Mortgage Strategy
30 April 2007

  • Advantage opens range to brokers

    30 Apr 2007

    Advantage has made its new self-cert product range available direct to brokers. The range is open to employed and self employed borrowers and is based on affordability.

  • Freedom appointment

    30 Apr 2007

    Freedom Finance has appointed Jim McClurg as a non-executive director. He is a non-executive director of both Skipton Financial Services and Mortgage Next and used to be a director of Commercial Union.

  • Halifax Hispania woos ex-pats

    30 Apr 2007

    Banco Halifax Hispania has launched a scheme allowing ex-pats with property in Spain to transfer their mortgages to it without paying switching costs. The bank will meet transfer costs and pay 0.5% towards any early repayment charges.

  • Letter of the Month: Technology is paving the way for a new future

    1 May 2007

    From Jonathan Burridge

  • Lib Dems call for safety net

    30 Apr 2007

    The Liberal Democrat party has called on monetary authorities such as the Bank of England to create a safety net for all those home owners that could be hit if there is a downturn in the UK housing market. Vince Cable MP, shadow chancellor for the Liberal Democrats, has urged the mortgage industry to help the government create alternative insurance plans for any economic downturns. He says: "There needs to be communication now because there is a potential crisis building up. The mortgage ...

  • Moneyquest boss wins Dubai prize

    30 Apr 2007

    Steve Pollard, chief executive of Moneyquest, was the lucky winner of Beacon Homeloans' holiday prize draw competition, held at the Mortgage Summit in Dubai. Pollard wins 3,000 in holiday vouchers.

  • £100bn of fixed rates nearing their term, says mform.co.uk

    3 May 2007

    Over £100bn worth of fixed rate mortgages could be coming to an end this year, says mform.co.uk.

  • ABN board not keen on RBS bid

    30 Apr 2007

    A consortium led by the Royal Bank of Scotland rivalled Barclays' bid for ABN Amro last week. However, the board of the Dutch bank is unhappy with RBS' proposal to break up the business, despite its more competitive offer and the support of ABN's shareholders.

  • Advantage appoints regional sales manager

    30 Apr 2007

    Advantage has appointed James Higgs as regional sales manager for London.

  • Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors: Make best of a unique position

    1 May 2007

    I have said, many times before that the 'packager' tag is outdated and does no favours to an industry that has flourished and matured over the years. Lenders that genuinely embraced this route to market have seen strong growth, acceptable margins and the opportunity to build lasting links with their 'outsourced' distribution partners.

  • Allied Surveyors calls for rate freeze

    4 May 2007

    Allied Surveyors has warned the Monetary Policy Committee to keep rates at 5.25% next week to avoid a house price slump.

  • Amber reports 100% growth

    30 Apr 2007

    Amber Homeloans reports a 100% increase in both packaged and direct applications in Q1 2007 compared with last year. Mike Perry, associate director of sales and marketing at Amber, says: "Improvements in all our operations will allow us to continue to improve our offering throughout the rest of the year and beyond."

  • AMI reassures brokers on data threat fears

    30 Apr 2007

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has reassured brokers that a data protection crisis should not affect the mortgage industry.

  • AMI should take wider industry role

    30 Apr 2007

    At the recent Mortgage Summit in Dubai we debated whether there could be a trade body that represented the commercial interests of the mortgage industry, and if this role could not be fulfilled by the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries, whether we needed another one.

  • Application fraud up 20% in Q1 2007

    30 Apr 2007

    application fraud rose by over 20% in Q1 2007 compared with the same period in 2006.

  • Association of Mortgage Intermediaries: Prepare for more rule changes

    1 May 2007

    June is going to be a busy month for the Financial Services Authority. Not only do we expect to see the usual updates from thematic work and perhaps a few answers to questions around industry guidance but the high point of the month, and perhaps the year, comes on 27 June when the FSA unveils its thoughts on the Retail Distribution Review.

  • Averages never tell the whole story

    30 Apr 2007

    A long-term issue in the equity release market is that customers' lifespans and their cost implications should be central to the advice process. No-one would disagree with this in theory, but how do we deal with it in practice?

  • B&B loans deal strengthens Kensington's expansion

    30 Apr 2007

    Bradford & Bingley has agreed to purchase up to 2bn of Kensington Mortgages' prime loans over the next two years.

  • Bad debt to rise regardless of rates, says consultancy

    30 Apr 2007

    Bad deBt and mortgage repossessions are likely to increase even if interest rates remain stable.

  • Basic principles explained

    1 May 2007

    At the recent Council of Mortgage Lender's lunch Clive Briault, the Financial Services Authority's managing director of retail markets, opened his address by saying: "You will no doubt have heard a lot about our move to a more principles-based approach. Why are we doing this? We want to see a stronger focus by firms on the outcomes that really matter - better outcomes for consumers, for investors and for markets, and therefore better outcomes against our four statutory objectives."

  • BDS partners up with Conti

    30 Apr 2007

    BDS Mortgage Group has partnered up with Conti Financial Services to provide finance for holiday homes, investment and retirement properties in 40 countries from over 225 products.

  • Beacon introduces affordability calculator

    1 May 2007

    Beacon Homeloans is to introduce affordability based lending on all full status applications. Beacon’s affordability lending model uses a calculation that assesses an applicant’s expected net income, living costs, and existing loans, to determine an affordable mortgage repayment amount. Clive Willson, head of sales at Beacon, says: “Our move to affordability lending is an extremely positive one, and will allow us to offer realistic loan amounts that are in context with ...

  • Boost for brokers as Creative integrates with Trigold ETC platform

    1 May 2007

    Creative Mortgage Solutions has announced a full integration with Trigold's E-Trading Centre, enabling brokers to access a Creative Mortgage Solutions' generic application directly from the Prospector AAA sourcing system.

  • Borrowers split on deal options

    30 Apr 2007

    Borrowers are split 50/50 between fixed and variable rate deals, says Hamptons Mortgages. Jonathan Cornell, technical director at Hamptons, says: "Base rate uncertainty seems to have put the cat among the pigeons."

  • Brickbats for NatWest's £1,000 challenge

    30 Apr 2007

    NatWest's £1,000 challenge to borrowers has been slam-med by the industry as a 'smoke and mirrors' marketing ploy.

  • Bridging crosses into mainstream

    1 May 2007

    Bridging is an important part of the lending chain and is now accepted as a useful tool to solve a whole range of short-term funding requirements.

