Mortgage Strategy
6 November 2006

  • Brokers look to gain an Edge

    6 Nov 2006

    Enterprise Group reports an increase in the numbers of brokers using its Edge system. It says there are now 2,000 registered users of Edge, with over 100 enquiries going through the system each day.

  • Cost of living up

    6 Nov 2006

    The cost of living has gone up 16% in the past decade, according to Barclays Life Insurance. Over that period, life insurance has been one of the few products to fall in price.

  • Flats become more popular

    6 Nov 2006

    Research by Halifax shows that the traditional image of British life is changing, with home owners preferring to live in flats rather than terraced or semi-detached housing.

  • Partnership extended

    6 Nov 2006

    Kensington Group has increased its shareholding in Money Partners Holdings Limited from 20% to 57.5% following a successful first two years' partnership. Kensington will pay an initial consideration of £13.1m for its extra stake and may pay a deferred consideration in 2009.

  • PMPA exclusive deals from TMB

    6 Nov 2006

    The Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance has launched four exclusive products and one semi- exclusive product from The Mortgage Business. The first two deals are options in TMB's Self 85 range that allows self-cert to a maximum LTV of 85%. The other two exclusives are in TMB's house to house range. Both are two-year trackers with maximum LTVs of 85%. The semi- exclusive is a one-year tracker from the buy-to-let range which again has a maximum LTV of 85%.

  • Reassurance on energy inspectors

    6 Nov 2006

    The Association of Home Information Pack Providers is reassuring the industry that there will be enough energy assessors to provide homes with Energy Performance Certificates by June 2007.

  • 90% Of brokers say Labour should scrap HIP plan

    6 Nov 2006

    A whopping 90% of brokers think the government should hammer the final nail into the coffin of Home Information Packs. Just 10% think the packs should be implemented next year.This week Mortgage Strategy asks: "Are 5 x income mortgage products a recipe for disaster?"Q: Should the government put the final nail in the coffin of Home Information Packs?

  • A&L launch specialist products

    8 Nov 2006

    Alliance & Leicester is amending its current range of specialist mortgages, including its tracker and fixed rate products.

  • Abbey for Intermediaries launches buy-to-let range

    6 Nov 2006

    Abbey for Intermediaries is to begin offering buy-to-let mortgages from November 13.

  • Abbey makes rate changes after interest rise

    10 Nov 2006

    Following the increase in the Bank of England's base rate from 4.75% to 5.00%, cahoot's standard savings account will increase from 4.80% to 5.00% AER/gross p.a. for both existing and new savers.Abbey's variable tracker rate mortgages, which automatically follow changes in the base rate, have increased by 0.25%.

  • Abbey news gets warm reception

    6 Nov 2006

    The fact that Abbey is prepared to openly state that it will lend 5 x income is good for aspiring buyers and the news was greeted calmly by consumers and the media, says Drew Wotherspoon

  • Absolutely Training launches e-learning training course

    7 Nov 2006

    Absolutely Training has created a training package designed to help financial and mortgage advisers develop their compliance with the regulatory requirements set out by the Financial Services Authority. The financial and mortgage training package is an e-learning training course that ensures financial and mortgage advisers meet regulatory commitments than just tick the box. Courses included within the package are basic awareness courses in anti money laundering, a CeMAP competency ...

  • Access launch Masters competition

    7 Nov 2006

    Access Broker Services the Secured Loan Specialists have launched an incentive scheme for new and existing intermediaries who introduce secured loan business. The prize includes all flights, transfers, accommodation, entrance tickets etc to the 2007 Masters Tournament in Augusta.Lawrence Ihle, managing director of Access, says: We wanted to reward our existing introducers and also to give an incentive to our new introducers with a prize that is on virtually everybody`s must see list

  • Accord Mortgages launches second phase of its integration with Trigold

    8 Nov 2006

    Accord Mortgages has launched the second phase of its integration with Trigold with the creation of a seamless online connection for full mortgage applications through Trigold’s E-trading centre.

  • Advantage develops website

    10 Nov 2006

    Advantage has made developments to its website, e:lect, by enhancing its functionality and registration process.

  • Advantage opens lending doors to over 65s

    7 Nov 2006

    Advantage has removed the maximum age limit from its ADV sub-prime range to allow people to take out a mortgage despite being aged over 65 at completion.

  • Advice system upgraded

    6 Nov 2006

    Home Buyer Systems has introduced a suite of improved features for its integrated mortgage and general insurance advice and sales system to ensure regulatory compliance.

  • Affordability call

    6 Nov 2006

    Standard Life Bank is calling on mortgage providers to lend on affordability rather than salary multiples.

  • Age Concern hits back at high valuation fee claim

    6 Nov 2006

    Age Concern has hit back at claims that it charges the highest valuation fee in the market.MoneyExpert.com last week named and shamed lenders charging the highest product valuation fees. Top of the list was Age Con-cern, which uses Northern Rock's equity release mortgage. It has one of the highest fees in the market at 405 compared with the industry average of 190.The website reveals that these are basic valuation fees and customers borrowing larger sums face much higher fees. ...

  • Alexander unveils charity initiative

    6 Nov 2006

    Alexander Finance Services is launching an initiative that allows brokers to donate 1% of their proc fees to charity.The packager has set up the Red & Black Club through which it will donate 1% of its commission and brokers donate 1% of their proc fee for a case to charity.Paul Suchet, managing director of AFS, says: "This means that on a typical £300,000 case, we expect a donation to charity to amount to £45. As we are processing around 100 cases a month, this ...

  • Amber launches products through key account packagers

    8 Nov 2006

    Amber Homeloans Limited has launched a range of semi-exclusive adverse products only available through Amber’s key account packagers.

  • Amber products to be offered through mutuals

    7 Nov 2006

    Mutual One has now launched its Mutual One Mortgage Partnership initiative, allowing societies to offer Amber's product range through their branches, complementing their own mortgage product range.

  • Amber releases new products

    7 Nov 2006

    Amber Homeloans has launched several new products throughout its range.

  • Asia's residential markets under perform

    10 Nov 2006

    Asia’s residential property markets have performed poorly, a report from the Global Property Guide reveals.

