Mortgages Ltd and Bananas Inc Ltd, are being re-branded under the trading style “Beacon Mortgage Packaging”.

  • BoE must stay strong in testing times

    23 Jun 2008

    In its toughest test since it was granted the freedom to set interest rates, the Bank of England is fighting economic threats on all fronts.

  • Bosses in FSA firing line over business closures

    23 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority is to crack down on chief executives who pursue business strategies that lead to closures or serious failings.

  • Brokers given free Trigold access

    23 Jun 2008

    Complete Mortgage and Loan Services is offering brokers free access to the Trigold sourcing system. Brokers who introduce two or more cases a month for packaging to Complete could save over £30 a month thanks to the offer.

  • Brown is no quick fix man

    24 Jun 2008

    After a year with Gordon Brown as our prime minister one thing is certain - you don’t get any quick fixes from this man.

  • BSA survey forecasts house price falls in 2008-2009

    27 Jun 2008

    The Building Societies Association is predicting a fall in property prices over the next year based on the results of its first quarterly price tracker survey.

  • BSA wants to emphasise societies' distinctiveness, not undermine the CML

    23 Jun 2008

    Last week's leader entitled 'Undermining CML makes no sense' misunderstood the reasons for the Building Societies Association's announcement earlier this month that we intend to increase the work we do in representing building societies' mortgage interests.

  • Builder offers three-year fixed rate

    23 Jun 2008

    A house builder has launched a fixed rate mortgage amid government pleas for developers and lenders to work together to help struggling home buyers.

  • Bye bye pep

    23 Jun 2008

    A sad farewell to Pep Cipriano, marketing manager at GHL Group, who fell victim to the credit crunch last week.

  • Charcol review ends this week

    23 Jun 2008

    John Charcol is to draw its staff review to a close this week, with a conclusive board meeting scheduled for Wednesday. It has been reported that up to 50 jobs may go as part of a restructure at the brokerage.

  • CML and IMLA suffer drop in membership

    23 Jun 2008

    Lender trade bodies say they are well positioned to weather the current market storm despite dwindling membership levels.

  • Consumers expect house prices to fall by 10%

    25 Jun 2008

    Many consumers expect house prices to fall by as much as 10% by the end of the year, reveals a survey from online conveyancer Easier2move.

  • Co-operative adopts Xit2's Valuation Exchange

    24 Jun 2008

    The Co-operative Bank is now using Xit2’s Valuation Exchange to instruct all mortgage valuations following a successful trial period.

  • Co-operative launches exclusive tracker

    24 Jun 2008

    The Co-operative Bank has launched an exclusive three-year tracker mortgage, available only to its current account customers.

  • Crown hires servicing manager

    24 Jun 2008

    Crown Mortgage Management has appointed repossession specialist Kevin Hepburn as primary servicing manager.

  • Darling and CML battle over arrangement fees

    25 Jun 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has defended its members against claims by chancellor Alistair Darling that lenders are taking advantage of home owners by charging them excessive arrangement fees.

  • Deep Blue launches high-net worth range

    25 Jun 2008

    Deep Blue has launched a range of loans for high net-worth clients.

  • Don't let clients go back to the future

    23 Jun 2008

    Who could forget the recession of 1992? Businesses went bust, the property market crashed causing negative equity and many individuals lost their homes.

  • Don't trust experts on house prices

    23 Jun 2008

    I live by a motto - never trust an expert. There's a notion nagging at the back of my mind that the opinions of experts - be they on education, health or house prices - are usually based on imprecise or flawed science. After all, we seem to see a new education, health or housing horror story every day.

  • Dual pricing culprits should be named and shamed

    23 Jun 2008

    I'm sorry to bring up the subject of dual pricing again but in the past few months the number of mortgage products has been falling and rates have been rising but some lenders are still offering better deals in their branches than through brokers. They should be named and shamed.

  • Dual pricing leads broker to quit

    23 Jun 2008

    Another broker has quit the market because of pressures including dual pricing, uncooperative lenders and increased regulation.

  • Duffy joins Mortgageforce as consultant

    25 Jun 2008

    Kevin Duffy has joined mortgageforce as a consultant as the West Brom-owned franchise operation undertakes a strategic review to bolster its position in the market.