  • Britannia calls up Callcredit's help

    30 Apr 2007

    Britannia has enlisted Callcredit's CallML service to verify the identities of its new customers. CallML was developed to help regulated businesses satisfy ID verification requirements of the latest anti-money laundering regulations.

  • Britons quite right to put cash in property

    30 Apr 2007

    A recent study by Prudential showed that property now accounts for over 55% of Britons' wealth - up from 42% in 1996 . It goes on to say that this figure will rise to 60% by 2009 if present trends continue.

  • Brokers can benefit from specialist skills

    1 May 2007

    From Paul HoldenIsn't it strange how less than two years ago, several industry figures were heralding the imminent demise of the packaging sector? However, here we are in May 2007 and the packaging sector is alive and well.

  • Brown reappoints Barker to MPC

    30 Apr 2007

    Chancellor Gordon Brown has reappointed Kate Barker to the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee for a further three-year term. Barker's current term is due to expire on May 31. She has been an MPC member for the past six years.

  • Burns-Anderson profits rise

    30 Apr 2007

    Burns-Anderson's profits were up at 832,000 in 2006, with turnover up nearly 20% to over 42m. Peter Coleman, finance director at the firm, says: "These are the best all-round results in the history of the business."

  • Buyers abroad urged to declare tax

    30 Apr 2007

    A leading property consultant has warned overseas property investors to be prepared, following the government’s announcement it plans to crackdown on Brits not declaring income earned abroad.

  • Buyers flee house price hotspots

    30 Apr 2007

    New home buyers are looking for their first homes outside London and the Midlands in an attempt to escape spiralling prices, according to SmartNewHomes. com.

  • Cable calls for safety net

    30 Apr 2007

    The Liberal Democrat party has called on the mortgage industry to talk to the government in an attempt to create a safety net for the thousands of home owners who may be hit by an economic downturn.

  • Call for Knight to stay in industry

    1 May 2007

    Stephen Knight's departure from GMAC-RFC has sparked serious concern about his future, with several industry commentators expressing their desire that he remain in the mortgage industry in some guise.

  • Call for return of HCR in wake of Lords criticism

    2 May 2007

    The National Energy Services has called for the government to reassess its stance on Home Condition Reports.

  • Cheval claims to have done fastest 980,000 loan

    30 Apr 2007

    Cheval has completed what it be-lieves to be the UK's quickest bridging loan for 980,000.

  • Club members reaping benefits

    1 May 2007

    At the moment, club products continue to look great value especially with the recent increase in procuration fees which they are paying. Clubs continue to add lenders to their panels with both Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners and Cheltenham & Gloucester for Intermediaries joining Legal & General mortgage club. I guess they are likely to have joined other clubs as well but, trawling through my emails, if they have they have not told me.

  • Clydesdale appoints relationship managers

    2 May 2007

    Clydesdale Bank has made two appointments to its team of relationship managers serving mortgage brokers in the South.

  • CML and Cheval to launch bridging trade body

    30 Apr 2007

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders and Cheval Bridging Finance are launching a bridging finance trade body that should come into effect before the end of the year.

  • Code of conduct for packagers proposed

    30 Apr 2007

    The newly-established Packager Task Force has proposed a voluntary code of conduct for the packaging industry.

  • Cohabiting couples warned

    30 Apr 2007

    Unmarried couples have been urged to put their home in both their names or risk losing their share in the property if they split up, following a landmark House of Lords ruling.

  • Commercial First launches BTLs

    30 Apr 2007

    Commercial First has unveiled a range of investment mortgages, aimed at the growing number of landlords looking to add commercial property to their portfolios.

  • Commission loaded malpractice must stop

    30 Apr 2007

    Publications and journalists are criticised for some of the stories they print, but they often don't receive praise when they highlight important issues and campaign to improve the industries in which they operate.

  • Consumers lack basic knowledge

    30 Apr 2007

    Consumers are in the dark when it comes to basic personal finance concepts, says Stroud & Swindon. It says 70% of people think a current account mortgage is not a real product and most do not know that a base rate mortgage doesn't exist.

  • Couple offer home in online competition

    30 Apr 2007

    The owners of a £650,000 Georgian mansion are bypassing the traditional house selling process by offering the public the chance to win the property for just £60 in an online competition.

  • Coventry and Godiva launch new range

    1 May 2007

    Coventry and its lending subsidiary Godiva have launched a new range of residential and specialist mortgages.

  • Coventry launches Rugby World Cup prize draw for brokers

    2 May 2007

    Coventry has launched a free prize draw for intermediaries to win a trip to Paris in September for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

  • Cover

    30 Apr 2007

    Financial services compaFnies are regularly blasted for hitting customers with sneaky charges but in hiking mortgage exit fees they have brazenly overstepped the mark.

  • CurriculumVitae

    30 Apr 2007

    I was asked to fax a complaint to haed office, but sent it to the Guardian instead. Luckily, it didn't publish it

  • DB appoints two London BDMs

    30 Apr 2007

    DB Mortgages has appointed two business development managers for London. Michael Ferris joins from the De Havilland Group, and Barry Scott from the Royal Bank of Scotland. They will report to divisional sales manager Peter Kouset.

  • Dear Delia

    30 Apr 2007

    Dear Delia I have a 23 year old client who finished university over a year ago and has been in permanent work since. He is renting but is now in a position to buy. He has his own savings, 17,500 from his parents plus a 35,000 salary. In his student days, he defaulted on a credit card and was also issued a County Court judgement for 638, which was satisfied eight months ago. He has viewed a number of properties ranging from 155,000 to 170,000. Can you help? Delia says: Your client has several ...

  • Death knell for packagers based on false premise

    1 May 2007

    From Nigel PayneIt is a fact that markets are often led by sentiment. Prior to regulation, the death knell of the market was based on a false premise. It was claimed the market would disappear and packagers would cease to exist. Today the reality couldn't be more different.

  • DTI freezes green scheme

    30 Apr 2007

    The Department of Trade & Industry has frozen its controversial Low Carbon Building Programme scheme.

  • Dubai coastline saved

    30 Apr 2007

    All those who enjoyed the beautiful coastline of Dubai at the Mortgage Summit will be pleased to hear that the golden beach of Umm Suqueim has been spared from developers.Protesters used online petitions and blogs to save the stretch of beach by the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the venue for the hugely successful Mortgage Summit.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, heard of the protest and instructed that building work should stop immediately.

  • Dutch court blocks ABN sale of LaSalle

    3 May 2007

    The sale of $21bn ABN Amro’s US LaSalle unit to Bank of America has been blocked by a court in Amsterdam.