  • Assetz France wins award

    10 Nov 2006

    Assetz France has won the 'best real estate agency France' award for thesecond year in a row at the International Property Awards.

  • Assureweb in cover tie-up with HLP

    6 Nov 2006

    Assureweb has linked up with HomeLoan Partnership to offer its members access to exclusive life protection products.Assureweb will provide a protection panel for HLP's chosen provider partners, AXA, Bright Grey, BUPA, Friends Provident, Legal & General, Liverpool Victoria, Norwich Union, Scottish Equitable and Scottish Provident.Stephen Wynne-Jones, director of sales and marketing at Assureweb, says: "We believe e-trading should be at the heart of modern intermediary business ...

  • AToM top proc fee spender

    7 Nov 2006

    All Types of Mortgages, the lending distributor, has revealed it pays brokers one of the highest proc fees in the industry.

  • Badger chosen as new name for Townends Group

    6 Nov 2006

    The Townends Group has rebranded as Badger Holdings after an employee competition to find a new name. The Townends Group, parent company to Townends & Regents estate agents, Dot Financial Services and Tyser Greewood, adopted the name after a short list of five options was presented to the board. The name Badger holds significance in the group as it was the name used by managing director Tony Addinall when he set up his first estate agency business in the 1980s. Addinall says: "The ...

  • Banco Halifax on Costa del Sol

    6 Nov 2006

    Banco Halifax Hispania has opened two branches on the Costa del Sol in Sotogrande and Guadalmina. They have been opened to serve the growing British ex-pat market looking to buy second homes in Spain.

  • Bank of England increases interest rate to 5%

    9 Nov 2006

    The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has increased UK interest rates to a five-year high of 5%, up from 4.75%.

  • Banks make life easy for identity fraudsters

    6 Nov 2006

    Identity fraud has become a hot issue for some of the high street banking institutions.

  • Base rate decision hangs in balance

    6 Nov 2006

    In the face of mounting media speculation, Bank of England governor Mervyn King last week claimed that the outcome of this Thursday's Monetary Policy Committee meeting is not a done deal.Try telling the pundits that. Most seem positive that a 25 basis point rise is a certainty and that the market will be under the shadow of a 5% base rate by Christmas. King's assertion that despite inflation being above target the decision could go either way has fallen on deaf ears. Most are certain ...

  • BDS adds to satellite panel

    6 Nov 2006

    BDS Mortgage Group has added First National to its satellite lender panel, taking the total to 17.

  • Beacon says 2.40% discount product popular

    7 Nov 2006

    Beacon Homeloans’ says its 2.40% one-year discount mortgage is proving popular amongst its panel of packaging partners and their supporting intermediaries.

  • Blackwell quits

    6 Nov 2006

    Mark Blackwell has quit The Derbyshire after two and a half years as marketing director.

  • BM defends product transfer policy

    6 Nov 2006

    Despite criticism of its retention policy from rivals, BM Solutions says it is set to complete over 500m worth of product transfers by the end of 2006.BM Solutions has come under attack in recent weeks for encouraging brokers to be lazy by offering them enhanced proc fees to recommend product transfers rather than remortgages.There have also been claims that this could have had a detrimental impact on the mortgage market, wiping out 10bn in remortgages over the past month and ...

  • BM dominates Hamptons Awards short list

    6 Nov 2006

    Hamptons Mortgages unveiled its awards short list last week, with BM Solutions making the grade in eight out of 11 categories.The Hamptons Awards are one of London's most prestigious lender award ceremonies. This year the event takes place on November 23 at the trendy Vinopolis wine museum on London's South Bank.Jonathan Cornell, Mortgage Strategy columnist and technical director at the London brokerage, says: "Once again we are looking forward to recognising outstanding ...

  • BM Solutions launches Mortgage Plus

    9 Nov 2006

    BM Solutions is launching Mortgage Plus, a product which connects a secured mortgage and an unsecured personal loan, from Monday November 13.

  • BM to launch POS-O in one week

    6 Nov 2006

    From next Monday BM Solutions will be launching its own point-of-sale offer system using automated valuations.

  • Bolton slams HBOS for aiding FTBs over the B2L market

    6 Nov 2006

    Edeus' CEO Michael Bolton has launched a scathing attack against HBOS strategy for aiding first-time buyers over the buy-to-let market.

  • BREAKING NEWS Branding agreement

    6 Nov 2006

    Oryen Mortgage Packaging has signed a branded lending agreement with Kensington Mortgages, allowing it to offer the full range of Kensington products under the Oryen Mortgage Finance brand.This means Oryen's clients can deal with a single brand and a range of exclusive products is expected soon.Andrew Hewitt, director at Oryen, says: "Having completed a lot of business with Kensington, branded lending was a natural development."

  • Brokers must work for their proc fees

    6 Nov 2006

    This issue is high profile as more lenders explore retention strategies. A number already offer retention fees to brokers who keep their clients with them and it looks likely that more will follow suit in the months ahead.

  • Brokers think commercial

    6 Nov 2006

    Commercial mortgages are high on brokers' agenda as they fear they could lose out on residential business if they are unable to offer them.As a result of this Andy Young, managing director of The Business Mortgage Company, predicts that commercial mortgages will be the biggest growth area in the next five years.Although the complexity of the commercial market puts many brokers off, fear is concentrating minds. Growth will come not just from brokers but networks too, as they ...

  • Brokers warned on loan options

    6 Nov 2006

    Brokers have been warned that if they don't advise on second charge loans they could be running the risk of breaking the Financial Services Authority's rules on best advice.John Webster, chief executive of Swift Group, says that although more advisers are offering second charge products, he is concerned that those who don't are failing to treat their clients fairly by providing a full range of options.He adds: "Inter-mediaries who don't advise on second ch-arge loans should ...

  • Buyers head for cheap houses in the north

    10 Nov 2006

    SmartNewHomes.com have revealed that escalating house prices are pushing new home-buyers out of the south and into the north.

  • Buy-to-let investors to take advantage of fixed rates

    9 Nov 2006

    Lee Grandin, managing director of Landlord Mortgages, the specialist buy-to-let broker says more investors will be moving onto fixed rate deals, following the interest rate rise to 5%.

