Mortgage Strategy
25 June 2007

  • Londoners take a broader view

    25 Jun 2007

    Londoners are top of the league when it comes to having homes abroad, research from Bank of Scotland International reveals. It says 8% of people in London own property overseas.

  • Mortgage Plus relaunch a success

    25 Jun 2007

    BM Solutions says the number of decisions in principle for Mortgage Plushave trebled since the product's relaunch earlier this month. Tim Hague, managing director of BM Solutions, says: "The response from brokers to this product has been phenomenal. Criteria changes to Mortgage Plus have meant that more brokers are using us for 125% LTV deals."

  • Swift updates its ID system

    25 Jun 2007

    Swift has revamped its electronic identification facility to allow the inputting of applicants' passport and driving licence details.

  • Whitehall unveils agency plans

    25 Jun 2007

    The government has outlined how regeneration agency Communities England will help deliver new housing. It will replace two existing agencies and will aim to boost supply to more than 200,000 new homes a year by 2016.

  • 10-Year Council Tax surge

    25 Jun 2007

    The average Council Tax bill in Britain has increased by a whopping 91% over the past decade, research from Halifax reveals.

  • 20% Of owners will sell homes for retirement

    25 Jun 2007

    One in five adults expect to have to sell their homes to finance their re-tirement, a study by Prudential has revealed.

  • A proper way for packaging

    1 Jul 2007

    When the sale of mortgages was brought under the Financial Services Authority's regulatory regime in November 2004, packagers and mortgage clubs were excluded from the new arrangements. 'Traditional' packaging activities such as arranging product exclusives, negotiating enhanced procuration fees and providing information on best product fit did not need to be regulated as they involved no direct contact between the packager and the consumer - and there was not perceived to be a need for ...

  • A vote of no confidence in HIPs

    25 Jun 2007

    Recent research shows most conveyancers don't think Home Information Packs will work in reality, but strong and consistent political support could still turn things around, says Mark Jarvis

  • Abbey reprices fixed rates

    25 Jun 2007

    Abbey has repriced its two-year fixed rates from 5.49% through its intermediary arm. And its five-year fixed rates are now available from 6.14% through all channels.

  • Advantage rejigs sub-prime range

    25 Jun 2007

    Advantage has launched a sub-prime product range including two-year fixed rates from 5.79%. Keith Dearling, managing director of Advantage, says: "We have created a range of new products that better suit the needs of today's sub- prime borrowers, including innovative criteria, competitive rates and a new name structure."

  • Advantage tops RAMP league table

    26 Jun 2007

    Advantage has been named as the top lender of the Regulatory Association of Mortgage Packagers’ May league table.

  • AFB re-elects all board members

    1 Jul 2007

    The Association of Finance Brokers has conducted the first elections to its board, with David Burrows, Steve Teague and Stuart Johnson all re-elected unopposed in their current positions representing small, large and extra large firms respectively.

  • Agreed prices falling says Your Move

    29 Jun 2007

    Your Move’s index of agreed prices fell by 0.97% on average in June to £183,017 from £184,619 in May.

  • AIFA slams FSA's "McDonald-isation" of advice

    28 Jun 2007

    The Association of Independent Financial Advisers has slammed the Financial Services Authority's "McDonald-isation" of advice in the Retail Distribution Review.

  • Alexander Hall aiming for 120 brokers by year-end

    25 Jun 2007

    Alexander Hall has launched a recruitment drive in a bid to install brokers in every Foxtons' estate agency branch in London by the end of 2007.

  • Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors: Aim for long-term relationships

    1 Jul 2007

    As we leave the month of June behind it is probably a good time to have a look at the year so far. A few observations to start with. The year started with lenders embracing packagers like never before.

  • AMI plans packager code of practice

    1 Jul 2007

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is to put together a code of good practice for the packaging community.

  • Anker's anti-AHIPP comments are typical of the Daily Mail

    25 Jun 2007

    In his amusing column on June 18, Guy Anker, a Daily Mail personal finance reporter, blamed the Association of Home Information Pack Providers for not telling it how it is.

  • Anti-B2L sentiment gathers pace

    25 Jun 2007

    Readers of national newspapers the Guardian and the Metro have called for curbs to the UK's booming buy-to-let sector.

  • Appointment at IHT network

    25 Jun 2007

    Legal Services Network has appointed former IFA Stuart McCullough as development director. He joins the Inheritance Tax advice network with more than 18 years' experience in the financial services industry.

  • Association of Mortgage Intermediaries: Rule changes need your views

    1 Jul 2007

    Mortgage intermediaries will have some changes to contend with in the shape of the New Insurance Conduct of Business rules.

  • AToM appoints DB underwriter

    25 Jun 2007

    All Types of Mortgages has appointed an on-site underwriter from DB Mortgages. Dale Jannels, sales and marketing director at AToM, says: "We are delighted to extend our on-site lending presence to 14."

  • B&B says it's had a good start to 2007

    25 Jun 2007

    Bradford & Bingley has predicted that its net residential lending in the first half of this year will be almost double the level it achieved in the same period in 2006.

  • Bankhall sorts out expense claims

    25 Jun 2007

    Bankhall has appointed GlobalExpense to manage its employee expense claims process. The GlobalExpense system is web-based and more accessible than competing software solutions that need to be downloaded onto PCs.

  • Barclays logo could be a no-go for ABN Amro

    25 Jun 2007

    Barclays' iconic eagle logo may be ditched due to concerns from ABN Am-ro that the design could be seen to have Nazi connotations.

  • Barclays scheme to help SAM victims

    25 Jun 2007

    SAMs, which were sold in the 1990s, allowed customers to borrow money secured against their properties without paying interest or making monthly repayments. In return, lenders took a share of any increases in the value of the properties.

  • BBA lending figures point to July rate rise, says RICS

    27 Jun 2007

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says lending figures from the British Bankers’ Association suggest a rate hike in July is inevitable.

  • BDM of the Week

    25 Jun 2007

    Our knowledge of lenders' niche criteria is often tested and it is reassuring to know that Alex Hart is always at hand to answer in-depth queries, says Ben Croft

  • Beacon appoints finance director

    27 Jun 2007

    Beacon Homeloans has appointed Steve Barry as finance and risk director.Previously Barry was a partner with a private equity fund focussed on financial services. He has 15 years experience working in financial services, specialising in credit risk and finance. Andrew Townsend, managing director of Beacon Group, says: “I am delighted to announce Barry’s appointment, he has a wealth of experience and will further assist in the continued rapid progress of Beacon.”

  • Beauty of the direct approach

    1 Jul 2007

    The main objective underlying any marketing campaign is to communicate effectively with the target audience. In a market as crowded as the mortgage industry, it is particularly important to maintain a high profile in the audience's mind. Direct mail can be a powerful marketing tool, whether used as a campaign in itself or as part of a wider integrated marketing campaign.

  • Blair's jibe is not without substance

    25 Jun 2007

    So what about Tony Blair's recent rounding on the media - big deal or no deal? Notwithstanding the hypocrisy of the man - surely the first Brit-ish Prime Minister to immerse his tongue in Goddard's Silver Dip at the start of every week - his criticism of comment eclipsing news is not without substance. In fact, I hold my hand up to joining in the fun. But if the government's doing it for a living, why not me?