  • E2M unveils Spring competition winner

    30 Apr 2007

    Easier2move, the UK’s leading online conveyancer, has unveiled the winner of its Spring holiday competition while also announcing the launch of a Summer contest for referrers.

  • Economy growth rate unchanged

    30 Apr 2007

    The economy expanded by just 0.7% in Q1 2007, figures from the Office of National Statistics reveal. This is the same rate of expansion as in the final quarter of 2006.

  • Edeus completes whole loan sale

    30 Apr 2007

    Edeus has completed its second whole loan sale in less than a month.

  • Electronic ID integration

    30 Apr 2007

    Advantage has integrated Experian's Authenticate Plus system of electronic identification verification with its e:lect online lending platform. Keith Dearling, managing director of Advantage, says: "A growing number of transactions are conducted online and this upgrade demonstrates our commitment to continuously improving our processing service."

  • Elephant opens training academy

    30 Apr 2007

    Elephant Loans, the sales distribution channel for specialist lenders, has established an in-house training facility called the Elephant Academy.

  • Em launches website

    3 May 2007

    Em-financial has launched a website which includes online decision in principals, online application forms, 24 hour product sourcing and an exclusive sourcing guide.

  • Em-financial in online initiative

    1 May 2007

    em-financial has launched a new website aimed at offering intermediaries quick and easy access to a range of services.

  • Enterprising edge

    1 May 2007

    Enterprise Group recently surprised the mortgage industry with its announcement that Sir Peter Burt, the former HBOS deputy chairman and chairman of ITV, had invested £8.5m in the group for a 30% shareholding. The investment was made by Promethean Investments - of which Sir Peter is the chairman - a private equity firm run by his son Michael Burt and formed two years ago with backing from a range of City institutions.

  • Evaluate strikes out on its own

    1 May 2007

    Evaluate, the technology platform being developed by Primrose Mortgage Processing, is to be relaunched as an independent proposition headed by Primrose's chief executive Paul Fradgley and strategic partnership director Kevin Friend, who are parting ways with the Londonbased distributor.

  • Exclusive Connections: Packager is still a valid term

    1 May 2007

    The value of packagers has changed radically since the advent of compulsory regulation to the point of open questioning of why the word 'packager' is still used to describe their function in the market. To my mind, the word is probably outmoded but in the absence of something better, it is still common currency. Packaging described the process by which documents which helped to support a mortgage application were gathered together along with a valuation so that a full 'package' could be ...

  • Expo Manchester to include secured loans seminar theatre

    30 Apr 2007

    This year’s Mortgage Business Expo Manchester will include a dedicated seminar theatre focused on the secured loan market.

  • Expo to host secured loans seminars

    30 Apr 2007

    Mortgage Business Expo Manchester has launched a secured loans seminar theatre to help educate brokers about this sector.

  • Fate of HIPs rests on House of Lords debate

    30 Apr 2007

    The future of Home Information Packs hangs in the balance this week as the House of Lords is set to debate and vote on the legislation.

  • First4cover joins Pink panel

    30 Apr 2007

    Pink Home Loans has appointed first4cover to its insurance panel.

  • Firstrung slams Social HomeBuy scheme

    30 Apr 2007

    Firstrung has warned that the limited take-up of the government's Social HomeBuy scheme could mean such schemes will fail to deliver value for money.

  • Fitch upgrades Farringdon ratings

    30 Apr 2007

    Fitch Ratings has upgraded three tranches of Farringdon One and re-moved its negative ratings watch from Farringdon Two.

  • Five easy steps to prepare for HIPs

    30 Apr 2007

    There's not long now before the launch of Home Information Packs on June 1. I've worked in the mortgage industry for longer than I care to remember and if I've learnt anything, it's to be a realist.

  • FLA to host sub-prime finance conference

    3 May 2007

  • Flexible protection for an uncertain climate

    30 Apr 2007

    In the past couple of weeks, three unconnected events set the alarm bells ringing.

  • For all the confusion, the only way is up

    30 Apr 2007

    Are house prices going up or down? What are the regional variations across the UK? What will the future of house prices look like? Will we see a correction or is it simply a case of on-wards and upwards?

  • Free HIP factsheet from Easier2Move

    30 Apr 2007

    Easier2Move is offering a free Home Information Pack factsheet to help estate agents and financial advisers explain HIPs. It offers a brief explanation of HIPs including their benefits and the impact they may have on the housing market. It also encourages hesitant sellers to put their houses on the market prior to the launch of the packs.

  • Freedom offers self-cert tracker

    30 Apr 2007

    Freedom Lending has launched a three-year self-cert tracker mortgage exclusively via Exclusive Connections members. Rates start at base rate plus 0.24%.

  • Freehold: Danger in retention products

    1 May 2007

    So lenders have finally woken up to the fact that it is all well and good ramming new business into the funnel by offering great deals to new borrowers, but it won't stop them losing existing borrowers out of the bottom. Entrance stage left the retention product that also pays a procuration fee to the introducing broker.

  • Friends Provident protection boost

    30 Apr 2007

    Friends Provident has reported an 8% rise in Q1 2007 protection sales at 100m, compared to 93m over the same period last year.

  • FSA fears regulation could face EC threat

    30 Apr 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has raised concerns about the potential threat to principals-based regulation posed by the European Commission.

  • FSA reports TCF progress and sets new deadline

    1 May 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has reported an increase in commitment by senior management to the principle of treating customers fairly but says firms that have still failed to engage face enforcement action.

  • FSA to unveil retail distribution issues

    30 Apr 2007

    The Financial Services Authority will set out the key issues for discussion in its major review of the retail distribution market at a conference on June 27. The review will examine the whole retail distribution chain and some pundits warn it could transform the mortgage market.

  • FSA wrong to just bin call to regulate packagers

    1 May 2007

    Last month we learned from Mandy Spink, the Financial Services Authority's new head of department for mortgages and credit unions in the small firms division, that the regulator had once again looked at whether packagers required authorisation and decided this was unnecessary.

  • FTBs gamble on semis with strings

    30 Apr 2007

    Agreeing to buy a house with a stranger is the latest desperate measure being used by first-time buyers in their attempt to get on the property ladder.

  • Future Mortgages joins SimblyBiz panel

    30 Apr 2007

    Future Mortgages has been appointed to the lending panel of SimplyBiz Mortgages, the specialist mortgage club.

  • GE buys minority stake in Solent

    2 May 2007

    GE Money Home Lending has bought a minority stake in Solent Mortgage Services.