  • C2-financial says many mortgage firms face insolvency

    6 Nov 2006

    c2-financial says a number of packagers and brokers are on the verge of insolvency because of a downturn in business volumes and tighter margins.The packager has been monitoring returns submitted to Companies House as part of its acquisition plans and warns that many businesses are suffering in the present climate of eroded margins as they haven't adapted to a slimline world.David Wylie, group chairman of c2-financial, says: "Our business model has allowed us to build up a significant ...

  • Call me a party pooper but I'm worried about AVMs

    6 Nov 2006

    From Danny Lovey At the risk of being branded a party pooper regarding the benefits of automated valuation models which are being so wildly and arrogantly proclaimed in some quarters, I keep asking myself - what is this uncomfortable feeling I have about them? Am I a dinosaur who cannot move with the times? No. I make the most of technology and will always take the electronic application route where I can, so what is my problem? Is it to do with wondering what's best for my ...

  • City of London defends environmental reputation

    7 Nov 2006

    The City of London says research that names it as the worst polluter is unjustifiable because of uncertainties with data.

  • City of London residents most polluting

    6 Nov 2006

    The Liberal Democrat Party has revealed the City of London emits 55 times more carbon dioxide per head than Hackney.

  • Clients need guidance in the product maze

    6 Nov 2006

    If it's not chancellor Gordon Brown it's the Financial Services Authority. Just when the industry thought it could predict where the next U-turn would come from, the regulator springs a surprise.

  • CNLIS warns coal mines may cause subsidence in half UK homes

    10 Nov 2006

    Council for National Land Information Service has revealed almost half of the homes in Great Britain lie within former and current coal mining areas where there is a potential risk of subsidence.

  • Comment

    6 Nov 2006

    Dear Delia Alan has owned a manufacturing company for 10 years. He has been trading profitably and requires larger premises. He wishes to buy rather than lease as he does at present.

  • Complete offers POS-O facility

    6 Nov 2006

    Complete Mortgage & Loan Services has become the latest GMAC-RFC packagerpartner to offer the lender's point-of-sale offer facility to its brokers.

  • Connells to participate in government HIP trial

    9 Nov 2006

    The Connells Group of estate agents is taking part in the government’s Home Information Pack trials, which started on November 6.

  • Consumers could pay price for COB changes

    6 Nov 2006

    KPMG is warning that financial services firms and ultimately consumers will pick up the bill for proposed changes to the regulator's Conduct of Business rules.KPMG believes the Financial Services Authority has underestimated how much changes to COB will cost the industry and that the true figure will be far higher than it says.Bernadine Reese, director at KPMG, says: "Costs will be involved in changes to the rules that relate to best execution, client categorisation and suitability, ...

  • Conveyancing agreement

    6 Nov 2006

    Easier2move has forged a deal with retirementhome- search.co.uk to provide conveyancing services to its clients. The service will be white-labelled under the retirementhome- search.co.uk corporate umbrella.

  • Conveyancing appointment

    6 Nov 2006

    Connells Group has appointed Roger Wilson to the newly created role of conveyancing services director. He will develop the conveyancing side of the business and also head the group's activities in the Home Information Pack market.

  • Counting the cost

    6 Nov 2006

    Sourcing systems' total cost tables can be misleading for several reasons and it's time this issue was resolved, says Alan Selkirk

  • Countrywide eyes overseas opportunities

    6 Nov 2006

    A few weeks ago, in preparation for a special issue of National Mortgage News that was to be shipped to the annual Mortgage Bankers Association convention, I sought interviews with the CEOs of America's two largest lenders - Countrywide Home Loans and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.For years, these two shops have battled to be the top origination gorilla in mortgage banking. Wells originally agreed to an interview but changed its mind citing an upcoming earnings release.Fortunately, ...

  • Cream of the lending crop

    6 Nov 2006

    Lending Strategy's new Lending Excellence Awards provide a way for lenders to benchmark themselves while providing consumers with valuable guidance, says John Murray.

  • CurriculumVitae

    6 Nov 2006

    Name: Liz SullyAge: 47Company: GE Money Home Lending.Job title: Compliance director.Where do you live?Reading.Describe your current job: I am responsible for ensuring the business complies with Financial Services Authority and Consumer Credit Act requirements. On an everyday basis I can be involved in a number of projects within the business ranging from advertising, new products and pricing to originations and customer ...

  • Debt Resolution Forum created

    6 Nov 2006

    Some 27 firms in the debt resolution industry have founded an industry body for debt resolution companies by creating the Debt Resolution Forum.

  • Decorators refuse to leave

    6 Nov 2006

    The Association of Residential Letting Agents has dismissed a case of decorators refusing to leave a property as uncommon and says this is not an issue that should concern landlords.Buy-to-let landlord Nita Bowers bought a 215,000 flat in London's Poplar High Street two months ago.When she visited the property she noticed that two Polish decorators were working in it and when she questioned the vendor she was told the property was vacant.The decorators have since refused ...

  • Devlin joins FSCS board

    6 Nov 2006

    Ron Devlin, head of claims division at the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, has been appointed to the FSCS board as an executive director.

  • Direct changes management structure

    7 Nov 2006

    Direct Financial Services, the Mortgage Packager based in Hull has changed its senior management structure.

  • DTI supports fight again cowboy builders

    7 Nov 2006

    The Department of Trade and Industry has congratulated the organisations involved with Trustmark on the progress they have made to protect consumers from cowboy builders.

  • Easier2move links up with KGB packagers

    6 Nov 2006

    Online conveyancer Easier2move has linked up with mortgage distribution and packaging firm, KGB Packaging, to offer conveyancing services to its broker clients.

  • eConveyancer joins forces with the MMC

    8 Nov 2006

    eConveyancer is now available via The Mortgage Marketing Centre.

  • Edeus says it will be five years before serious industry nasties are exposed

    6 Nov 2006

    Edeus has predicted it will be five years before what it calls the "real nasties" in the market are exposed.Alan Cleary, managing director of edeus, warns that the Financial Services Authority's recent spate of fines was just the tip of the iceberg.He says: "I think it will take about five years before the real nasties come out. We will remove brokers who we think are doing things in a dodgy way."In about five years the FSA will get properly stuck in. My advice is to keep ...