  • BM Solutions launches sub-prime range

    28 Jun 2007

    BM Solutions has launched a range of sub-prime and sub-prime self-cert products with £250 cashback. The sub-prime range includes a 5.99%, two-year tracker up to 75% LTV, and £250 cash back.

  • Branching out

    1 Jul 2007

    While it may not be in the same league as the 'super packagers' just yet, Mortgagematch Homeloans appears happy to do things at its own pace and in its own way.

  • Broker fees in the tabloid spotlight

    25 Jun 2007

    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

  • Brokers hail the importance of service

    27 Jun 2007

    Edeus has revealed that eight out of 10 brokers think an instant binding decision is the most important service a lender can offer.

  • Brokers say rates will settle, says BM Solutions

    27 Jun 2007

    Research by BM Solutions has shown that following more rate movement, eight out of 10 expect rates to settle and end the year at or above 5.75%. June's Monetary Policy Committee minutes indicated that another increase is imminent, and a third of brokers questioned believed that the rates would be at the 6% barrier as we move into 2008. Iain Williamson, head of key accounts, BM Solutions, says: "Following the release of June's MPC minutes last week, there's a strong expectation ...

  • Brokers should test lenders' online application systems

    25 Jun 2007

    Yet another major lender has launched an online mortgage application system with the usual promises of how much easier it will make our work.

  • Brokers show their value as rates rise

    26 Jun 2007

    There’s never been a better time for brokers to get in touch with their clients. The revelation last week that Bank of England governor Mervyn King was pushing for a 0.25% rate rise in the last Monetary Policy Committee meeting was a stark reminder to borrowers, brokers and lenders that interest rates of 6% or more could soon be a reality.

  • Brown appoints Darling as chancellor

    28 Jun 2007

    Gordon Brown has appointed Alistair Darling as chancellor.

  • Brown creates new business department DBERR

    28 Jun 2007

    Prime Minister Gordon Brown has created a new governmental department to deal with business enterprise and regulation.

  • BTL market has grown by 30 times

    28 Jun 2007

    ThePropertyInvestmentMarket.com says the buy-to-let market has grown by 30 times since Blair has been in power.

  • Buy-to-let competition rages on

    1 Jul 2007

    Last month we saw Abbey reprice its mainstream fixed rates twice in a week. Swap rates seem to have gone up by so much in such a short space of time that we are about to go through the psychological barrier of 6% with many prime rates.

  • Call to scrap commission

    25 Jun 2007

    The Financial Services Consumer Panel is calling on the Financial Services Authority to scrap commission payments to advisers.

  • Callcredit buys Legatio

    29 Jun 2007

    Callcredit has bought the online payment service provider Legatio Technologies.

  • Can selling mortgages in lenders' branches be classified as giving advice?

    25 Jun 2007

    Branch sales are not against the rules but can be misleading says one expert, while the other defends lenders' right to inform consumers about their deals

  • Capital Fortune slams lenders for pulling fixed rates

    27 Jun 2007

    Capital Fortune Independent Mortgage Advisers has hit out at top lenders for withdrawing their current fixed rate products despite the recent interest rate hold.

  • Case sparks disclosure fears

    25 Jun 2007

    Buy-to-let could be the first casualty in the wake of the recent court ruling on the non-disclosure of commission payments.

  • Chancellor making long-term mistake

    1 Jul 2007

    The mortgage market has largely reacted with dismay at the government's suggestion that 25-year fixed rate mortgages will help to reduce affordability issues, despite the government's proposal to issue covered bonds to help lenders fund the longer-term rates.

  • CHL added to AToM panel

    25 Jun 2007

    All Types of Mortgages has added CHL Mortgages to its main packaged panel.CHL Mortgages’ inclusion on AToM’s packaged panel will provide AToM with an onsite underwriter placed in its office.Dale Jannels, sales and marketing director at ATom, says: “We are delighted to now be able to offer products from CHL. Its latest addition further reinforces AToM’s position as a major player in the mortgage packaging market.”

  • CHL launches short-term self-cert fix

    25 Jun 2007

    CHL Mortgages has launched a self-cert fixed rate product at 5.79% until March 2008.

  • CII backs Retail Distribution Review proposals

    27 Jun 2007

    An independent report commissioned by the Chartered Insurance Institute Group supports the Financial Services Authoritys thinking on the professionalism of advisers.

  • Clamour grows for regulation

    1 Jul 2007

    When it was announced that mortgage packagers and clubs were not going to fall under the scope of the Financial Services Authority's regulatory regime many were surprised and some quite offended. Packagers and clubs would be able to operate in the mortgage market without the stringent checks that intermediaries and lenders were going to have to endure. They would not incur the cost burden of regulation and there was a feeling in some quarters that packagers and clubs would be able to get ...

  • Clarification on financial promotions

    25 Jun 2007

    Some commentators believe the move towards principles-based regulation means that smaller firms will be able to issue non-compliant promotions and get away with it.

  • Close B2L range under fire

    25 Jun 2007

    Close Mortgages has been slammed for underwhelming the market with the pricing of its buy-to-let range.

  • CML casts doubt on green houses

    25 Jun 2007

    The Council of Mortgages Lenders has questioned the viability of Gordon Brown's ambitions to build eco-towns with zero-carbon homes.

  • CML reports growth in offset mortgages

    25 Jun 2007

    New research published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders has revealed strong growth in the number of people opting for an offset mortgage.

  • Comment

    25 Jun 2007

    As a new columnist, I am eager to share some highlights of my 20 years spent funding some of the elite properties in the London market. I have had the honour of working primarily in the golden triangle of Knightsbridge, Belgravia and Chelsea, not forgetting St John's Wood and Hampstead.

  • Commercial auctions slow, says RICS

    27 Jun 2007

    The number of commercial properties sold at auction slowed at the beginning of this year, research by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors reveals.

  • Commercial First appoints BDM

    25 Jun 2007

    Commercial First has appointed Sally Williamson as BDM for Northern Ireland. She joins from InterBay and has a decade of experience in mortgages and financial services, including a period as a self-employed mortgage broker and a spell at Friends Provident.

  • Commission-only brokers wanted

    25 Jun 2007

    Affordable-mortgages.co.uk is looking for self-employed brokers to work on a commission-only basis. It passes on 80% of all commission to its brokers, who get free access to sourcing systems.

  • Commissions are fair earnings

    1 Jul 2007

    A fair price for a fair job - who can argue with that? So why do we hear cries of "unethical" whenever the thorny issue of commission earnings reaches the agenda? While the Financial Services Authority's Retail Distribution Review looks, in part, to shape the future for adviser income, we currently find ourselves contending with an increasing number of 'consumer champions' castigating advisers for any sort of commission earnings.

  • Consumers are ignorant about eco-terms

    25 Jun 2007

    Beacon Homeloans has released new research which found a lack of green knowledge amongst consumers with only 25% of those surveyed understanding what the term carbon neutral means.

  • Cooper retains housing ministry

    29 Jun 2007

    Yvette Cooper has retained her position of housing minister as Prime Minister Gordon Brown conducts a major cabinet reshuffle.