  • Economists predict plunge

    23 Jun 2008

    More than 55% of UK economists expect an 11% to 20% plunge in house prices over the next two years.

  • Eco-towns could evolve into eco-slums, says LGA

    26 Jun 2008

    Eco-towns could evolve into eco-slums, warns a report by the Local Government Association.

  • edeus offers Newcastle 50:50 product

    27 Jun 2008

    Brokers now have access to the Newcastle’s new 50:50 balanced FTSE account via edeus.

  • EMoneyfacts appointment

    23 Jun 2008

    EMoneyfacts.co.uk has appointed Edward Payne as head of sales. He joins from Southern Pacific Personal Loans.

  • Endeavour says no to new business

    23 Jun 2008

    Endeavour Personal Finance is no longer accepting new secured loan applications. EPF specialises in providing secured personal loans and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HFC Bank, which is part of HSBC Group.

  • Ensuring home improvements pay off

    23 Jun 2008

    Summer's here and the garden greenery is shooting up. While waiting for the kick-off of Euro 2008 recently I managed to get to grips with our garden, much to the delight of my wife who had been gently nudging me in its direction for a few weeks.

  • Estate agent hits back at AHIPP accusation

    23 Jun 2008

    A former president of the National Association of Estate Agents has rubbished claims that estate agents cut corners on the provision of Home Information Packs.

  • Evaluate steps up compliance support

    23 Jun 2008

    Evaluate Technologies has stepped up its compliance support to mortgage intermediaries by further enhancing its mortgage comparison matrix.

  • Evaluate steps up compliance support

    23 Jun 2008

    Evaluate Technologies has stepped up its compliance support by improving its mortgage comparison matrix.

  • FBI fraud sting sees 400 charged

    23 Jun 2008

    In the US more than 400 people have been charged for mortgage fraud as a result of Operation Malicious Mortgage. The FBI and the Department of Justice conducted the investigation between March 1 and June 18.

  • Fees and rates spiral in 18 months

    23 Jun 2008

    Average arrangement fees on three-year tracker deals have surged by 121% in the past 18 months, research by Defaqto.com reveals. The website adds that the average two-year fixed rate deal has jumped from 5.42% to 6.71% over the same period.

  • Fitch praise for HML servicing standards

    27 Jun 2008

    Fitch Ratings has affirmed HML’s servicer ratings at 2+ for prime and 2+ for sub-prime.

  • Flexible benefits

    23 Jun 2008

    In difficult market conditions flexible products can help customers maintain financial control while benefiting brokers and lenders too, says Mark Skinsley

  • Forced sales to come on the market, says Cluttons

    25 Jun 2008

    Cluttons is predicting that forced sales will begin making an appearance on the London market in the coming months as home owners come off fixed rates.

  • Former NR director calls for probe

    23 Jun 2008

    Lawyers investigating Northern Rock's previous management team should explore why it took it so long to reveal the bank's dire predicament to the market, says a former NR director.

  • Free access to sourcing system for Paradigm members

    23 Jun 2008

    Members of Paradigm Mortgage Services are set to gain free access to the Minute Man sourcing system courtesy of em- financial and Open Door Solutions.

  • Fresh round of job cuts hit industry

    23 Jun 2008

    Another wave of job cuts hit the mortgage industry last week as 90 staff were either axed or threatened with redundancy.

  • FSA bans three east London brokers

    23 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has banned three east London brokers for submitting false documents to support mortgage applications.

  • FSA launches PPI comparison table

    23 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has launched free, impartial comparison tables for payment protection insurance on its consumer website.

  • FSA launches PPI comparison tables

    23 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has launched free, impartial comparison tables for payment protection insurance on its consumer website.

  • FSA PPI tables confusing claims British Insurance

    24 Jun 2008

    The Financial Servcies Authority's Payment Protection Insurance tables confuse rather than empower consumers says British Insurance.

  • full frontal

    23 Jun 2008

    Last week Mole got a glimpse into life behind closed doors in the offices of a certain media company as revelations emerged during a spot of relaxation at a spa day in Sopwell House, St Albans, courtesy of our friends at Bradford & Bingley.