  • Estate agents and homeowners differ on home improvements

    6 Nov 2006

    Research from Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans shows that consumers and estate agents are differing on their views on the type of home improvements that will add value to a property.

  • Evaluate users have the Advantage on binding decisions

    6 Nov 2006

    Brokers using Primrose's Evaluate system will be the first to obtain binding decisions for Advantage's specialist lending product range.Jeremy Duncombe, business development director of Advantage, says: "Primrose and Advantage have res-ponded to an industry need and this is the first of several integrations we have planned. Evaluate is popular with brokers and networks so this is a great development for them and us."Advantage's integration system allows brokers to obtain instant ...

  • Find handy hints in FSA handbooks

    6 Nov 2006

    The FSA wants firms to become familiar with its rules before changes come into force next year and its specialist handbooks are a good starting point, says Bill Warren

  • First And Last

    6 Nov 2006

    Cammy Amaira, head of sales, Intelligent FinanceMy first mortgage was taken out in 1980 with Bradford & Bingley. It was for a third-floor flat in Aberdeen. We converted it into a two-bedroom flat with a kitchenette so small that when my wife was cooking, if I needed to get to the sink we would have to rub against each other. Great fun for newly-weds.Several moves later we live in a converted coaching inn, built on three levels. The top level has three bedrooms and a bathroom ...

  • First-time buyer homes could hit £1m mark in 18 years

    6 Nov 2006

    First-time buyers could be facing a grim future, as new research from Stroud & Swindon shows first-time buyers could be forced to pay £1m for their first home in just under 18 years.

  • Forget trying to talk sense into MPs

    6 Nov 2006

    Last week I was invited to speak about Home Information Packs in the House of Commons. I accepted the invitation but I had doubts about how worthwhile the exercise would be. These doubts were well founded.

  • Free valuations from TMP

    6 Nov 2006

    The Mortgage Partnership has launched free valuations in association withGMAC-RFC. The packager is now providing brokers with free valuations and instant offers on selected packaged products from the Partners range.

  • Freedom is a fast-rising star

    6 Nov 2006

    Freedom Finance has risen to a ranking of 294 among the fastest-growing European companies featured in the 2006 Europe's 500 Listing, the annual league table of high growth companies that is published by Europe's 500.

  • Freedom launches exclusive product for AMPD

    7 Nov 2006

    Freedom Lending has launched a near prime two-year discount self-cert mortgage exclusively via the Alliance of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors.

  • FSA to slash rulebook in half

    6 Nov 2006

    The Financial Services Authority has pledged to cut its rulebook in half to make rules easier to understand in line with its principles-based approach.The FSA will remove around half the content of the Conduct of Business rulebook and launch NEWCOB at the same time as implementing provisions of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive.NEWCOB will replace COB from November 1 2007, as MiFID comes into effect across the UK and the European Union.Dan Waters, director of ...

  • GEMHL enhances British Mortgage Abroad range

    9 Nov 2006

    GE Money Home Lending has enhanced its British Mortgages Abroad product range to include the option to buy a second holiday home.

  • GMAC-RFC to work with CML over its lender ratings

    8 Nov 2006

    GMAC-RFC is liaising with the Council of Mortgage Lenders to revise the methods it uses to calculate its league table of the UKs largest mortgage lenders.

  • Goldsmith Williams to partner with Private Finance

    8 Nov 2006

    Goldsmith Williams has been appointed as conveyancing partner for Private Finance.

  • Government launches National Housing and Planning Advice Unit

    7 Nov 2006

    The government has launched a National Housing and Planning Advice Unit to provide independent advice on improving housing market affordability.

  • Government promotes energy efficient homes

    8 Nov 2006

    Millions of tonnes of carbon and billions of pounds from fuel bills could be saved by simple measures like cavity wall insulation, new government analysis has revealed.

  • Government trial of HIPs starts today

    6 Nov 2006

    The governments trial of Home Information Packs has started today, across six areas in the country.

  • Hamptons Awards short list

    6 Nov 2006

    Best underwriterGeoff Bagley, Northern RockMorgan Beake, Cheltenham & GloucesterColin Dale, SkiptonPhil Regan, BM SolutionsBest business development managerTony Batchelder, HalifaxMarc Beever, GMAC-RFCCharles Durose, ClydesdaleChristine Newell, BM SolutionsBest large loans lenderBank of ScotlandCheltenham & GloucesterHalifaxWoolwichBest sub-prime lenderBM SolutionsGMAC-RFCPlatformVictoriaBest lender technologyBM SolutionsEdeusGMAC-RFCIntelligent FinanceBest ...

  • Hamptons comment on rate rise

    9 Nov 2006

    Jonathan Cornell, technical director at Hamptons International Mortgages, says: This was a widely expected decision and no one should be surprised. This latest base rate increase, combined with the August rise should start to put the brakes on house price inflation. The MPC has been very successful over the past couple of years at keeping inflation within the specified target by making small tweaks to interest rates. Monetary policy has been described as tugging a brick with a ...

  • Hamptons warn against mortgage hangovers

    6 Nov 2006

    Hamptons Mortgages has issued a warning to consumers not to be seduced by attractive headline mortgages rates that come with extended early redemption charges and a commitment to stay on the standard variable rate for a fixed period. Hamptons explains that lenders often offer extremely low initial rates. However, these often come with conditions and heavy early redemption charges for borrowers. These early redemption penalties apply not only to the initial rate period but for ...

  • Heatwave boosts subsidence fears

    6 Nov 2006

    The British Insurance Brokers' Association has warned that the number of properties that suffer from subsidence may dramatically increase this year thanks to the recording-breaking temperatures experienced in the summer.

  • Helping the property development virgins

    6 Nov 2006

    It is normally a sign of a buoyant housing market that more and more people try to make a quick buck by getting involved in property development.

  • Helpline to aid consumers with debt problems

    10 Nov 2006

    The Regional Money Helpline, a telephone and web-based advisory service designed to help UK consumers get to grips with debt, will launch Monday November 13 2006.