  • Council Tax dodgers face bankruptcy

    25 Jun 2007

    A local council has warned that home owners who dodge Council Tax bills could be made bankrupt.

  • CurriculumVitae

    25 Jun 2007

    "My two daughters and I attend tae kwon do classes a few times a week."

  • Data shows healthy market

    25 Jun 2007

    The number of properties changing hands was up 11% in the last three months compared with the same period last year, Revenue & Customs statistics show. Warren Bright, chief executive of property website propertyfinder. com, says: "This suggests the market is holding up well."

  • DB Mortgages enhances online proposition

    25 Jun 2007

    DB Mortgages has changed its website to enable brokers to access it directly through their preferred network or club.

  • Dear Delia

    25 Jun 2007

    Dear Delia My clients Jeff and Kerry entered into an individual voluntary arrangement when Kerry was pregnant, as her company only offered a statutory maternity package. When they decided to get a bank loan to extend their house they were told that as a result of entering into an IVA, they were classed as a credit risk and loans via traditional lending institutions were no longer open to them. Is this right, and if so, why?

  • Debt portal is launched

    1 Jul 2007

    A new company, the Debt Advice Portal, has been launched which will offer debt solutions for brokers and their clients.

  • Don't bank on Brown to help buyers

    25 Jun 2007

    It's not long now before Gordon Brown makes the short move from 11 to 10 Downing Street. The burning question is whether this will have an impact on the housing market. I'm not optimistic because Brown has not done much for the market as chancellor.

  • Don't follow the UK buy-to-let herd out of fear - look abroad for better deals

    25 Jun 2007

    We are all familiar with the old business adage 'buy low, sell high', but most of us don't apply it to property investments.

  • Easier2move says online conveyancing can save 15 days

    27 Jun 2007

    Easier2move has estimated that online conveyancing can save up to 15 days in the home buying process.

  • Edeus completes £150m loan sale

    29 Jun 2007

    Edeus has completed its fifth whole loan sale, worth £150m, with a mystery new partner.

  • Edeus launches new range

    29 Jun 2007

    Edeus has added several new products to its mortgage range

  • Edeus slashes AVM charges

    25 Jun 2007

    Edeus has brought its charging structure for Automated Valuation Models in line with those of standard valuations.

  • Edeus takes on two BDMs

    25 Jun 2007

    Edeus has expanded its sales team with two BDMs, one of whom is rejoining the team. Melissa Hosang left edeus to work for Commercial First but has decided to return. Graeme Bozzard joins edeus from Mortgage IQ, where he was a broker.

  • Enterprise's fees promotion goes on

    25 Jun 2007

    Enterprise has extended its fees-free campaign until the end of July.

  • Epsom

    25 Jun 2007

  • Equity release TV probe planned

    25 Jun 2007

    Trevor MacDonald is to take another look at equity release in the autumn. His original TV documentary on equity release aired on March 19 this year and drew criticism from the industry, with claims it did not represent the market fairly by focussing on products that are no longer available.

  • Evaluate upgrades platform

    1 Jul 2007

    Evaluate Technologies says it has successfully tested its new online sourcing and application system for sub-prime mortgages with Primrose and a number of lenders including GMAC-RFC.

  • Exclusive Connections: Winning points on top service

    1 Jul 2007

    Mortgage brokers face an increasing choice of product providers and therefore the chances of missing out a vital lender and a particular product from their research when trying to match a client's needs, continue to rise. Of course, there are sourcing systems and, yes, the Financial Services Authority does allow that 'whole of market' can mean a representative panel of lenders rather than every single lender. But choice is as much a curse to good advice as it is an advantage for customers, ...

  • Exclusive deals from Kensington

    25 Jun 2007

    Kensington has launched two exclusive deals offering fees-free remortgages and fixed rates from 5.55%. The fees-free package is available on three-year fixed rate sub-prime applications submitted direct to Kensington and through selected distributors.

  • EXCLUSIVE: Capital One to close Homeowner Loans

    27 Jun 2007

    Capital One has confirmed that it is closing its Homeowner Loans operation with around 230 redundancies.

  • Fear factor should not stop PPI advice

    25 Jun 2007

    One of the most important issues facing the market is payment protection insurance, with the Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading conducting wide-ranging reviews of the product.

  • Finance director for Rooftop

    25 Jun 2007

    Rooftop Mortgages has promoted Neil Mardon to finance director. Mardon was previously Rooftop's head of finance, a position he took up in 2006 after five years at Rooftop's parent firm, Bear Stearns.

  • Financial advisors are bullish about mortgage market

    29 Jun 2007

    Financial advisers’ confidence in the mortgage market is at an all time high, despite the succession of rate hikes since last August, research by Paragon Mortgages has revealed. Paragon’s index, based on the average number of mortgages introduced in the previous three months and the average expected change over the next three months, has been rising steadily since the start of 2006, peaking in the first half of this year. The bullish mood of advisers is understandable ...

  • Financial literacy drive for kids is On the Money

    25 Jun 2007

    Standard Life is training its future customers with a financial literacy project in partnership with Learning and Tea-ching Scotland and the Scottish Book Trust.

  • Finegold to close US sub-prime fund

    29 Jun 2007

    Kensington Mortgages founder Martin Finegold has closed a £450m fund invested in US sub-prime mortgage debt as a result of the US sub-prime crisis.

  • Firm sounds buy-to-let repossessions warning

    25 Jun 2007

    Moore Blatch has forecast a sharp rise in buy-to-let repossessions as re- cent interest rate rises start to affect landlords.

  • Flooding could cost insurance industry £500m

    29 Jun 2007

    Recent floods in the North of England could cost the insurance industry £500m, commercial insurance modelling company Risk Management Solutions has warned.RMS says the floods are not as serious as flooding in 2000, which affected over 10,000 properties and caused £925m in insured losses. But it adds floods are 'ongoing' and further rainfall is expected over the weekend.

  • Flooding strikes mortgage industry

    26 Jun 2007

    Severe flooding throughout the UK has hit the mortgage industry hard with everyone from managing directors to press officers stuck at home because of submerged roads and suspended public transport.

  • Flotation could raise £180m

    1 Jul 2007

    Moneysupermarket.com, the parent company of M2000 and Paaleads.com, has revealed it is set to raise £180m after it floats on the London Stock Exchange.

  • Focus Solutions appointments

    25 Jun 2007

    Focus Solutions Group has appointed Clive Boulton as BDM and Alan Gordon as business consultant. The point-of-sale and extranet solutions provider is hoping to boost its position within the mortgage market with these additions to its team. Earlier this month, Peter Hain, MP for Neath and a candidate for deputy Prime Minister, called for Stamp Duty to be the burden of sellers rather than buyers. Some pundits have backed his proposal as a way to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder. ...

  • Foreign aid for sophisticated clients

    25 Jun 2007

    Foreign currency mortgages managed by specialists can offer substantial advantages to high income clients so brokers should consider offering this facility, says Cormac Naughten

  • Freedom Finance plans to expand

    29 Jun 2007

    Freedom Finance says it is planning a major expansion of its mortgage broking operation to provide extended national coverage by the end of the year.

  • Freehold: Technology vs people's needs

    1 Jul 2007

    Everyone appears to be boarding the good ship 'technology' in the apparent belief that it is the single most important catalyst to future success and riches - at least those with the resources, financial or otherwise, that believe it is where the future lies.