  • Fuzzy rules are a pain for brokers

    23 Jun 2008

    Principles-based regulation leaves too many grey areas for brokers and the FSA doesn't provide any simple answers to resolve inconsistencies, says Sue Read

  • GB Finance secures funding

    26 Jun 2008

    GB Finance has secured further bank funding to cope with the increase in business volumes.

  • GB Finance secures funding

    26 Jun 2008

    GB Finance has secured further bank funding to cope with the increase in business volumes.

  • GEMHL clients get arrears advice

    23 Jun 2008

    GE Money Home Lending has linked up with the Consumer Credit Counselling Service. Customers who contact GEMHL with mortgage problems will be given the option of referrals to CCCS' mortgage advice centre.

  • GEMHL confirms staff cuts

    27 Jun 2008

    A spokesman from GE Money Home Lending has confirmed that the firm will be cutting staff to adapt to projected changes in demand within the mortgage market.

  • Government told to increase housing target for 2020

    26 Jun 2008

    The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit is calling for the government to increase its housing target for 2020 to 3.48m from the previous 2.95m.

  • Government urged to increase housing target

    26 Jun 2008

    The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit is calling for the government to increase its housing target for 2020 to 3.48m from the previous 2.95m.

  • haart reports stabilisation in London house prices

    27 Jun 2008

    House prices are beginning to stabilise as the average London house price decreased by just 0.25% last month, falling from £249,211 to £248,642 in June, estate agency haart says.

  • Hamptons see 40% rise in capital's rental stock

    26 Jun 2008

    Residential agent Hamptons International is seeing a marked increase in available rental properties across the capital with a 40% rise in rental stock.

  • Have you read your procedures manuals lately?

    25 Jun 2008

    With the Financial Services Authority aiming their sights clearly on directly authorised and small firms, are you confident everything is as it should be?

  • HBOS confident about future

    23 Jun 2008

    HBOS expects a strong performance for the rest of the year as trading and retail business continues to support the group. It says its arrears performance is robust and in line with expectations.

  • History, tradition and mortgages

    27 Jun 2008

    History and tradition play a massive part in the British way of life. We are all rightly proud of our heritage.

  • Hoax email alleges FT Partners has shut

    23 Jun 2008

    FT Partners has assured members that it is open for business after false reports that the network was going into liquidation.

  • Holding out for a hero to rescue brokers and clients

    23 Jun 2008

    In the past few years we have seen lenders coming up with mortgage products so complicated that even us brokers had trouble understanding them.

  • House sellers admit defeat and drop prices

    23 Jun 2008

    House sellers are being more realistic about the price they can achieve for their property, reports Rightmove.

  • How to make your e-marketing click

    23 Jun 2008

    Email marketing is becoming increasingly important to brokers so they should learn some techniques to ensure the recipients get the message, says Sally Laker

  • Igroup cuts LTVs on secured loans

    23 Jun 2008

    Igroup has cut maximum LTVs on secured loans. For its Xpress O range, the maximum LTVs are now 75% for employed and 70% for self-employed and self-cert applications. On its Xpress one and two ranges, the maximum LTV has been reduced to 70%.

  • IMLA and the CML pair up on lender IT survey

    25 Jun 2008

    The seventh annual 2008 Benchmark Study on Lender Intermediary Technology has launched today to assess how UK mortgage lenders use technology to automate the broker lending process.

  • In a fix

    27 Jun 2008

    Those kind and gentle folk at Moneyfacts have released information that has been leaped upon by a hungry media pack that the average fixed rate is now over 7%.

  • In the Hot Seat

    25 Jun 2008

    Tony Machin is chief executive officer of Freedom Finance, and has recently become the new deputy chairman of the Association of Finance Brokers. He talks to Loan Distributor about his plans for the trade body, and his views on the secured loan market.

  • Industry support for TCF website

    23 Jun 2008

    Networks, clubs and packagers are banding together to keep the industry clean by promoting a compliance website for brokers.

  • It is time to reverse MPPI's decline

    23 Jun 2008

    MPPI has had a bad press but as economic conditions worsen, brokers have a duty to inform clients about the importance of such protection, say MMS' John McClay and John Prust

  • It's good to talk, says FSA

    23 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has called on small firms to step up communications with the regulator to help build trust.