  • High time regulators cracked down on the PPI rogues

    6 Nov 2006

    From Sara-Ann Burgess If the payment protection insurance market has not woken up yet, then the alarm bells should be ringing so loudly that even Mr Van Winkle would struggle to get a good night's rest. In the past fortnight there have been a number of significant events which will hopefully act as precursors to serious change in how business is done in this sector. Both the Financial Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading have been highly critical of the PPI market, ...

  • HIPs are doomed and this discredited, naive government should drop them now

    6 Nov 2006

    From Trevor Kent The welcome call from the Council of Mortgage Lenders - a body that both Blair and Brown take notice of - to abandon Home Information Packs is timely indeed. Only last month the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said just about the same thing and the National Association of Estate Agents has been brave enough to say it for years. The Department of Communities and Local Government has just disbanded its stakeholder group of industry advisers, no doubt ...

  • HIPs dry run attacked

    6 Nov 2006

    The government's dry-run of Home Information Packs this week through a joint initiative from the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Association of Home Information Pack Providers has come under criticism.

  • House prices rise 1.7% in October

    9 Nov 2006

    Halifax’s monthly price index has revealed house prices rose by 1.7% in October.

  • IF announces new rate change

    10 Nov 2006

    Following the decision by the Monetary Policy Committee to raise the Bank of England base rate by 0.25%, Intelligent Finance is passing on the full 0.25% to all its savings and ISA customers, and is also making the same increase to its mortgage SVR.Intelligent Finance's SVR will move from 6.05% to 6.30% APR (variable). Tracker Offset mortgages will start with rates of 4.99%, and the bank's non-offset tracker mortgages will start with rates will begin at 5.24%.

  • IFAs are best when planning for IHT

    6 Nov 2006

    Poor Inheritance Tax planning will cost UK adults £1.3bn this year, research by unbiased.co.uk reveals.Although the research also finds people are improving the way they plan when it comes to IHT liabilities, it warns that because house prices are rising at a much faster rate than the IHT threshold, any gains from this improvement could be temporary.The website, which promotes the benefits of independent financial advice, says the most widespread cause of IHT tax wastage ...

  • Ignore A&L warnings at your peril

    6 Nov 2006

    I ignored the siren warnings and hit the rocks of Alliance & Leicester's specialist lending unit, and I'd like to know if you've had a similar experience, says Sue Read

  • Industry defends Abbey's 5 x income mortgage

    6 Nov 2006

    Brokers and lenders have defended Abbey's 5 x income product following the lashing the deal received in the national media last week.The product, which offers potential borrowers a loan up to 5 x their income, was announced in the face of 17.3 million first-time buyers being unable to get onto the property ladder.It met with criticism from people who fear that this will add to the country's growing personal debt mountain.Vincent Cable MP, shadow chancellor for the Liberal ...

  • Industry event raises almost £200,000

    6 Nov 2006

    The 8th Broomstick Ball, held on November 2 at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square has raised almost £200,000 for charity.

  • Insomniac pays off mortgage

    6 Nov 2006

    An insomniac has paid off her mortgage after she scooped £150,000 on late-night TV quiz shows. Financial expert Jo Richardson won £150,000 over the past year. She says: "I don't sleep much which is perfect for entering competitions in which few people take part."

  • Intermediaries need retention strategies too

    6 Nov 2006

    The big debate in the lending world at the moment is about retention strategies.

  • Investors may leave homes

    6 Nov 2006

    Nationwide is warning that buoyancy in the equity markets could attract investors' attention and contribute to a slowdown in the property market.The society's latest house price index shows prices were up by 0.7% in October, with the price of a typical house being 169,623 - some 12,500 higher than at the same time last year.But it also found that while house purchase approvals have risen in recent months, enquiries and sales by estate agents have seen a big fall.Fionnuala ...

  • It's make your mind up time on home reversion

    6 Nov 2006

    Last week provided a timely reminder for those who have been sitting on the fence that home reversion regulation is well and truly on its way.

  • John Charcol warns of £43 million monthly debt for SVR homeowners

    7 Nov 2006

    According to broker John Charcol, the quarter of all homeowners who are still stuck on their lender’s SVR will be landed with a bill of £43 million extra each month, if the predicted increase in interest rates goes through.

  • Just Retirement to float on AIM

    6 Nov 2006

    Just Retirement has announced its intentions to float on the Alternative Investment Market to raise £50m.

  • Laggard lenders will pay the price

    6 Nov 2006

    There has been more aggression in the mortgage market recently, largely thanks to the entry of a wave of lenders into the specialist market. Claims and counter claims have been registered in the media about the capabilities of new systems and product innovations, and how attractive these are for brokers.

  • Lawyers call for RSR index to be considered by lenders

    7 Nov 2006

    Possession lawyers Moore & Blatch are calling for lenders to integrate the Land Registrys new Repeat Sales Regression index into lending decisions to minimise the risk of losing out should the property need to be repossessed.

  • Lenders start to offer long-term mortgage offers

    8 Nov 2006

    MoneyExpert.com research shows that nearly a third of lenders offer maximum mortgage terms of 40 years or more.

  • Lenders warned to invest in IT

    6 Nov 2006

    Lenders risk becoming industry dinosaurs unless they invest in technology, warns edeus.Alan Cleary, managing director of edeus, says that for the next generation of borrowers, using online technology will be the norm and young consumers will increasingly demand online instant decisions and offers on mortgages.He says: "These days, people want to book their holidays without going to a travel agent and get a girlfriend or boyfriend without meeting them. My kids can't believe brokers ...

  • Let your fingers do the driving

    6 Nov 2006

    Brokers will get the chance to show off their racing skills on the stands of Lehman Brothers' UK mortgage businesses at the Mortgage Business Expo in London next week.The three brands - London Mortgage Company, Preferred and Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited - will be running a Scalextric competition on their stands.At the end of each day the visitor who has driven the fastest lap on each of the courses will win a Scalextric set.Also, intermediaries visiting the LMC, Preferred ...

  • Lib Dems speak out over rate rise

    9 Nov 2006

    Vince Cable MP shadow chancellor of the Liberal Democrats, says: “People are now facing a three pronged attack from rising interest rates, rising unemployment and record levels of personal debt. This will spell further catastrophe for many hard working families. “Further evidence of irresponsible lending is likely to be highlighted in the coming months as interest rates reach their highest levels for over five years. “The government should be working with the financial ...