  • GEMHL secures a stake in Solent Mortgage Services

    1 May 2007

    GE Money Home Lending has taken a minority stake in Solent Mortgage Services for an undisclosed amount.

  • GI sales system is upgraded

    30 Apr 2007

    Home Buyer Systems has unveiled an upgraded version of its general insurance advice and sales system. This simplifies the process and cuts the number of stages without compromising compliance.

  • GMAC-RFC boosts packager service

    1 May 2007

    GMAC-RFC has linked up with eConveyancer to offer its packager partners exclusive use of an online conveyancing service. The service went live on 1 May on the GMAC partners website and offers access to a range of solicitors.

  • GMAC-RFC offers eConveyancer service for packagers

    1 May 2007

    GMAC-RFC has linked up with eConveyancer to offer its packagers exclusive use of an online conveyancing service.

  • Government is not helping ownership

    30 Apr 2007

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has accused the government of stunting home ownership growth in the UK.

  • Green boost for timber frames

    30 Apr 2007

    A growing number of eco-conscious house builders opting for timber frame construction has boosted timber frame sales, figures from the UK Timber Frame Association show.

  • Gus Park becomes director of intermediary sales at MEX

    1 May 2007

    Mortgage Express has appointed Gus Park as director of intermediary sales.

  • Hanley launches green mortgage

    30 Apr 2007

    The Hanley has launched its first green mortgage, which offers customers a discounted rate, free legals, free valuation and no arrangement fee. The Hanley will donate 200 to ClimateCare on behalf of customers who take out the mortgage.

  • Help Personal Finance expands head office

    2 May 2007

    Manchester based loans packager Help Personal Finance is expanding its head office to accommodate its growing team.

  • Heritable appoints mortgage MD

    2 May 2007

    Heritable has appointed Adrian Scott as managing director of its mortgage business.

  • Hidden perils of card debts

    30 Apr 2007

    More than half of all people seeking a mortgage don't realise that missed credit card payments can affect their chances of getting one, according to Beacon Homeloans.

  • HIP sceptics should get their facts right

    30 Apr 2007

    There are just 32 days until Home Information Packs come into force and still the sceptics and doomsayers try to convince an unwitting public that HIPs are not only bad for the industry but will not happen.

  • Home of Choice: Life on Mars is not the future

    1 May 2007

    Many major multinationals employ futurologists - people who think the unthinkable to develop scenarios by which to test business strategy and plan for the future.

  • Hong Kong bank chooses xit2

    30 Apr 2007

    Lloyds TSB Hong Kong is to incorporate xit2's Valuation Exchange into its application process to provide the online system to manage its valuations. Paul Duckworth, chief executive officer of xit2, says: "It's great to see how easily and effectively our system can be adapted for foreign markets."

  • Household costs rise 12%

    30 Apr 2007

    The annual cost of running a home has rocketed by 12% during the past three years, research by Sainsbury's Bank reveals.

  • Hush hush

    1 May 2007

    UP IN SMOKE Hush Hush admires a man of his word, so when Michael Clapper, chief executive of Enterprise Group, told MD editor Matthew West he had quit smoking at the recent Mortgage Summit in Dubai, West could not help but congratulate him.

  • IF launches revised range

    3 May 2007

    Intelligent Finance is launching a range of revised offset and non-offset mortgages.

  • IFS e-learning course on TCF

    1 May 2007

    The ifs school of finance has launched a new e-learning training package to help intermediaries demonstrate they are committed to treating customers fairly principles.

  • Imti Deen's nightmare with Mortgage Times mirrors my bad experiences

    30 Apr 2007

    From Des Platt

  • In a man's world, we offer important skills

    30 Apr 2007

    Due to Rob Jupp's presence at the Mortgage Summit in Dubai, he asked me to take the reins and write about a subject that I feel passionate about - women in the industry.

  • Infinity marks Madison panel entry with B2L deal

    30 Apr 2007

    Infinity Mortgages has joined Madison Square's lending panel.

  • Ingram to head Swift as chief operations officer

    30 Apr 2007

    Swift Group has appointed Nigel In-gram as chief operations officer to replace retiring managing director Bernard Barwick.

  • Insurer sets up broker team

    30 Apr 2007

    Royal & SunAlliance has formed an affinity executive team to increase its profitability numbers. The affinity division works with brokers looking to enhance their position or drive additional revenue by using insurance as an add-on product. The role varies with each partner, from underwriter to full marketing support using the partner's brand to sell insurance.

  • InterBay rebrands and relocates

    30 Apr 2007

    InterBay has been rebranded InterBay Commercial. It will be based in new offices close to its present headquarters in Fareham, allowing it to increase staff numbers from 70 to 120.

  • Interest rates could rise by 0.5% this year, says Punter Southall

    2 May 2007

    Interest rates could increase by 0.5% before the end of the year, predicts Punter Southall.

  • Is it better for lenders to invest in underwriters or in technology?

    30 Apr 2007

    We all know that if you ask two people for their opinions you will get two different answers. As humans, we see and communicate with people differently and this is the major flaw with manual underwriting. Human intervention gives an inconsistent approach - where one underwriter may accept a case, another may choose to lend a different amount or not to lend at all.

  • It is no longer just prime time

    1 May 2007

    The continuing pace of change in the mortgage market has for many years been regarded as one of its most encouraging aspects. Without the continued product innovation seen in recent years borrowers might still be having to save for at least a year with a bank or building society before that lender would even consider them for a mortgage. The sub-prime market would not exist, neither would buy-to-let. Self-cert might still be unheard of as would equity release.

  • IVA figures rise 50%

    4 May 2007

    Individual Voluntary Arrangements in Q1 2007 were up by nearly 50% on 2006’s first quarter figures.

  • Julian Wells quits Mortgages PLC

    2 May 2007

    Julian Wells has quit his position as head of marketing at Mortgages PLC.

  • Just Retirement reports sales increase

    30 Apr 2007

    Just Retirement has revealed that total group sales rose to £164.8m in Q1 2007, up 64.8% on Q1 2006 figures.

  • Kensington improves online proposition

    3 May 2007

    Kensington has upgraded its K-net e-commerce platform.

  • Kensington lends a hand with business forums

    30 Apr 2007

    Kensington is launching a series of business forums around the country.

  • Kent Reliance reports India exchange a success

    30 Apr 2007

    Kent Reliance has reported its recent exchange programme with Leigh City Technology College in Dartford, Kent, which offered eight students the opportunity to conduct their work experience in India, was a resounding success.