  • From the beginning, HIPs were about politics not housing

    25 Jun 2007

    People have taken their eye off the ball when it comes to Home Information Packs.

  • FSA appoints retail director

    25 Jun 2007

    The Financial Services Au-thority has appointed Sheila Nicoll, former deputy chief ex-ecutive of the Investment Management Association, as direc- tor of its retail firms division.

  • FSA bigwigs take home big bucks

    25 Jun 2007

    The Financial Services Authority's annual report reveals that the number of approved firms dropped by 688 to 28,281 last year. It also shows the regulator's chairman Callum McCarthy was paid £433,565 last year, while managing director Clive Briault earned £408,029, including a £65,000 performance-related bonus.

  • FSA moves to force errant brokers to clean up their act

    1 Jul 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has begun enforcement against five intermediary firms for what it refers to as weaknesses in responsible lending practices and in firms assessments of a consumers ability to afford a mortgage.

  • Future to launch 100% LTV secured loan

    27 Jun 2007

    Future Mortgages has confirmed it will be entering into the 100% LTV secured loans market with a range of products due to be launched on Thursday.However, the lender declined to reveal further details about the launch at this stage.

  • Godiva expands MOREgage range

    25 Jun 2007

    Godiva Mortgages is adding a flexible fixed rate product with no early repayment charges to its MOREgage range. The Coventry's specialist lending subsidiary says the product is unique in the 125% LTV market.

  • Godiva launches ERC-free sub-prime range

    26 Jun 2007

    Godiva Mortgages, the specialist lending subsidiary of Coventry, is launching a range of credit impaired mortgages without early repayment charges.Borrowers with credit problems will be able to choose from a range of flexible trackers and fixed rates in the near prime, extra light and light adverse categories. All the products offer a free valuation and free legal fees for remortgagors. A booking fee of £199 and an arrangement fee of £800 applies to all products.

  • Grainger appoints relationship manager

    26 Jun 2007

    Grainger has appointed Peter Welch as relationship manager for its Newcastle-based team.

  • Gross mortgage lending up 8% in May, says BBA

    27 Jun 2007

    Year on year gross mortgage lending was up 8% in May at £19.7bn, figures out from the British Bankers’ Association reveal.

  • Half a million borrowers use Leadbay

    26 Jun 2007

    Leadbay has revealed it has generated £73.8bn worth of business for advisers in just over two years since its launch.

  • Halifax GI launches alternative commission structure

    26 Jun 2007

    Halifax has launched an additional commission structure on its general insurance proposition that offers brokers the first three years commission upfront.

  • Hazel Blears to head up DCLG

    28 Jun 2007

    Hazel Blears has reportedly replaced Ruth Kelly as communities secretary heading up the Department of Communities and Local Government.

  • HBOS chairman reappointed

    29 Jun 2007

    HBOS chairman Dennis Stevenson will be reappointed for a further three years when his current term comes to an end in June 2008. The lending giant made the annoucement on the London Stock Exchange earlier today. Sir Ron Garrick, deputy chairman and chairman of the nominations committee, says: "We are very pleased that Dennis has accepted our invitation to renew his chairmanship with HBOS."

  • Helping clients understand decisions

    25 Jun 2007

    Over the past few years, the protection industry has made a lot of progress in addressing the issue of consumer trust, in particular by reducing the number of declined claims.

  • Higher rate cloud has a silver lining

    25 Jun 2007

    Interest rates are rising throughout the world and will probably hit 6% here by the end of 2007. This is bad news for clients on fixed rates but will eventually help first-time buyers, says Frank Eve

  • HML is awarded above average rating

    28 Jun 2007

    Homeloan Management Limited has been awarded an ‘above average’ residential mortgage servicer rating by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, with a ‘positive’ outlook for the future.

  • HML signs deal with Nua

    29 Jun 2007

    Homeloan Management Limited has signed of a five-year servicing contract with Nua Homeloans in the Republic of Ireland.

  • Home Energy Performance Packs could replace HIPs

    25 Jun 2007

    I wasn’t surprised to read the results of Mortgage Strategy’s straw poll on whether Home Information Packs should be scrapped, given that it had been hijacked by a pro-HIP forum (Mortgage Strategy’s June 11). You can’t blame them for trying - clinging to life when facing death is a strong motivation.

  • Home of Choice: Don't bury your head in sand

    1 Jul 2007

    I am not surprised to see the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries' spectacular U-turn over the impact and ramifications for the mortgage industry of the Retail Distribution Review.

  • Home owners willing to stretch themselves, says mform

    26 Jun 2007

    More than 3.7 million potential mortgage customers would be happy borrowing 5 x their salary or more, research from mform.co.uk shows.

  • Honours for IFS board members

    25 Jun 2007

    Two board members of the IFS School of Finance have been awarded honours. Professor David Melville has been knighted for his services to higher and further education while Professor Elaine Kempson has been given a CBE for services to the financial services industry.

  • Hornsby quits Mortgage 2000

    1 Jul 2007

    Sean Hornsby, managing director of Mortgage 2000, is to leave the company at the end of September.

  • House price growth moderates

    1 Jul 2007

    Figures that track the housing market continue to give out conflicting signals. It is, however, becoming clear the market is slowing. House prices appear on track to ease from the era of double-digit growth experienced over the past couple of years to a more sustainable rate.

  • House price inflation 1.1% in June

    28 Jun 2007

    The housing market hit back in June with house price inflation increasing 1.1% - the fastest monthly increase in 2007.

  • Household debt highest in 10 years, say Lib Dems

    26 Jun 2007

    Households are paying more of their income servicing their debts than at any point in the last decade, the Liberal Democrats Party warns.

  • Housing to top political agenda, says CML

    29 Jun 2007

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders says housing will be near the top of the political agenda with Gordon Brown in power.

  • Hush hush

    1 Jul 2007

    POWER NAPPED It seems like we end up picking on people a little here at Hush Hush, but word reaches us that Ian McPherson, one of the directors of Mortgagematch Homeloans (he's on the front cover of the magazine if you skipped it) and likely to soon be known as Snoopy - found himself a little bit early for an afternoon function hosted by edeus. Given the circumstances and the fact he had been out quite late the evening before, McPherson thought he would nip up to his hotel room ...

  • Increase in lending to individuals climbs to £9.5bn in May

    29 Jun 2007

    The Bank of England has reported that the increase in total net lending to individuals in May hit £9.5bn.

  • InterBay strives to educate inexperienced intermediaries

    25 Jun 2007

    I'm writing in response to the issues raised in a letter from Ian Monks in the June 18 issue of Mortgage Strategy re-garding our link-up with Trigold.

  • Interest-only deals on the up

    25 Jun 2007

    Research from Paragon Mortgages shows the amount of interest-only business submitted by brokers increased from 11% to 26% between 2004 and 2007. The lender says borrowers and brokers are increasingly opting for interest-only mortgages in preference to repayment deals.

  • Ipswich launches discount B2L tracker at 5.65%

    25 Jun 2007

    Ipswich has launched a discount buy-to-let mortgage with a rate of 5.65% and a maximum LTV of 75%.