  • Linden comments on interest rate rise

    9 Nov 2006

    Philip Davies, chief executive of Linden Homes, says: "Today's interest rate rise was widely expected and the majority of homeowners had already priced it in, so I do not expect it to have a significant impact on the housing market.

  • Link Lending chooses Phoebus software platform

    6 Nov 2006

    Bridging lender, Link Lending, has chosen Phoebus Software to supply its loan origination and servicing platform.

  • LMS remortgage service is a hit

    6 Nov 2006

    LMS says its remortgaging service for packagers is a hit, with 13 firms already signed up.Packagers signed up include All Types of Mortgages, Clear Mortgage Administration, Just Mortgage Packaging, KGB Packaging, Mortgage 1, Mortgage 2000, Mortgage Bureau UK, Mortgage Next, Niche Mortgage Solutions, Oxygen Mortgages, Personal Touch Packaging, Praxis Mortgage Solutions and Trafalgar Square Solutions.

  • LMS service offered via M2000

    6 Nov 2006

    LMS' remortgaging service for packagers is now accessible through Mortgage 2000 and can be used via M2000's m2-d and Casemaster. The system offers clients a number of features including the provision of automated documentation. It also gives introducers the chance to add an income stream from conveyancing referrals.

  • Loanoptions.co.uk appoints sales manager

    8 Nov 2006

    Loanoptions.co.uk, has appointed Ron Hand as sales manager.

  • Major new MS event for secured lending sector

    6 Nov 2006

    Mortgage Strategy is launching a major new event aimed at the secured lending sector.Following the success of the Mortgage Summit and the Mortgage Packager Summit, the Secured Lending Summit will take place at the luxurious Palais de la Mediterranee (pictured right) in Nice in June next year.The event will be strictly by invitation only and delegates will be selected for their seniority and influence.If you are interested in getting involved in the event, please send ...

  • Market prices Research from Halifax Estate Agents shows that 73% of market towns have higher average house prices than neighbouring towns in the same county.

    6 Nov 2006

    Lenders have defended ex-tended early repayment charges following criticism from Hamptons Mortgages.The brokerage has de-nounced lenders that offer low initial rates accompanied by heavy ERCs for borrowers who apply for an extended period following the initial rate deal.It claims that this type of hangover rate is considerably worse value than other deals without such tie-ins.Jonathan Cornell, technical director at Hamptons Mortgages, says: "People tend to look ...

  • Marketingbrief

    6 Nov 2006

    Support is critical in the mortgage industry. Kevin Paterson's A-Z review rates the marketing material that lenders issue to help brokers with sales and business development

  • Marketwatch

    6 Nov 2006

    It was great to see swaps creep down for a change last week. They edged back after about four weeks of steady increases. Longer term swaps decreased sharply.

  • MBSL links up with the Exchange

    6 Nov 2006

    Mortgage Broking Service Ltd has chosen The Exchange's Exweb portal service as its preferred technology and ecommerce partner.

  • MBUK launches remortgaging scheme with LMS

    9 Nov 2006

    Mortgage Bureau UK has launched a Treating Customers Fairly remortgage scheme in partnership with LMS. The service gives the packagers consumer customers telephone support and help in filling in forms, coupled with high-speed conveyancing and case tracking for 199. The TCF remortgage scheme has been tailor-made specifically for Mortgage Bureau by LMS using its unique technologies, dedicated support resources and newly streamlined remortgage systems. Richard Nutbrown, ...

  • MoneyExpert.com warns fixed rate customers to switch

    7 Nov 2006

    MoneyExpert.com says one million people whose three-year fixed rate deals are due to expire will be moved to average standard APRs of over 6.5%.

  • moneyQuest launches secured loans service

    8 Nov 2006

    moneyQuest has launched a fee-free secured loans service aimed at the small to medium sized broker market.

  • More rate rises to come, says CML

    9 Nov 2006

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders says it is not surprised by the decision by the Bank of England to raise interest rates from 4.75% to 5%.

  • Mortgage fees could reach £2,700 by 2016

    9 Nov 2006

    Moneyfacts.co.uk has investigated the rapid growth in mortgage fees over the last 10 years, and predicts that mortgage fees could be as much as £2,700 by 2016 if the trend continues at the same rate. A spokeswoman for Moneyfacts, says: "Ten years ago, mortgages fees averaged £300, today this figure has trebled, to an average cost in excess of £900. Combine this with the rising stamp duty burden, and the possibility of further interest rate rises, and the result will be that moving ...

  • Mortgage Promotions adds Advantage to lender panel

    7 Nov 2006

    Advantage, a Morgan Stanley Group company, has been added to the Mortgage Promotions lending panel.

  • Mortgages Direct questions base rate rise

    9 Nov 2006

    Peter Gladdy, director of Mortgages Direct says the current economic situation is not strong enough to justify a rise in rates.

  • Mortgages PLC appoints marketing manager

    9 Nov 2006

    Mortgages PLC has appointed Kirsteen Gibb to the newly created role of marketing communications manager.

  • Mortgages PLC completes securitisation deal

    9 Nov 2006

    Mortgages PLC, the UK residential lender and wholly owned subsidiary of Merrill Lynch, has completed a securitisation deal for a total of £650m of mortgages.

  • NAEA says rate rise could have detrimental effect

    9 Nov 2006

    Following the Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates from 4.75% to 5% today, the National Association of Estate Agents believes that it could be a rise too far for a significant number of areas in the UK where the housing market is under performing.

  • Nationwide increases SVR

    10 Nov 2006

    Nationwide has confirmed it is increasing its base mortgage rate from December 1 by 0.25%. The BBR will increase from 6.24% to 6.49%, although the lender says it is still around 0.50% lower than the SVR of most other major high street lenders assuming that they also increase their SVRs in line with the base rate.

  • Nationwide plans online system

    6 Nov 2006

    Nationwide says it will have its own trading system in place for brokers who don't want to use the Mortgage Trading Exchange by early 2007.Mortgage Strategy revealed in August that Nationwide was looking at introducing an online platform as a way of maintaining service standards.Nationwide says it is in the process of improving all parts of its trading proposition.Tim Hughes, head of intermediary markets at Nationwide, says: "Brokers are able to use the MTE to access ...