  • Knight quits GMAC after 20 years

    1 May 2007

    Stephen Knight, executive chairman of GMAC-RFC announced this month that he will be stepping down on 30 September 2007 after 20 years continuous service.

  • KRS sponsors Expo pavilion

    30 Apr 2007

    Key Retirement Solutions will sponsor the equity release pavilion at the Mortgage Business Expo Manchester on May 16-17. Attendees will be able to meet providers and attend seminars organised by the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries.

  • Landlord returns hit five month high, says Paragon

    30 Apr 2007

    Average total returns generated by landlords have reached their highest level in five months, as both rents and property values continue to rise, says Paragon. Over the past quarter, rents are up 8.2% and house prices paid by landlords up 5.5%, the latest Paragon buy-to-let index reveals.

  • Lawyer warns IVA firms to advertise cautiously

    4 May 2007

    A lawyer has warned individual voluntary arrangement providers to exercise caution when advertising their services to the public.

  • Leading by example

    1 May 2007

    As we move through 2007 the demand for mortgage advice has remained pretty constant. Consumers are busy putting their monetary houses in order, further fuelled by this month's base rate rise, creating an opportunity for mortgage brokers to make a killing.

  • Leeds enhances FTB criteria

    3 May 2007

    Leeds has confirmed that applications supported by guarantors will now be accepted on all its 100% mortgage products.

  • Legal & General: Looking at the bigger picture

    1 May 2007

    It is amazing how many mortgages are arranged with little or no regard to protection. Our figures suggest only 46% of mortgages sold have some protection attached and even then this protection does not necessarily cover the full value of the debt. Overall, there is a protection gap of 2.3trn (source: Swiss Re Term & Health Watch 2006) in this country.

  • Legal definition

    1 May 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.

  • Lehman Brothers seeks broker feedback

    1 May 2007

    The Lehman Mortgage Capital businesses are to run feedback sessions across the country in May and June.

  • Lehman Brothers set to launch new direct-to-broker lender next year

    1 May 2007

    Lehman Brothers Mortgage Capital will launch a direct-to-broker specialist lender at the beginning of 2008.

  • Lehman to take on rivals with £4m marketing budget

    30 Apr 2007

    Lehman Brothers looks set to take the intermediary market by storm over the coming months after it revealed it will be spending a whopping £4m on marketing to develop its multi-brand market strategy.

  • Lender pictures future without intermediaries

    30 Apr 2007

    The decision by secured loan lender Picture to suspend its intermediary business came as a surprise to the market, but with the benefit of hindsight it can be seen that this was likely happen at some point.

  • Lenders always find a way to make a profit

    30 Apr 2007

    When it comes to escalating fees and charges, the past few years have seen banks and societies moving further into territory that smacks of profiteering.

  • Lenders are primed for action

    1 May 2007

    The mortgage market is changing and evolving in terms of the products on offer and the lenders developing them. Mortgage lending accounts for more than 1trn in the UK but what is harder to get a handle on is how this is split between prime business and more specialist types of lending.

  • Lenders' fees are unjustifiable and should be capped

    30 Apr 2007

    From Nigel Pamment

  • Lenders move with the times

    1 May 2007

    The mortgage industry has witnessed significant changes during the past few years. One of the biggest has been the move from bulk processing of prime mortgage applications for mainstream or high street lenders to the specialist packaging of non-conforming and sub-prime mortgage business.

  • Lenders must get up-to-speed fast

    30 Apr 2007

    The recent inflation figures have put the cat among the pigeons and economists' predictions have turned once more to the likelihood of a Bank of England base rate rise. Rather than talking about a possible 0.25% increase, they now see an increase as a certainty and discussion now centres on how many more rises there could be this year.

  • Lenders must learn to price for risk

    30 Apr 2007

    Last week, I wrote about the pace of evolution in the specialist sector. Unfortunately I ran out of space before I could talk about the evolution of products in the prime and sub-prime markets so I saved it for this week.

  • Lenders store up bad news for clients

    30 Apr 2007

    Yet more bad news for any of your clients thinking of buying houses or who are coming to the end of their mortgage deals - big lenders have been pulling their fixed rate deals because of fears of an imminent increase in the Bank of England base rate.

  • Lending volumes to rise in specialist markets

    1 May 2007

    Almost two-thirds of mortgage intermediaries believe lending volumes will rise this year across the specialist areas of credit-impaired, buy-to-let, self-cert and 100%-plus loans, according to a survey from Godiva Mortgages released this month.

  • Lib Dems call for mutual transparency

    30 Apr 2007

    The Liberal Democrat Party has called for building societies to become more transparent in their dealings.

  • Litvinenko arrests imminent

    30 Apr 2007

    Scotland Yard is rumoured to be poised to issue warrants to arrest three former KGB officers it suspects of having poisoned Alexander Litvinenko with Polonium-210.

  • Long-term deal funds run dry

    30 Apr 2007

    Nationwide has revealed that it is likely to run out of funding for its 25-year fixed rate product early this week.

  • Lords unconvinced about HIPs

    1 May 2007

    The House of Lords has accused the government of failing to convince the housing industry of the benefits of Home Information Packs.

  • Majority of MS readers back packager regulation

    30 Apr 2007

    A massive 86% of Mortgage Strategy Online readers believe the Financial Services Authority should regulate packagers, despite it revealing at the Mortgage Summit in Dubai that it has no immediate plans to do so. Just 14% backed the FSA's stance.This week Mortgage Strategy asks: "Should the secured loans sector be regulated?"Q: Should the FSA regulate packagers?

  • Malle promoted to sales director

    30 Apr 2007

    Dev Malle has been promoted from director of mortgage distribution to sales director at Personal Touch Financial Services.

  • Malle's table is full of holes and undermines his conclusion

    30 Apr 2007

    From Richard Griffiths

  • Manchester launches tracker

    30 Apr 2007

    Manchester has launched a two-year tracker product.

  • March house prices up by 0.6%

    4 May 2007

    The average London house price increased again in April, rising 0.6% to £264,636 up from £262,989 in March, data from haart estate agents reveals.

  • March lending down says BoE

    2 May 2007

    The Bank of England has revealed that lending in March was lower than in February.

  • Market watch

    30 Apr 2007

    Swaps soared over the past week after the Consumer Price Index figures showed that inflation had hit 3.1%.