  • It pays dividends to keep it in the family

    25 Jun 2007

    It seems incredible but it's only been 18 months since we launched into the specialist packaging market.

  • John Prust will declare mortgage war on Aug 12

    25 Jun 2007

    August 12 is the start date for John Prust to finally begin his war on the mortgage world.

  • Keeping it real on the subject of HIPs

    25 Jun 2007

    I was flattered by a letter which appeared in the June 11 issue of Mortgage Strategy, in which the writer asked if I was auditioning for a place in the government. I've never considered a career in politics but now the idea has been suggested, who knows?

  • KGB adds MEX to lender panel

    25 Jun 2007

    KGB Packaging has added Mortgage Express to its panel of lenders. Brokers can now select KGB as a route for submission via a dropdown box on Mortgage Express' website.

  • KGB adds TMW to panel

    28 Jun 2007

    KGB Packaging has added The Mortgage Works to its packaged lender panel.

  • KGB launches mortgage desk

    25 Jun 2007

    KGB Packaging has launched a mortgage desk as part of its adviser subsidiary Mortgageability. The service is aimed at CeMAP-qualified self-employed brokers who want to work in a busy mortgage environment while retaining their independence.

  • L&E poised to launch into Irish mortgage market

    25 Jun 2007

    London & European is on the cusp of launching into the Irish market in anticipation of a boom in remortgaging activity across the Irish Sea.

  • Landlords should think commercially

    25 Jun 2007

    In recent years, the investment performance of the commercial property market has been strong, consistently outperforming other investments. Similarly, the buy-to-let market has seen strong growth. In fact, it is estimated that around 11% of the UK's housing stock is held by private investors, showing there are now a lot of experienced residential landlords in the country.

  • Lansdown Place on acquisition trail

    25 Jun 2007

    Lansdown Place has revealed it is on the acquisition trail and plans to buy specialist IFA firms. The firm, which will open a regional head office in Bristol this week, is looking to buy firms around the M4 and M5 corridors so it can increase its geographical footprint and its number of specialist advisers. Paul Wilson, managing director of Lansdown Place, says: "We want to deliver the financial expertise we have in private and corporate finance across a wider geographical area."

  • Legal & General: On the level about assurance

    1 Jul 2007

    The mortgage market has changed significantly in recent years - the number of first-time buyers has fallen, remortgages have increased dramatically and the buy-to-let market has taken off. Mortgages themselves have changed - interest is now generally calculated daily and most new mortgages have an element of payment flexibility.

  • Legal definition

    1 Jul 2007

    Don't Remain In The Dark Confused by the plethora of legal jargon in the mortgage industry or want to know what a legal term or practice means? Each month our panel of experts answer questions sent in by readers.

  • Lenders warned to heed the US lesson

    1 Jul 2007

    Declining house prices and rising sub-prime mortgage defaults in the US are early warning signs that UK lenders would do well to heed now or else risk facing similar problems with credit risk in the near future, a new report has warned.

  • Letter of the Month: Easy pickings accusation shows lack of knowledge

    1 Jul 2007

    From Malcolm DaviesI wonder how many brokers were angered by the uninformed and potentially damaging article in the Daily Mail by journalist and Mortgage Strategy columnist Guy Anker on June 13?

  • Loanoptions wins emerging business award

    25 Jun 2007

    Loanoptions.co.uk, the Wilmslow- based secured loans business, has won the Emerging Business Award at Ernst & Young's Northern Region Entrepreneur of the Year awards.

  • Make search engines work for you

    25 Jun 2007

    Websites are valuable marketing tools but only if search engines direct clients to their virtual doors. Keywords and other forms of web optimisation are the keys to success, says Sally Laker

  • Market looks fragile but brokers can benefit

    25 Jun 2007

    It's not often that I look at statistics and feel depressed, but you only have to drive around your local area and look at the 'For Sale' signs to realise that something is going wrong with the market.

  • Market slowing, say experts

    25 Jun 2007

    Lending in May reached re-cord highs but lending trade bodies still say the housing market is slowing down.

  • Marketwatch

    25 Jun 2007

    What a surprise. After weeks of relentless increases, shorter term swaps fell slightly, although five-year swaps edged up. This is the first weekly fall in one, two and three-year money since the middle of April. And after 10 weeks of increases, it's great to see reductions at last, albeit minor ones.

  • MBS adds to lender panel

    25 Jun 2007

    Mortgage Broking Services has appointed Money Partners Touch to its lender panel. Members of MBS' network will be able to access online tools including instant decisioning, automated valuation models, credit searches and pre-populated application forms.

  • Me & My Car

    25 Jun 2007

    My BMW 535 TDS is my personal space - a place of comfort where I can turn turn up the volume on the stereo while motoring along. I just have to watch the speeding, says Mark Glithero

  • Mervyn King voted for June base rate rise

    25 Jun 2007

    Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, voted for interest rates to rise 25 basis points in June, the minutes from this month's Monetary Policy Committee meeting reveal.

  • Mform launches direct online deals

    25 Jun 2007

    Mform.co.uk has launched direct online mortgage applications with Intelligent Finance and ING Direct. Mform.co.uk says a growing number of consumers are becoming confident online and are increasingly opting for internet applications. It expects to have signed deals with a further six lenders by the end of this year.

  • MI adds CMS to its panel

    25 Jun 2007

    Mortgage Intelligence has added Commercial Mortgage Solutions to its panel.

  • Millionaire moves

    25 Jun 2007

    Mayfair mortgage broker Paul Munford has a 36-month plan to build his company's profits to £6m, at which point he will consider his exit options, he tells Clare Bettelley

  • Mixed messages

    25 Jun 2007

    An experiment to discover the consistency of sourcing systems' results shows the difficulties brokers face when using them, says Rob Roberts

  • Money Partners appoints regional account manager

    28 Jun 2007

    Money Partners has appointed Brian Ferguson to the new position of regional account manager for Scotland.

  • Moneyfacts appoints non-executive director

    26 Jun 2007

    Moneyfacts has appointed Nigel Hopwood as non-executive director.

  • Moneysupermarket.com confirms floatation

    29 Jun 2007

    Moneysupermarket.com has today confirmed its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange.

  • More advisers for Spicerhaart

    25 Jun 2007

    Spicerhaart Financial Services is partnering training provider New Leaf Group to offer job opportunities to newly-trained mortgage advisers. Steve Cox, operations director at Spicerhaart, says: "This will help us increase the number of our advisers."

  • Mortgage Intelligence adds CMS to panel

    25 Jun 2007

    Mortgage Intelligence has added Commercial Mortgage Solutions to its panel.

  • Mortgage Intelligence: We can all benefit from choice

    1 Jul 2007

    Competition improves standards. Choice is vital to create a healthy market. Variety is the spice of life. We have all heard these comments and similar, whether at business meetings or in the pages of the business press. And I agree with them too, especially when it comes to the mortgage network sector.

  • Mortgage Promotions: Dumb to link advice with pay

    1 Jul 2007

    What is it about our regulators that once they hit a six-figure salary and non-contributory pension scheme they forget the needs of the 'common-man'? I refer, of course, to the recent pronouncements regarding the meaning of 'independent' as far as advice goes.