  • Network Data looks to sell mortgageLink

    6 Nov 2006

    Network Data has admitted it is looking to sell its mortgageLink sourcing system and is in talks with several companies.Following its flotation on the Alternative Investment Market earlier this year, the network is taking a fresh look at its business and whether or not it makes sense to retain mortgageLink.Richard Griffiths, managing director of Network Data, says: "When we were a private company we had nobody to answer to. But now we have shareholders so we have to be accountable ...

  • Newcastle unveils two products

    6 Nov 2006

    Newcastle has launched two mortgage products.The three-year stepped discount deal offers an annual sequential discount from 3% to 1% on SVR until January 31 2010. The two-year fixed deal with extended tie-in has a rate of 1.80%.

  • Next unveils free legals promotion

    6 Nov 2006

    Mortgage Next is running a free legal and valuation fees incentive available on packaged cases over £100,000. The scheme includes Mortgages PLC, Advantage, Kensington Mortgages and DB Mortgages.

  • NHER launches training programme for energy assessors

    8 Nov 2006

    The National Home Energy Rating scheme has launched a new training and assessment programme to ensure that there will be enough qualified energy assessors in time for June 2007.

  • No incentive to fill the housing gap

    6 Nov 2006

    The housing shortage should have produced a boom in new-build developments but Stamp Duty policy and increased bureaucracy are discouraging builders, says Richard Coulson

  • Nothing to fear from another base rate rise

    6 Nov 2006

    It is almost certain that the Bank of England will raise interest rates this month, reaching 5% for the first time since 2001. Some are already describing this as a done deal.

  • OFT issues warning order against former estate agent

    8 Nov 2006

    The Office of Fair Trading has made a warning order against Darren Russell, the former proprietor of the estate agency and lettings business Homes Direct.

  • One in four parents can't afford their own home

    6 Nov 2006

    Alliance & Leicester has revealed that nearly a quarter of parents in the UK cannot afford to buy their own property, and rely on renting or living with their children’s grandparents.

  • Online marketing is vital for small brokers

    6 Nov 2006

    Online marketing is a vital tool for brokers, especially as it allows small businesses to compete on a level playing field with their larger rivals.

  • Only 1% of homeowners will be effected by interest rate rise

    8 Nov 2006

    Research carried out by the Personal Finance Research Centre and supported by Genworth Financial has found that just 1% of mortgage borrowers will be affected by an interest rate rise.

  • Optoma boosts processing

    6 Nov 2006

    Optoma Broker Solutions has changed its processing procedures in response to high business volumes and to improve its service to brokers. An administrator will be allocated to each underwriting team to assist in updating cases and responding to enquiries.

  • Over-50s don't save enough

    6 Nov 2006

    A worrying 23% of people over 50 have not started sav-ing to fund their retirement, research from Mortgage Ex-press reveals.MEX's Lifetime Report polled the financial attitudes of 358 equity release and 630 non-equity release customers aged over 50.It found that non-retired respondents had, on average, an annual household income of 25,700. But this more than halves on retirement with retirees surviving on just 11,800 per year on average, including their state pension.Despite ...

  • Owners undervalue the contents of their homes

    6 Nov 2006

    When it comes to insuring their home contents home owners undervalue their possessions by a shocking 150%, says Legal & General.L&G research shows that on average consumers estimate the value of the contents of a living room, kitchen, master bedroom, another main bedroom and garden at just over £14,300.But L&G estimates that the average true value of the contents of a typical three-bedroom family home is more than £38,000, showing that Brits are undervaluing ...

  • Paaleads offers leads from more sources

    6 Nov 2006

    Paaleads.com has teamed up with moneyweb.co.uk and dealdirect.co.uk to widen the sources of leads on its new eBay-style bidding system.Following the launch of its bidding system, paaleads.com said the source of its leads would no longer only be moneysupermarket.com and other sources would also provide leads.Advisers can now bid for mortgage leads from several sources for purchases above or below £150,000, sub-prime of any value and buy-to-let. For the first time, remortgage ...

  • Packager launched

    6 Nov 2006

    Packager Trafalgar Square Solutions celebrated its official launch party last week at a gala event sponsored by edeus.Based in Wandsworth, south London, joint managing director Michael Franklyn (far left), formerly worked at BM Solutions and The Mortgage Operation.Franklyn says: "The event was a great success. All the brokers have worked with our team in the past so the bonds of friendship and trust are already there."

  • Parents live with parents

    6 Nov 2006

    Alliance & Leicester has revealed that nearly a quarter of parents in the UK can't afford to buy their own properties and instead rely on renting or living with their own parents.

  • Paymentshield could face legal action on commission

    6 Nov 2006

    Paymentshield has been threatened with legal action over its decision to stop paying renewal commission to brokers who are no longer regulated to sell general insurance.Sue Lambert-Hope, a retired mortgages adviser, says she will be contacting other brokers who have also had their renewal commission payments stopped with a view to taking legal action against Paymentshield for damages and monies withheld.She says: “How can a company built on integrity lose it so quickly? How can it decide ...

  • Personal debt keeps growing

    6 Nov 2006

    UK personal debt exceeded £1.25trillion at the end of September, with the growth rate increasing to 10.3% over the previous 12 months .

  • Personal insolvencies hit record levels in UK

    6 Nov 2006

    Accountancy firm KPMG says insolvency figures released today reveal a record number of personal insolvencies in the UK.

  • Personal Touch to launch forums

    6 Nov 2006

    Personal Touch Financial Services is to embark on a series of mortgage and protection forums which will take place every four months.The events will be aimed at discussing the latest developments from lenders and protection companies, with each forum taking a conference-style approach and being held over one and a half days.The events will have a triple-stream structure so the presenters will be able to talk to about 70 members in each session.The first event is scheduled ...

  • Pink Home Loans expands sales team

    6 Nov 2006

    Pink Home Loans is expanding its sales team by appointing a new business development manager to cover the Midlands and North West regions, increasing the team from two to three.