  • It's official: Brokers don't have to recommend direct deals

    24 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has told the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries that brokers do not have to recommend specific direct products to clients.

  • KRS sees 250% rise in referrals

    24 Jun 2008

    Key Retirement Solutions has seen a 250% rise in referrals received from IFAs, mortgage brokers and mutuals from the start of 2008 until this week, compared to the same period last year.

  • Lenders making it impossible to meet TCF obligations

    23 Jun 2008

    I am writing to register my disgust with what I've just been told by Woolwich.

  • Lenders using fees to maintain margins

    24 Jun 2008

    Lenders are using fees to maintain margins as valuation fees range from anything up to £400 for the same property, reveals analysis from Mform.co.uk.

  • Let them eat cake

    23 Jun 2008

    More news from publisher Anna Ruddock, who embroiled herself in what's being called the Great Cake Giveaway.

  • Lib Dems point to Stamp Duty gap

    23 Jun 2008

    Research from the Liberal Democrats has revealed Stamp Duty revenue could plummet by as much as £6.3bn if house prices fall by 20%. The research adds that commercial property deals have halved this year, with prices down 15%.

  • LifeSearch welcomes PPI comparison tables

    26 Jun 2008

    LifeSearch claims the Financial Services Authority's new comparison tables for payment protection insurance may help to drive down the cost of PPI.

  • Loans etc experience record growth

    25 Jun 2008

    Loans etc has experienced record growth in broker registrations in the last three months.

  • LSE and Lehmans to launch trading platform

    26 Jun 2008

    The London Stock Exchange is teaming up with investment bank Lehman Brothers to launch an asset trading platform.

  • LV= MPPI gets five stars from Defaqto

    23 Jun 2008

    Defaqto has awarded LV=’s Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection product a five-star rating from Defaqto.

  • Marathon Money 23June 2008

    23 Jun 2008

    Mortgage Strategy brings you a rundown of the industry figures putting their bodies on the line in September's Berlin Marathon to raise money for charity

  • Market watch 23 June 2008

    23 Jun 2008

    Jonathan Cornell is taking a well deserved break so you are stuck with me this week.

  • Martin Reynolds takes on PMS role

    23 Jun 2008

    Premier Mortgage Service's new corporate director has been given a remit to develop alternative income streams for the mortgage club.

  • Mayfair Bridging joins Commercial 1’s panel

    24 Jun 2008

    Mayfair Bridging has joined Commercial 1’s panel and is looking to increase its sales force to cope with demand.

  • Mayfair Bridging to increase sales force

    24 Jun 2008

    Mayfair Bridging has joined Commercial 1’s panel, and is looking to increase its sales force to cope with demand for the products.

  • Media myth

    27 Jun 2008

    A survey I chanced upon recently from Zurich UK Life stated that 21% of the public in the UK believe that the credit crunch is a media-created myth.

  • Money Partners announces broker panel

    23 Jun 2008

    Money Partners has revealed the broker partners it will work with under plans to limit direct access to its new product range.

  • Moneysupermarket.com closes packaging arm

    26 Jun 2008

    Moneysupermarket.com is closing its packaging business M2 d&p, its branded lender, Abacus, and its white label mortgage club, 1st Source Direct.

  • Mortgage 2000 staff put under consultation

    26 Jun 2008

    Moneysupermarket.com has put an undisclosed number of staff at Mortgage 2000 under consultation.

  • Mortgage approvals drop to record low

    24 Jun 2008

    The number of new mortgage approvals for house purchase plunged to a record low of 27,968 during May, figures from The British Bankers’ Association reveal.

  • Mortgage Express cuts distribution

    24 Jun 2008

    Mortgage Express has cut its distribution and is believed to be dealing with only five packagers.

  • Mortgage Express cuts distribution

    24 Jun 2008

    Mortgage Express has cut its distribution and is believed to be dealing with only five packagers.

  • Most brokers think diversification is a must

    23 Jun 2008

    A whopping 84% of Mortgage Strategy Online readers believe packagers will have to diversify to survive the market downturn.