  • Me & My Car

    30 Apr 2007

    Let me make it clear that although I have a Volkswagen Beetle I am not a fan of the Herbie films. Fans of the Beetle have a somewhat annoying habit of acknowledging fellow bug enthusiasts with a peculiar hand signal, which I hate. That said, I know it is simply an expression of love and affection for a great car, which are feelings I share.

  • Mole

    30 Apr 2007

    ice queen Earlier this month the Mortgage Strategy crew were lapping up the sunshine at the Dubai Summit but this week they experienced a slightly colder environment - a visit to the Ice Bar in Piccadilly.

  • Money Partners launches new product range

    1 May 2007

    Money Partners has launched of new range of specialist mortgage products for brokers.

  • Money Partners range to be funded by Deutsche

    4 May 2007

    Money Partners has branched out into high LTV lending through a funding deal with Deutsche Bank.

  • Mortgage demand weakening, says BBA

    30 Apr 2007

    The British Bankers Association figures for high street banks show that mortgage demand may be weakening in the face of rising interest rates in March.

  • Mortgage Expo to ask industry what it wants

    30 Apr 2007

    Clarion, the organiser of the Mortgage Business Expo, says it will engage with the industry to improve the event, following criticism from former exhibitors.

  • Mortgage Intelligence: Time to push switch message

    1 May 2007

    Recent press coverage has shown that most people are indifferent when it comes to switching utility companies even though this can be done simply and could save them hundreds of pounds each year. Unfortunately, many people show the same attitude with their biggest financial commitment, their mortgage.

  • Mortgage miles scheme would help first-time buyers

    30 Apr 2007

    A broker has patented a system that allows consumers to collect mortgage points that can be redeemed on their mortgage.

  • Mortgage Promotions: Sharpen services to survive

    1 May 2007

    It seems the jury is out on what the future holds for the UK housing market over the short term. As always, when the economy is on the cusp of change, the mixed economic indicators give commentators the ammunition to spin whatever story they want.

  • MS team skydives for charity

    1 May 2007

    The Mortgage Strategy team have all landed safely after jumping from 13,000 feet for charity.

  • MT teams up with estate agent

    30 Apr 2007

    The Mortgage Times Group has linked up with Century 21, enabling its appointed representatives to work in the estate agency's branches across the UK. Century 21 will also be able to appoint its own brokers to MT's network.

  • Multiples may be called into question

    30 Apr 2007

    Unlike many commentators, I was relaxed when lenders increased their income multiples to 5 x last year. Affordability models have become sophisticated, often not only using the experience of the lender involved but also drawing on resources and profiling models from outside companies such as Experian.

  • N&P to launch new lender

    30 Apr 2007

    Norwich and Peterborough has revealed it will set up a lending subsidiary this year called Astra Mortgages.

  • Nationwide ends reservation discount offer

    3 May 2007

    Nationwide has ended the increased reservation fee discount for its existing borrowers.

  • Nationwide withdraws 25-year fix

    2 May 2007

    Nationwide has withdrawn its 25-year fixed rate mortgage.

  • NatWest changes rates on B2L fixes

    30 Apr 2007

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners is today introducing new rates on the NatWest buy-to-let two-year fixed rate mortgages.

  • Network Data Holdings: Already looking forward to next Mortgage Summit views

    1 May 2007

    The Mortgage Summit in Dubai last month amounted to a few days of over indulgence in food and drink interspersed with conference sessions and break-out workshops with individual sponsors.

  • Networks are a boon to sector

    1 May 2007

    I recently made the decision to leave my role with The Whitechurch Network. Of course I wish all the staff and members at Whitechurch all the very best for the future but the opportunities and future business projections presented by my new role as mortgage director at Lansdown Place were just too good to turn down.

  • Never mind the multiple, gauge the affordability

    30 Apr 2007

    From Danny Lovey

  • Newcastle appoints internet marketing manager

    2 May 2007

    Newcastle has appointed Michael Boyle as internet marketing manager.

  • Newcastle appoints online marketing manager

    1 May 2007

    Newcastle has appointed Michael Boyle as its new internet marketing manager.

  • Nimbyism dilutes sympathy for FTBs

    30 Apr 2007

    Propertyfinder.com has revealed that a 'not in my backyard' mentality is diminishing home owners' sympathy for key workers and first-time buyers.

  • OFT puts banks under the spotlight

    30 Apr 2007

    The Office of Fair Trading has launched a study into banks' current account pricing and a formal investigation into unauthorised overdraft and returned item fees.

  • On the case

    1 May 2007

    Client A went to an auction and left having bought a bargain detached property in south Manchester for 382,500. Apart from the availability of some short-term cash, enabling him to exchange at the auction, he hadn't arranged any finance but was convinced the property was a good bet.

  • Only the usual suspects will benefit from HIPs roll out

    30 Apr 2007

    From Rick Gifford

  • Optoma adds CHL to panel

    30 Apr 2007

    Optoma Broker Solutions has added CHL to its panel for England and Wales. CHL increases Optoma’s panel to 17 and will bring a wide range of products to those already offered by Optoma’s growing spectrum of lenders. Chris Smith, new business manager at Optoma, says: “After the success achieved through our Northern Ireland franchise we are now pleased to have the opportunity to mirror this on the mainland.

  • paaleads.com offers unsecured loan leads through bidding system

    30 Apr 2007

    Leads distributor paaleads.com has made unsecured loan leads available through its ebay style bidding scheme.

  • Packager in top 100 firms

    30 Apr 2007

    Mortgagematch Home Loans has been rated 36th in this year's Real Business magazine's Hot 100 fastest growing companies.

  • Packager Power

    30 Apr 2007

    How will automated valuation models affect the role of packagers? Is the AVM process only suitable for direct to lender business? Will packagers offer AVM solutions to their broker clients? How will the market look in 18 months' time?

  • Packagers more optimistic on growth prospects than brokers, IMLA finds

    1 May 2007

    Packagers and intermediaries disagree over how much packaging will grow over the next two years, new research from the Intermediary Mortgage Lender's Association has revealed this month.

  • Packagers ponder a voluntary code

    30 Apr 2007

    A debate that has continued to rage since Mortgage Day - and one not shirked at the recent Mortgage Summit in Dubai - concerns the role of packagers in the market, particularly their regulatory position.

  • Paedophile broker sent to jail

    30 Apr 2007

    A paedophile mortgage broker has been jailed for two years for downloading indecent images of children on his work laptop.

  • Pavillion sees bright future after results

    1 May 2007

    Pavillion Securities was bullish about the future for the packaging sector this month as it announced a strong set of financial and business development results.