  • Mortgage savings increase, says Moneyextra

    26 Jun 2007

    Moneyextra.com says the savings available by choosing the right mortgage have actually gone up in the last three months despite rising mortgage rates.

  • Mortgage Times ponders lender arm

    1 Jul 2007

    The Mortgage Times Group has confirmed it is exploring the possibility of launching a lender arm, while rubbishing industry rumours that it is to sell its network to US investment bank Merrill Lynch.

  • Mortgagematch launches Kensington fixed rates

    28 Jun 2007

    Mortgagematch Home Loans has launched two exclusive near prime products from Kensington Mortgages.

  • MortgageStream launches web based case tracking

    27 Jun 2007

    MortgageStream has launched a fully online version of its mortgage and life case management system.

  • MPC member hints at interest rate rise

    27 Jun 2007

    John Gieve, the deputy governor of the Bank of England, has hinted that he will vote for a base rate rise next week in order to bring inflation back into target.

  • MS Online readers want the plug pulled on HIPs

    25 Jun 2007

    Despite protests from the Association of Home Information Pack Providers and Whitehall, the mortgage industry is still hostile to HIPs.

  • MS should charge networks for appearing in letters pages

    25 Jun 2007

    Wouldn't it be a good idea to charge networks for advertising in Mortgage Strategy's letters pages? They ply their trade every week and puff their corporate chests out for free, playing out their tit for tat assaults on each other. Isn't it about time they started paying their way when they want space in the magazine? Chris Gardner Managing partner National and Capital By email

  • MT registers its 1,000th Trigold user

    25 Jun 2007

    Trigold's software is available free of charge to all Mortgage Times members who sub- mit either two packaged cases or five cases direct to lenders per month.

  • MT says Century 21 deal has gone down well

    29 Jun 2007

    The Mortgage Times Group says the exclusive alliance it formed with Century 21 has received a massive response from members looking to extend their business with estate agency franchising.

  • My Mortgage Direct warns against interest-only

    26 Jun 2007

    My Mortgage Direct is warning consumers against switching to interest-only deals to keep their finances afloat as they come off fixed rate deals.

  • N&P appoints Toy as Astra MD

    25 Jun 2007

    Norwich and Peterborough has appointed Graham Toy as head of commercial and intermediary lending and managing director of its subsidiary, Astra Mortgages. Toy joins from Abbey where he was deputy head of commercial lending.

  • Nationwide bosses to pocket £8.5m

    25 Jun 2007

    Nationwide will pay out a whopping £8.5m to its executive directors in 2007 - nearly double the amount it handed over in 2006.

  • Nationwide urges home movers to switch deals

    29 Jun 2007

    Nationwide has urged movers to switch to a better mortgage deal at the same time they switch homes.

  • Need for united voice is clear

    1 Jul 2007

    Given the vast amount of resources and time we all now devote to regulatory matters it is hard to think that just a few years ago the mortgage industry was essentially self-regulated through the Mortgage Code Compliance Board. Statutory regulation has impacted on the mortgage market in almost every conceivable way and mortgage intermediary firms in particular must feel like there was never a time when they did not come under the jurisdiction of the Financial Services Authority.

  • Network Data Holdings: Lenders show new enterprise

    1 Jul 2007

    There has, in general, been a lack of interest by lenders in investing in any of the mortgage distribution channels - business to business mortgage networks, clubs, packagers or business to consumer mortgage intermediaries.

  • Newcastle confirms adverse and B2L plans

    26 Jun 2007

    Newcastle has confirmed that it looking at entering the light adverse and buy-to-let markets.

  • No substitute for sound initial advice

    25 Jun 2007

    Firms tend to deal with compliance reactively, not proactively. The latest notice from the Financial Services Authority or a headline suggesting regulatory attention drives their activity.

  • Not all edeus fixes are 90%LTV

    25 Jun 2007

    In the June 18 issue of Mortgage Strategy it was reported that all of edeus' new fixed rate range is available up to 90% LTV. In fact, only some deals are available on a 90% LTV basis. Further details are available on edeus' website.

  • OFT enquiry to scrutinise house building

    25 Jun 2007

    The Office of Fair Trading has laun-ched an enquiry into the UK's house building industry, to ensure it isn't hindering the government's mission to build more houses.

  • On the case

    1 Jul 2007

    Client A wants to remortgage his main residence and then look at his two buy-to-let properties with a view to re-financing these. He got in financial problems in the last year when an unexpected tax bill had to be paid. He managed to avoid court proceedings but has some arrears on his residential and buy to let mortgages.

  • Only the fittest networks will survive

    25 Jun 2007

    When regulation came into force in 2004 there were over 80 networks. Only a third survive and this number will fall again as they are forced to expand, consolidate or die, says Richard Coulson

  • Packager poll predicts interest from brokers

    25 Jun 2007

    Nearly three-quarters of packagers believe brokers will show more interest in them this year, research from The Mortgage Business reveals.

  • Packager Power

    25 Jun 2007

    Proc fees should reflect the work involved in placing cases. Sub-prime deals attract high fees due to the amount of work required, but are these still justified given advances in technology and the number of cascade systems now available?

  • Packagers lift GMAC-RFC business

    1 Jul 2007

    GMAC-RFC Partners Division has announced a 137% increase in the business generated by its packager partners in its second quarter of trading during 2007 compared with Q1.

  • Packagers must be regulated

    1 Jul 2007

    It does seem peculiar that nearly three years after the introduction of statutory regulation we are still asking the same question: Should packagers be regulated? When regulation first came along, there wasn't as much clarity as one might have expected from the Financial Services Authority. Indeed, as the deadline for registration approached it was the devil's own job to establish whether packagers should or should not apply to be regulated.

  • Paradigm's new club signs up TMA's Coffield

    1 Jul 2007

    John Coffield is leaving his position as head of Abbey's mortgage club, The Mortgage Alliance, to head Paradigm Partners' new mortgage club proposition, Paradigm Mortgage Services.

  • Payment shock for borrowers as fixed rate terms end

    29 Jun 2007

    Mortgagesforyou is warning home owners whose fixed rates will be expiring this September to act now before they hit their lenders’ SVR.

  • Paymentcare attacks PPI

    25 Jun 2007

    Paymentcare.co.uk has slammed single premium payment protection insurance policies, describing them as not being in the best interest of consumers. It says standalone PPI policies offer customers a viable alternative to lenders' costly offerings and provide better value for money.

  • Pink enhances GI proposition

    25 Jun 2007

    Pink Homes Loans has enhanced its general insurance proposition by offering its members more providers to choose from.

  • Pink launches RBS semi exclusives

    25 Jun 2007

    Pink Home Loans has launched two semi-exclusive products in conjunction with RBS Intermediary Partners.

  • Platform extends online service

    25 Jun 2007

    Platform has extended its online system to allow brokers to submit mortgage applications either directly or through packagers.

  • PPI cancellation period extended from 14 to 30 days

    29 Jun 2007

    The cancellation period for payment protection insurance will be extended from 14 days to 30 days as part of a radical shake up of general insurance rules by the Financial Services Authority.

  • Premier Mortgage Service: Don't just focus on making cash

    1 Jul 2007

    In each of my articles over the last few months I have focused on a specific area in which firms could consider their current practices in the light of the concerns identified by the Financial Services Authority's quality of mortgage advice review. This month I would like to consider how these areas should be drawn together in your firm's management controls.