  • Mutuals are rightly back in fashion

    23 Jun 2008

    I remember when Manchester United was the most hated team in the country (it still is around here - Ed), then Chelsea inherited wealth. I also recall when estate agents were considered the carbuncles on the rump of society before banks took on that mantle.

  • Network partners Loanoptions

    23 Jun 2008

    Intrinsic Financial Services has picked Loanoptions.co.uk as its partner to provide secured loans advice and placement services to the network's 1,200 broker members.

  • New Century ends as loans go bad

    23 Jun 2008

    In this third edited extract from his new book Chain Of Blame, Mortgage Strategy's US editor Paul Muolo takes a look at Wall Street's Holy Roller of REITs and the fall of New Century

  • Newcastle to recruit 500 staff

    23 Jun 2008

    Newcastle has recruited 50 staff as part of a recruitment drive to take on 500 employees after opening a new office, Cobalt 21, in north Tyneside. The office will house its Strategic Solutions business.

  • Number of mortgage approvals falls to record low

    24 Jun 2008

    Figures from The British Bankers Association, show that in May, the number of new mortgage approvals fell to just 28,000, a record low.

  • One man's loss, another man's gain

    26 Jun 2008

    It’s hard to find the silver lining sometimes among all the negativity that seems to be surrounding the industry, but one man’s loss, is always another man’s gain.

  • Online advice portal unveiled

    23 Jun 2008

    A Teeside property investor hopes to create 40 jobs in the space of one year after launching an online mortgage firm.

  • Online ID portal to help combat fraud

    23 Jun 2008

    A new online identity verification portal has been launched that will help IFAs fight ID fraud.

  • Paradigm adds Bright Grey to panel

    26 Jun 2008

    Paradigm Mortgage Services has added Bright Grey to its dual protection proposition.

  • Paradigm adds Bright Grey to panel

    26 Jun 2008

    Paradigm Mortgage Services, the mortgage partnership proposition, has added Bright Grey to its dual protection proposition.

  • Paradigm sign up Unleash Advice

    23 Jun 2008

    Paradigm Mortgage Services, the mortgage partnership proposition, has today announced Unleash Advice Partnership as the latest network to sign up as Partner members.

  • Pink adds Money Partners to its packaged panel

    23 Jun 2008

    Pink Home Loans has added Money Partners to its packaged lender panel.

  • Pink adds Money Partners to packager panel

    23 Jun 2008

    Money Partners has been added to the Pink Home Loans packager panel.

  • PMP resigns from PMPA

    24 Jun 2008

    Premier Mortgage Packagers has resigned as a member of the Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance following the appointment of insolvency practitioners at that firm late last week.

  • PPI tables adding up to trouble

    25 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Authority released its Payment Protection Insurance comparison tables this week, which prompted a mixed reaction from the market.

  • Prices crisis

    23 Jun 2008

    Beleaguered lenders want brokers to understand that there's more to pricing mortgages than following the base rate, says Mark Skinsley

  • Probably the best review in the world

    23 Jun 2008

    From adversity comes opportunity, which is why Mortgage Strategy wholeheartedly supports the recommendations made by Sir Bryan Carsberg to regulate the buy-to-let industry.

  • PTP Northern Ireland appoints BDM

    23 Jun 2008

    PTP Northern Ireland has appointed Louise Johnston as business development manager.

  • Qatar Investment and China Development invest millions in Barclays

    25 Jun 2008

    Barclays has issued 169 million shares at a discount price of 269p for sale to several institutional shareholders including sovereign wealth funds Qatar Investment Authority and China Development Bank.

  • Rachel Bancroft leaves KGB Packaging

    23 Jun 2008

    Rachel Bancroft, managing director of KGB Packaging, is to step down, and Magnus Duke will take over as sole director and owner of the company.

  • Rachel Bancroft leaves KGB Packaging

    23 Jun 2008

    Rachel Bancroft has stepped down from her position of managing director of KGB Packaging.

  • RBSIP improves rental cover

    23 Jun 2008

    RBS Intermediary Partners has launched an improved rental cover requirement of 110% for its NatWest buy-to-let mortgages with a maximum LTV of 75%. Fast-track processing will be available for sub-75% LTV applications.

  • Rental demand rises 41% in May

    24 Jun 2008

    Demand for rental housing rocketed 41% year-on-year in May, reveals research from estate agent Your Move.