  • Personal debt hits over £1.3trillion mark

    4 May 2007

    Charity Credit Action has revealed that the total UK personal debt at the end of March 2007 stood at £1.318trillion.

  • Pink appoints sales consultant

    30 Apr 2007

    Pink Home Loans has appointed Clare Harley as sales consultant to its commercial team.

  • Pink launches two-year self-cert

    2 May 2007

    Pink Home Loans will be launching an exclusive two-year fixed deal to its either employed or self-employed customers.

  • PMPA adds MEX to panel

    1 May 2007

    The Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance has added Mortgage Express to its lender panel for self-cert and buy-to-let ranges.

  • PMPA unveils tracker deal

    30 Apr 2007

    The Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance is offering a semi-exclusive product from The Mortgage Business. Available to 90% LTV, the two-year House 2 House tracker is available at base rate plus 0.99%, reverting to TMB's SVR at the end of the tracker period.

  • PMS unveils dates for its roadshows

    30 Apr 2007

    Premier Mortgage Service has revealed the dates for its bespoke lending roadshows.

  • Poor ideas to help poor borrowers

    30 Apr 2007

    There was comment in the national news recently about the difficulties key workers face in buying homes, regardless of location. I then heard a piece on the radio about how nurses have someone going round Premiership football clubs pitching for contributions to the nurses' hardship fund.

  • Positive outlook for Network Data

    30 Apr 2007

    Network Data has reported strong mortgage revenues in the first quarter of 2007 and predicts that the rest of the year will be "favourable". Network Surveyors also reports 140% growth in surveys from Q1. Network Data's new lender, Homeowners Mortgages, will be launched in September and will originate prime and sub-prime mortgages.

  • Premier Mortgage Service: Case for compliance experts

    1 May 2007

    The Financial Services Authority has recently published its comments on small firms' use of compliance consultants. While the regulator stopped short of suggesting firms should use a compliance consultant, the review work identified benefits for firms that use consultants, and more importantly, act on their findings.

  • Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance: Led astray in sands of Dubai

    1 May 2007

    It's day one and I'm in Stanstead at 5am, looking forward to 'business class' travel. Sadly I'm disappointed and various moaning ensues, led by Peter Beaumont, deputy chief executive of Mortgages plc. Much later we arrive at the hotel and enjoy a meal in a stunning venue opposite the seven-star 'sail' hotel.

  • Promise completes first secured loan deal

    3 May 2007

    Promise Solutions has completed its first secured loan.

  • PTP appoints e-commerce director

    4 May 2007

    Personal Touch Packaging has appointed a director of e-commerce.

  • Public still confused over HIPs

    1 May 2007

    Propertyfinder.com has revealed that there is still a lot of confusion in the general public concering the impending launch of Home Information Packs.

  • Pure Bridging ups maximum loan

    30 Apr 2007

    Pure Bridging has changed its lending criteria and increased its maximum loan to 3m. Previously, the amount it would lend was capped at 2m but this was increased to 3m following feedback from brokers.

  • RAMP appoints first associate member

    1 May 2007

    The Regulatory Association of Mortgage Packagers has appointed KGB Packaging as its first associate member.

  • Rate rise is good for the sub-prime sector

    1 May 2007

    It may not have come as much of a surprise to anyone in the mortgage industry that the Bank of England decided to put the base rate up by 25 basis points but it was also not welcomed.

  • Rate rise won't affect FTBs, says Firstrung

    30 Apr 2007

    Interest rate rises and a possible house price correction are not big threats to first-time and recent buyers, says Firstrung.

  • Record lending set to slow

    30 Apr 2007

    Mortgage lending remained strong in March but the three major lending associations predict a slowdown in the coming months.

  • Regulatory Alliance of Mortgage Packagers: FSA must act or face anarchy

    1 May 2007

    Can you imagine a football match with no referee where one team played to the rules but was being slaughtered by the opposition who were ignoring the rules and therefore had an unfair advantage? Of course it would not be allowed.

  • Rental market remains strong

    30 Apr 2007

    Tenant demand remains strong, the latest data from Paragon Mortgages reveals. The figures show 92% of landlords feel demand is stable, growing or booming.

  • Report highlights growing importance of equity release

    30 Apr 2007

    Defaqto has highlighted the fact that equity release is becoming an increasingly important option in retirement planning.

  • Ridings may still rival Paymentshield

    30 Apr 2007

    The Riding Brothers have refused to rule out the possibility that their new insurance proposition will rival their old firm Paymentshield.

  • Rightmove reports positive start to 2007

    2 May 2007

    Rightmove has reported a positive start to the year with trading better than expected. At the property website’s AGM, the board predicted that pre-tax profit for the year is likely to exceed its previous expectations by approximately 10%.

  • Robert Sterling poised for growth

    30 Apr 2007

    Robert Sterling is gearing up for growth in 2007/08 following the app-ointment of Kevin Duffy as managing director.

  • Rock 'n' roll generation opts for equity release

    30 Apr 2007

    Equity release used to be thought of as a product that was sold to poor and vulnerable old people as a last resort. As Mortgage Strategy's cover story on April 16 revealed, stories of mis-selling based on products such as home income plans and share appreciation mortgages sold in the 1980s and 1990s gave rise to the impression that equity release is highly risky and not to be touched by the faint-hearted.

  • Royal Liver in talks with Royal London

    30 Apr 2007

    The board of Royal Liver has revealed it has been approached by Royal London regarding a possible combination of the two organisations.

  • Salt axes higher lending charge

    30 Apr 2007

    Salt has removed the higher lending charge in a major relaunch of its sub-prime proposition. New products cover the full range from near-prime to heavy adverse. Highlights include two-year fixed rates starting at 5.65% for prime self-cert to 6.3% for heavy adverse.

  • Saving sub-prime

    30 Apr 2007

    When America sneezes, the rest of the world is supposed to catch a cold. While the majority of people rarely listen to such old wives' tales, certain members of the sub-prime mortgage community are holding their breath to see if the difficulties experienced in the US will spread to the UK and Europe.

  • Scarborough buys offshore business

    30 Apr 2007

    The Scarborough Group has completed the acquisition of offshore deposittaking business Portman Channel Islands. The business will now be rebranded as Scarborough Channel Islands. John Carrier, chief executive at Scarborough, says it plans to expand and develop the business.

  • Scotland gets new building laws to cut carbon emissions

    1 May 2007

    New homes in Scotland will now the opportunity to test how energy efficient they are.