  • Prize draw for energy assessors

    25 Jun 2007

    National Energy Services is launching a prize draw to encourage energy assessors to qualify before August 1. The draw is open to home inspectors and energy assessors who qualify before that date. They can win either an energy-saving Toyota Prius car or the cash alternative.

  • Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance: Packagers - a no brainer case

    1 Jul 2007

    Packagers are now widely recognised as mortgage 'distributors'. This focus on the outbound flow of products to borrowers is quite correct. Nevertheless I am becoming increasingly concerned that the balance has tipped so far over towards highlighting the 'distribution' function, that packagers may be prone to neglecting another important message to both lenders and brokers. This is the 'where it all started' message about experience, expertise, ability and service.

  • Professor says we must act now to prevent future flood damage

    29 Jun 2007

    A professor has warned that the UK needs to act quickly to prevent future urban flooding.

  • Profits set to fall short of industry forecasts at NR

    27 Jun 2007

    Northern Rock has revealed its full-year profit is set to fall short of market expectations.

  • RBS consortium set for Amro bid

    25 Jun 2007

    The Royal Bank of Scotland-led consortium aiming to beat Barclays' bid for Dutch bank ABN Amro says it will make a €71bn (£47.4bn) offer in mid-July.

  • RBSIP launches two-year fixed rate

    25 Jun 2007

    RBS Intermediary Partners has launched a two-year fixed rate product. It is also repricing its fixed rate range and is launching new rates for NatWest's fixed rate buy-to-let deals.

  • RDR may miss mortgage market says AMI

    27 Jun 2007

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is hopeful that the Financial Services Authority's Retail Distribution Review may have missed out mortgage intermediaries.

  • Regulators attempt to make their mark

    25 Jun 2007

    This week could be a big one for the industry as the Financial Services Authority finally reveals its thoughts on the thorny issue of commission. The FSA has spent a long time pondering how to address the alleged failings of the commission-led market and on Wednesday, many interested parties will be keen to see how the watchdog plans to improve things.

  • Regulatory Alliance of Mortgage Packagers: Time for packaging standards

    1 Jul 2007

    The talk before M-Day of one of the consequences of compulsory regulation was there would be far fewer packagers. Two and a half years later the opposite is true - the number of packagers has increased. And while it is nice to see the doomsayers could get their predictions so wrong, questions need to be asked about whether all packagers add value to the mortgage process and whether there should be a move towards standardising service levels. This would be a means of providing intermediaries ...

  • Rents continue to rise, says Paragon

    28 Jun 2007

    Average rents are continuing to rise, the latest data from Paragon Mortgages reveals.

  • RICS launches sustainability principles

    26 Jun 2007

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has introducing a best practice guide for sustainability within the UK housing industry.

  • Rightmove launches Rightmove Mobile

    26 Jun 2007

    Rightmove has launched a new mobile version of its website called Rightmove Mobile.

  • Risk of flooding high, says Allied Surveyors

    27 Jun 2007

    Allied Surveyors has warned that climate change and development on flood plains has increased the risk of flooding.

  • Roger Morris

    1 Jul 2007

    The sub-prime market still has potential for growth

  • Rooftop appoints roving underwriters

    25 Jun 2007

    Rooftop Mortgages has appointed three roving underwriters to provide onsite coverage with various members of its mortgage packager panel.

  • Rookie lenders must build on good start

    25 Jun 2007

    Formula One rookie Lewis Hamilton has climb-ed the podium after each of his seven Grand Prix starts. The last two times have seen him collecting the winner's trophy, which is fitting for one of the most exciting drivers to have entered the sport in recent years.

  • Rubicon to offer Accelerator software on pay as you go basis

    29 Jun 2007

    Rubicon Software Group is to trial its Accelerator business processing software with loan and mortgage brokers on a pay-as-you-go basis.

  • Sacrifices on the altar of affordability

    25 Jun 2007

    It's not a new thing to say that life is tough for first-time buyers but we're seeing more in-depth coverage of why they're struggling to get onto the property ladder. The demands of putting to-gether deposits while covering the costs of legal fees, surveys and Stamp Duty often prove to be too much for them.

  • Scarborough reveals 20% profit rise

    25 Jun 2007

    Scarborough has revealed pre-tax profits for 2006 to be up 20% on previous figures. The mutual reported profits of 6.8m, as well as group total assets up 33%, to a record 2.3bn. Group mortgage balances for Scarborough were up 4%, to 1.4bn and members savings balances were also up, 8% to 1.3 billion. The lender attributes the acquiring an offshore retail deposit-taking subsidiary, Scarborough Channel Islands and the launch a sub-prime lending arm, Scarborough Specialist ...

  • Scepticism over B2L buyouts

    25 Jun 2007

    Sharetobuy.com says its research shows a surge in enquires from sitting tenants looking to buy their rented properties as landlords struggle to meet their repayments since interest rates climbed to 5.50%.

  • Scratching my head at SHIP U-turn

    25 Jun 2007

    I am rather confused this week, what with HBOS' decline and the mixed signals on rates, but SHIP has left me bewildered by its backtrack on lifetime mortgage qualifications, says Sue Read

  • Secured Lending Summit off to flying start

    27 Jun 2007

    The Secured Lending Summit got off to a flying start today in Jerez, Spain, with delegates enjoying the sunshine and seminars from experts in the industry.

  • SECURED LENDING SUMMIT: Regulation to squeeze sector

    28 Jun 2007

    NEWS FROM THE SECURED LENDING SUMMIT IN JEREZ

  • Select & Protect appoints head of sales

    26 Jun 2007

    Select & Protect has appointed Paul Firkins as head of sales.

  • SHIP fees will rise 400% to pay for new staff

    25 Jun 2007

    Safe Home Income Plans has revealed it is increasing its fees from £6,000 a year to £24,000 to pay for a full-time director-general and two members of support staff.

  • SHIP sets course for a full-time future

    25 Jun 2007

    Safe Home Income Plans recently unveiled the results of a review of the direction it should follow in the years ahead. This follows an extensive period of consultation about the role of the industry body.

  • Should paying Stamp Duty be the responsibility of sellers or buyers?

    25 Jun 2007

    EARLIER this month, Peter Hain, MP for Neath and a candidate for deputy Prime Minister, called for Stamp Duty to be the burden of sellers rather than buyers. Some pundits have backed his proposal as a way to help first-time buyers onto the property ladder. But what do members of the public think? So, this week Mortgage Strategy asks…

  • Siege mentality will only fade with clear thinking

    1 Jul 2007

    It's been a busy month in the mortgage industry and there might be a little justification for everyone involved in mortgages to feel somewhat under siege at the moment.

  • SIPPs, HIPs and Westminster's folly

    25 Jun 2007

    What can be said about Home Information Packs that hasn't been said already? Acres of news-print have been devoted to this most vexed of subjects.

  • Size certainly doesn't matter when it comes to regulation

    1 Jul 2007

    From Richard Griffiths"Size doesn't matter as much as quality," says Justine Tomlinson of Mortgage Next in a letter to Mortgage Strategy. "Size really doesn't matter," says Gerry O'Brien of Home of Choice in the June issue of Mortgage Distributor.