  • Rental yields highest for two years

    23 Jun 2008

    Paragon Mortgages has revealed rental yields have hit highest levels for more than two years, in its latest buy-to-let index.

  • Rental yields hit highest level in two years

    23 Jun 2008

    Paragon Mortgage’s latest buy-to-let index shows that rental yields have hit highest levels for more than two years

  • Repossession victims could get council loans

    24 Jun 2008

    City of York Council is thought to be working on a scheme that will offer loans to local residents facing repossession.

  • Resolution claims support of rebel shareholders

    27 Jun 2008

    The momentum behind Resolution’s funding proposal for Bradford & Bingley has gathered pace as rebel shareholders back the plan from entrepreneur Clive Cowdery.

  • Rumours over push for Prestbury chairman's removal

    23 Jun 2008

    Rumours are rife that Prestbury chief executive Lee Birkett has called for the removal of Conservative shadow minister Francis Maude as network chairman along with non-executive director David Anderson.

  • S&P downgrades three lenders

    23 Jun 2008

    Standard & Poor's has downgraded the outlook for Britannia, HBOS and the Yorkshire following a review. The ratings of Nationwide, Barclays, Lloyds TSB, Alliance & Leicester and the Royal Bank of Scotland were affirmed by S&P.

  • S&S appoints change manager

    23 Jun 2008

    Stroud & Swindon has appointed Kim Massey as senior manager of business change. After spending several years as a chartered management consultant Massey held several customer-facing roles in service organisations.

  • Saffron chief executive joins BSA council

    25 Jun 2008

    Andy Golding, chief executive of Saffron, has been elected to the council of the Building Societies Association.

  • Saffron chief executive joins BSA council

    25 Jun 2008

    Andy Golding, the chief executive of Saffron has been elected to the council of the Building Societies Association.

  • Secured Solutions partners with Link on bridging

    23 Jun 2008

    Master broker Secured Solutions has added Link Lending to its panel of bridging providers.

  • Select offers bridging loans

    23 Jun 2008

    The Select Partnership is offering commercial and development finance including bridging loans.

  • SMS brokers test webcam service

    23 Jun 2008

    Solent Mortgage Services is to embark on the second test phase of its Porthole technology, which allows brokers to do business with the packager via webcams. The service will be offered to 20 SMS brokers. Once they have connected their webcams to its system, they will be able to speak to the SMS team directly.

  • South-East prices up, says website

    23 Jun 2008

    SmartNewHomes. com has reported house price growth across London and the South-East in May. It says prices in London rose by 7.5% from April and 9.5% compared with May 2007.

  • Stephen Knight appointed chairman of Cicero Consulting

    23 Jun 2008

    Cicero Consulting, a financial services public policy consulting group, has appointed Stephen Knight, former chairman of GMAC-RFC, as its non executive chairman. Knight will continue as executive chairman of Checkmate Mortgages and joins Cicero in a non executive role to lead the company’s expansion plans. Cicero offers three major public policy offerings, including , Cicero Consulting, Cicero Forum, which offers financial sector event and conference management.

  • Stephen Knight joins Cicero Consulting as non-exec chairman

    23 Jun 2008

    Stephen Knight has been appointed non-executive chairman of policy consulting group Cicero Consulting.

  • Strawberries and cream

    27 Jun 2008

    A shock spike in retail sales during May — they jumped by 3.5% — has triggered renewed fears about interest rate rises, which would hit consumers and borrowers even harder just when they least need it. But I don't think this will be the case.

  • Students bolster demand in UK towns

    27 Jun 2008

    Students are boosting rental demand in university towns across the UK.

  • Sub-6% deals on the way out

    23 Jun 2008

    Fixed rate mortgages below 6% are set to disappear in the coming weeks after dramatic swings in the money markets, Mform.co.uk predicts.

  • Survey to reveal FSA's performance

    24 Jun 2008

    The Financial Services Practitioner Panel has launched its biannual performance assessment survey of the Financial Services Authority.

  • Swift cuts master broker panel

    23 Jun 2008

    Swift has trimmed its master broker panel to keep its secured loans offering afloat. It refuses to reveal the size of the cut but says the changes have allowed it to continue lending.