  • Secured loan amounts rise

    30 Apr 2007

    The average secured loan has shot up to over 22,000 - an increase of 2.3% compared with last month - as more people look to consolidate debts, says Compare First.

  • Sesame opens a role for Cupis

    1 May 2007

    John Cupis has joined Sesame in a newly created role as head of mortgages and general insurance. He will lead the strategic direction of the mortgage business and reports to sales and marketing director Stephen Young.

  • Sesame's reputational damage raises network question mark

    30 Apr 2007

    From Simon Burgess

  • SHIP reports record Q1 figures

    30 Apr 2007

    The 21 members of UK equity release industry body, Safe Home Income Plans have reported record Q1 figures to March 31 2007 which demonstrate a marked growth in the market.

  • Skipton expands fixed rates

    2 May 2007

    Skipton has launched an expanded range of two, three and five-year fixed rate mortgages.

  • Snowball quits NU for Towergate

    30 Apr 2007

    Patrick Snowball has resigned as executive chairman of Norwich Union to join Towergate as deputy chairman on July 1. This follows a reported boardroom confrontation with group chief executive Andrew Moss after the two competed for the chief executive's job at Aviva.

  • Sourcing manipulation is hardly TCF

    30 Apr 2007

    Recently I saw a client who had been approached by another broker offering him mortgage advice. The client had retained the Key Facts Information papers and suitability letter that the broker had produced and showed them to me in the hope that I could come up with a better solution for his needs.

  • Spectrum reports successful first year's business

    2 May 2007

    Spectrum has reported a successful first year of operations, which it attributes to strong growth of the sub-prime market.

  • Speculation on packaging market is dangerous

    1 May 2007

    From Gary ForrestSpeculation that the packager market might be suffering is ill-informed and dangerous.

  • Speed dating to exchange views

    30 Apr 2007

    Trustguard Credit Services is holding a speed dating-style event for brokers and lenders.

  • Staff retention strategies must improve

    30 Apr 2007

    Talking to a headhunter recently, it was interesting to hear his take on senior management recruitment and what it is that drives people to move ahead professionally.

  • Stephen Knight quits GMAC-RFC

    2 May 2007

    Stephen Knight is to step down as chairman of GMAC-RFC on September 30 and will be replaced by Simon Knight.

  • Still life in traditional market

    1 May 2007

    The mortgage market continually changes and evolves to keep up with the needs and circumstances of today's borrowers. UK consumers and their needs have not stood still. What might have been described as a 'prime' borrower 20 years ago might not fit that particular category any more. Therefore, lending institutions are having to adapt and change the way they go about their business to keep up with the ever-changing nature of those people they seek to serve.

  • Stroud & Swindon appoints senior manager

    2 May 2007

    Stroud & Swindon has appointed Tony Hall as senior manager of retail distribution. Hall joins Stroud & Swindon from Skipton, where he was regional manager for the South West.

  • Swift launches vSwift

    2 May 2007

    Swift has launched an online service for brokers called vSwift.

  • Tell lenders about your product ideas

    30 Apr 2007

    Borrowers' needs have never been so diverse which means many experienced brokers are sitting on a wealth of information, which could aid product development. So brokers, what are you waiting for? If you have an idea for an exclusive product, don't be shy - shout it out.

  • The future is bright for buy-to-let

    30 Apr 2007

    Recent research by Paragon Mortgages shows that the average number of properties owned by landlords increased to 11.1 in Q1 2007, up from 10.2 in November. This is evidence that the buy-to-let market is continuing to grow strongly, despite warnings to the contrary.

  • The risks and rewards of back to back deals

    30 Apr 2007

    Back to back is a term used to describe the selling or remortgage of a property immediately or soon after completing the purchase.

  • The sleeping consumer giant awakes

    30 Apr 2007

    Consumers have considerable power. In the US they are seen as having a strong voice and big lobbying power. Businesses in the US wisely do not cross consumers as their power can be used to damage brands.

  • The United Packagers Association: Offer clients a bigger scoop

    1 May 2007

    I read with interest an article in a recent marketing publication in which journalist James Surowiecki recounted an experiment by scientists to show that sometimes we take more than we actually need.

  • TMA launches B2L exclusive with MEX

    3 May 2007

    The Mortgage Alliance has launched a number of exclusive and semi-exclusive buy-to-let deals with Mortgage Express.

  • Tories back Lords' criticism of HIPs

    1 May 2007

    The Conservative Party has backed the House of Lords' attack on the government’s plans for Home Information Packs.

  • Trading on your good name

    1 May 2007

    Choosing a company name and identity is not an exercise to take lightly. Building a strong corporate identity is investing in an asset which adds to the overall value of your firm by projecting your organisation's business aspirations to reflect those of your target clients

  • Two cheers for financial education

    30 Apr 2007

    I recently touched on the topic of the Financial Services Authority's national strategy for financial capability as a key element of its 2007/08 business plan. The 17.1m budget for this activity is funded by the fees paid by regulated firms so we should understand what sort of activities are being planned and carried out under the general heading of improving financial education and awareness.

  • Uncertainty over 100 jobs at UCB

    30 Apr 2007

    Portman and Nationwide have re-fused to disclose whether they plan to relocate 100 jobs from the latter's specialist lender UCB Home Loans following their merger.

  • Unity launches prime range

    30 Apr 2007

    Unity Homeloans has launched a prime range of two- and three- year fixed rates and a two-year discounted tracker.

  • Vertex teams up with HSBC Life

    1 May 2007

    Vertex has signed a new services contract with HSBC Life for several new protection and life investment products.

  • Vertex unveils senior appointments

    2 May 2007

    Vertex has made several appointments to its executive board.

  • Wales tipped as B2L hot spot

    30 Apr 2007

    Wales has been plugged as the latest hot spot for residential property investors by Paragon Mortgages’ latest buy-to-let index.

  • We must get the fees issue sorted

    30 Apr 2007

    Moneyfacts.co.uk recently issued some interesting research on the level of proc fees received by the average broker. It is clear from the research that lender commission levels have risen over the past 10 years.

  • Would you take in a lodger to help you pay your mortgage?

    30 Apr 2007

    Julian Kofman, 31, estate agentI would prefer to have my home to myself but this is a sensible option for people struggling to get on the ladder. In a few years the property bubble will burst so people need to do what they can to help themselves.

  • Zopa scoops Webby Award

    3 May 2007

    Zopa, the online lending and borrowing marketplace, has won a Webby Award for the best banking website 2007.

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