  • SmartNewHomes.com calls for more family homes

    27 Jun 2007

    SmartNewHomes.com has called on Gordon Brown to increase the supply of family homes. It says the new homes market has experienced considerable change over the last 10 years under Tony Blair’s leadership, with a significant shift towards the building of more apartments. In 1997 when Blair first became Prime Minister, 74% of new homes built were houses, compared to just 26% of apartments.

  • SmartNewHomes.com forecasts housing market slowdown

    29 Jun 2007

    SmartNewHomes.com has warned that Nationwide’s latest house price figures suggest a housing market slowdown is looming.

  • Sneaky fees show market's dark side

    25 Jun 2007

    Arrangement fees are on the rise again. Over the past few weeks a number of lenders have tweak-ed their pricing to keep headline rates low only to dramatically increase their fees, a sharp practice highlighting the dark side of the mortgage market.

  • Society calls on Brown to make Stamp Duty changes

    25 Jun 2007

    Nationwide has called on Gordon Brown to do more to help home buyers.

  • SPPL launches packaging guide

    27 Jun 2007

    Southern Pacific Personal Loans has launched a packaging guide.

  • SPPL sales appointment

    25 Jun 2007

    Lehman Brothers Mortgage Capital has appointed Ed Payne as head of sales at Southern Pacific Personal Loans. Payne was formerly head of corporate accounts at Halifax. He will start work in August and will report to Guy Batchelor, executive director of sales and marketing at Lehmans.

  • Strike while the market is hot

    1 Jul 2007

    The figures released by Kensington Mortgages recently, as a result of the offer from Investec throw fresh light on the state of the mortgage market from the lender perspective. It also shows that there could be new opportunities for packagers.

  • Study on lender IT to focus on instant offers

    25 Jun 2007

    Instant offers using automated valuation models are what separates the best lenders from the rest, says Frank Eve Consulting as it launches its ann-ual benchmark study on lender intermediary technology.

  • Sub-prime and self-cert vital to packagers, says TMB

    26 Jun 2007

    Sub-prime and self-cert mortgages are vital to the future business of packagers, research by The Mortgage Business reveals.

  • Sub-prime faces regulatory flak

    25 Jun 2007

    A recent speech by the FSA's Clive Briault shows sub-prime is firmly on the regulator's radar. Hold on to your hats as it could be a bumpy ride, says Rob Griffiths

  • Sub-prime growth expected to continue

    1 Jul 2007

    The sub-prime mortgage market is set to continue to grow according to the latest research from market analyst Datamonitor.

  • TFC appoints financial director

    25 Jun 2007

    TFC Group has appointed Phillip Latala as financial director with responsibility for all businesses in the group. He says: "There is a sense of energy in TFC and I am looking forward to helping develop the business."

  • The HBOS giant is alive and kicking

    25 Jun 2007

    It was no surprise that the industry and the press in particular jumped on HBOS' Q1 results recently, its share having declined from around a fifth of the market to about 8%.

  • The Mortgage Mole

    25 Jun 2007

    Digging the dirt in the mortgage world...

  • The One account brand to stand alone

    25 Jun 2007

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners has confirmed that the One account is to be separated from the rest of its mortgage brands and given a dedicated sales force.

  • This Week's Dilemma

    25 Jun 2007

    I want to develop my business and broaden my range of services. I would like to generate additional income streams in new areas. Through training I know I can acquire the necessary skills to deliver a high quality service but I am unsure of how to build a reputation to attract enquiries and win business. How can this be achieved quickly and cost-effectively?

  • Thousands spent on HIP ads

    25 Jun 2007

    The government has been accused of wasting public mon-ey after it admitted spending thousands of pounds on Home Information Pack press advertising prior to its U-turn on the legislation.

  • Tie-up allows BDS to launch insurance arm

    25 Jun 2007

    BDS Mortgage Group has launched into the general insurance market through a tie-up with BDML Connect.

  • Title Deed: Convex Conveyancing

    25 Jun 2007

    Convex Conveyancing was set up in 2003 by founder and managing director Duncan Samuel.

  • TMB applications hit £10bn

    25 Jun 2007

    The specialist lender says its expansion has been steady since its foundation, but the past two years have seen an acceleration in growth. It hopes to build on this over the next five years and double its mortgage book by 2012.

  • TML appoints head of mortgages

    25 Jun 2007

    The Mortgage Lender has appointed Kevin Chapman as head of mortgages. He has 20 years' experience in mortgages and consumer credit and will help TML grow its presence in the remortgage and loan sectors.

  • TMW adds Connect Mortgage Group to its distributor panel

    27 Jun 2007

    The Mortgage Works has added Connect Mortgage Group to its sub-prime distribution panel.

  • TMW reprices BTL and self-cert range

    29 Jun 2007

    The Mortgage Works has reviewed its buy-to-let and self-cert product ranges.

  • Tomorrow unveils online system

    25 Jun 2007

    Tomorrow has launched an online quotation system for lifetime mortgages. Brokers will be able to get quotes 24 hours a day and track the progress of their clients' cases from application to completion. It is also reducing its minimum initial advance from £25,000 to £15,000.

  • Tony Murtagh looks to buy Capital One Homeowner Loans

    28 Jun 2007

    The Money Group’s managing director Tony Murtagh has told Mortgage Strategy that he is interested in acquiring Capital One’s Homeowner Loans operation.

  • Tread carefully with fees and commission

    25 Jun 2007

    Do you sell unregulated financial products for which borrowers pay you fees?

  • UCB modifies rates across range

    25 Jun 2007

    UCB Home Loans is slashing rates on its self-cert and buy-to-let two-year tracker products. However, it is increasing fixed rates on its prime self-cert and buy- to-let two, three and five-year products, its near-prime self- cert and full-status deals, as well as its prime full-status two and three-year products.

  • United Packagers Association: Check your firm's race record

    1 Jul 2007

    It seemingly resurfaced with Big Ron (presumably the Big now stands for 'Big Mouth') letting slip his now infamous Marcel Desailly on-air, off-air tirade. It was further fuelled by young boarding school ill-educated Lucy Buchanan of Channel 4's Shipwrecked, incarcerated in her cocoon of ignorance and the channel's other show, Big Brother, that seems to have a mandatory racist per series.

  • UX Mortgages and Tiuta launch combined bridge and remortgage

    27 Jun 2007

    UX Mortgages and bridging loan provider, Tiuta, have launched a combined bridge and mortgage product with a single application and underwriting process.

  • Wave goodbye to Freedom

    25 Jun 2007

    Eleven months after Freedom Lending was bought by US investment giant Merrill Lynch the firm has finally unveiled its new name - Wave.

  • Wave hello to the new Freedom

    25 Jun 2007

    Eleven months after Freedom Lending was bought by US investment giant Merrill Lynch, the firm has unveiled its new name - Wave.

  • Website points to Blair's mixed housing legacy

    25 Jun 2007

    With Tony Blair due to step down as Prime Minister later this week, Pro-pertyfinder.com says his housing market legacy includes lower mortgage rates but also declining numbers of first-time buyers.

Poll

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

Current Issue

Lending Zone
petitions
debate
Define Advice
Advanced search