  • Target takes on Picture Financial loan book

    26 Jun 2008

    Target Loan Servicing will service the Picture Financial secured loan portfolio.

  • Target takes on Picture loan book

    26 Jun 2008

    Picture Financial is believed to have stopped trading, with Target Loan Servicing taking on its £1bn loan portfolio.

  • Tenants better placed to handle rises in cost of living

    27 Jun 2008

    Research from MoneyExpert.com has revealed that tenants are better placed to weather the credit crunch storm than homeowners.

  • TFC Homeloans available on Mortgage Brain

    23 Jun 2008

    TFC Homeloan's products are now available on Mortgage Brian Premier. The specialist mortgage distributor, which is part of the Orbiter Group of companies, has made is products available on Trigold for a number of years but has now taken the decision to expand the exposure to its product range by partnering with Mortgage Brain. Andrew Brown, managing partner at TFC, says: “Mortgage Brain is currently the sourcing system of choice for many brokers and networks. We had been ...

  • The Home Portal launches training sessions

    24 Jun 2008

    Online property marketing toolkit The Home Portal is running a series of sessions to train brokers to become agents of the service.

  • The new e-commerce environment

    23 Jun 2008

    The e-commerce environment is set to change rapidly over the next few years as a result of the upheaval in the intermediary mortgage market created by the global credit crunch and the increasing pressure of regulation.

  • The tabloid scaremongers will reap what they sow

    23 Jun 2008

    In last week's Marketwatch, Jonathan Cornell was right to criticise the national press for its scaremongering about a housing market crash.

  • Three seconds to comply

    23 Jun 2008

    Those crazy kids at Northern Rock certainly know how to put a smile on brokers' faces.

  • Time to get switched on to MPPI sales

    23 Jun 2008

    The Competition Commission's recent report on sales of payment protection insurance has made the product a hot topic again. But when looking at PPI, it is important to consider some of the wider economic issues that have affected its development.

  • TMBC to make job cuts

    25 Jun 2008

    The Mortgage Business Company is making an unspecified number of staff cuts because of the credit crunch.

  • TMBC trims workforce

    25 Jun 2008

    The Mortgage Business Company is making an unspecified number of staff redundant in response to the drawn out nature of the credit crunch.

  • TMW launches customised broker site

    23 Jun 2008

    The Mortgage Works has relaunched its intermediary website to enable brokers to customise it to their individual needs.

  • Two-year fixed rate breaks 7% barrier

    25 Jun 2008

    The average rate for two-year fixed rate mortgages has broken the 7% barrier, says Moneyfacts.co.uk.

  • UBS undertakes business model review

    26 Jun 2008

    UBS is thought to be undertaking a review of its business model following $37.4bn in write-downs and credit losses.

  • Unleash Partnership signs up to Paradigm

    23 Jun 2008

    Paradigm Mortgage Services, the mortgage partnership proposition, has signed up network Unleash Advice Partnership as a partner member.

  • Ups and downs of being a surveyor

    23 Jun 2008

    Chartered surveying isn't an easy sell as a career in a credit crunch environment but as long as consumers buy and sell property surveyors will always be in demand, says Simon White

  • Value of brokers is proved yet again

    23 Jun 2008

    Consumers are turning to brokers in increasing numbers despite dual pricing, which is good news for them because they stand to save about £2,000 a year in the process, says Drew Wotherspoon

  • We are not undermining CML, says BSA chief

    23 Jun 2008

    The Building Societies Association says its plan to expand its mortgage services will not undermine the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • We said no to dual pricing and have kept our promise

    23 Jun 2008

    I've been interested to read pundits saying that lenders with branch networks will always favour their own distribution channels. I don't believe this is true.

  • What do you think of the Carsberg Review?

    23 Jun 2008

    Robin Marcus, director, Easier2MoveThis review is a doubleedged sword. On the one hand, we support the regulation of estate agents and the need for more information at the start of transactions but the call for Home Information Packs to be voluntary is an error. It is too early to call them a failure.

Poll

Should the Financial Conduct Authority be more intrusive than the Financial Services Authority?

Current Issue

Lending Zone
petitions
debate
Define Advice
Advanced search