  • PMPA launches products from TMB

    6 Nov 2006

    The Professional Mortgage Packagers Alliance has announced four new products from The Mortgage Business.

  • Politicians set to talk business

    6 Nov 2006

    Gordon Brown and David Cameron will present their pro-business credentials at the Confederation of British Industry annual conference next month. With the relationship with business at the top of both men's agenda, each will be keen to respond to questions at the interactive conference.

  • Portman branded a Judas

    6 Nov 2006

    A protest group set up to mobilise Portman's members against its proposed merger with Nationwide has branded the society a Judas for agreeing to the sale.Calling themselves Members Against The Takeover, the group recently placed an advert in the Daily Mail calling on members to "vote no to the proposed Nationwide takeover of Portman". It also directs members to its website, portmanprotest.com, where they can download a letter to Martin Stanley, chief executive of ...

  • Portman links with London & European

    8 Nov 2006

    Portman is offering its customers fast-track fixed-quote conveyancing services through direct access to London & European’s complete panel management solution for both purchases and remortgages.

  • Portman offers L&Es complete panel

    8 Nov 2006

    Portman has become the first lender to offer its customers fast-track fixed-quote conveyancing services through direct access to London & Europes complete panel for both purchases and remortgages.

  • PPI claims firms face scrutiny in 2007

    6 Nov 2006

    Claims companies cashing in on the mis-selling of payment protection insurance have been warned they are on the radar screen of the Claims Standards Council.Damning reports have been issued recently by the Office of Fair Trading and the Financial Services Authority over the mis-selling of PPI.Andy Wigmore, policy adviser at the CSC, says there are now 20 specialist PPI claims firms in the market.He says: "We're concerned about many of these companies but we can't do much ...

  • Presence of mind

    6 Nov 2006

    A marketing presence is increasingly important for firms but it can do more harm than good if the strategy is not properly thought through, says Christine Toner

  • primemove.com warns of upset market after rate rise

    9 Nov 2006

    Henry Pryor, founder of primemove.com, says: “The move to a 5% base rate will only upset what is already a fragile market.

  • Protection tools for Charcol

    6 Nov 2006

    Lifequote is providing John Charcol with individual protection systems for the brokerage's four businesses.This is the first time Lifequote's protection tools have been rolled out across online, telephone and face-to- face systems in a single business.John Charcol, John Charcol Associates, Charcol Direct and Charcolonline now have individual protection systems with online applications for each insurer on John Charcol's panel built into each.John Charcol and John Charcol ...

  • Rate rise won't dampen housing market, says Sequence

    9 Nov 2006

    Sequence estate agency says the interest rate rise will not dampen activity in the housing market.

  • Retirees are cashing in on property to enjoy retirement

    6 Nov 2006

    Research from Linden Homes shows retirees are no longer downsizing purely for practical reasons, but rather to use the equity they have built up in their property over the years to fund a new phase of life, including holidays and college courses.

  • RICS calls on BoE to raise interest rates

    7 Nov 2006

    The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors says the Bank of England must raise interest rates this week to dampen the housing market and prevent economic volatility.

  • RICS says rate rise will help to cool housing market

    9 Nov 2006

    The Royal Instiutution of Chartered Surveyors welcomes the Bank of England's decision to raise interest rates by 1/4% to 5.0%.

  • Rising base rate won't slow housing market

    6 Nov 2006

    Recent weeks have seen plenty of product withdrawals from a number of lenders, predominantly on the fixed rate front. This has been precipitated by the rise in money market rates filtering through and affecting the pricing of products.

  • Scarborough appointment

    6 Nov 2006

    Scarborough has recruited John Jenkins as regional development manager to support its specialist lending brand. Covering the Midlands and South, Jenkins will build relationships between Scarborough and brokers, and raise awareness of Scarborough Specialist Mortgages as well as the society's prime offering.

  • Select & Protect unveils commercial proposition

    6 Nov 2006

    Select & Protect has launched a commercial insurance proposition called Bonus Underwriter.

  • Shabby leads the way on road to ruin

    6 Nov 2006

    Good old Shabby Abbey. Just when you think things are getting boring in the mortgage market Shabby comes up with another ruse to entice sleepwalking borrowers into its - since the Santander makeover - cheap and nasty high street branches. I much preferred the more attractive and feminine Luqman Arnold vision - pink and purple frontage with free sweeties indoors.

  • SmartNewHomes.com fears for market’s future

    9 Nov 2006

    SmartNewHomes.com says the Bank of England's decision to rise the interest rate could prove bad for the market.

  • Stockton triumphant in New York

    6 Nov 2006

    HBOS's Nigel Stockon was triumphant at this weekend's New York City Marathon, clocking home an impressive three hours and 56 minutes to take the Dity Dozen crown.

  • Sub-prime can profit from change

    6 Nov 2006

    Sub-prime lenders' flexibility and experience means they are well positioned to cater for clients as base rates rise and the economic climate changes, says Tom Atkins

  • Texting can boost business

    6 Nov 2006

    MortgageKeeper says mobile phone texting has not only revolutionised the way people communicate socially but is also forging new opportunities in the way business is done. Texting gets straight to the customer, providing a way of updating clients or field sales teams on the latest opportunities in the market.

  • The Finance Planning Group adopts new style

    6 Nov 2006

    The Finance Planning Group has adopted a new style after months of planning and development with an overall objective to grow business for all areas of the group.

  • The Mortgage Mole

    6 Nov 2006

    Digging the dirt in the mortgage world

  • Title deed

    6 Nov 2006

    Some 20 years ago, VEF was called Vivre en France and only became known as VEF halfway through its life.As a company set up to find homes in France for English-speaking people the name Vivre en France seemed to fit the bill as it translates as 'living in France'.It was only 10 years after the start of the business that it realised that it might have defined the present and the future of the company by its limiting name.Changing the name to VEF opened up the possibility of ...

  • titlesolv.com offers discounted services

    6 Nov 2006

    titlesolv.com has announced a 20% discount on its search indemnities and defect cover policies when solicitors buy more than one policy.

  • TMA teams up with TMO

    8 Nov 2006

    The Mortgage Alliance has chosen TMO to be its sole packager.

  • TMB launches house-to-house range

    8 Nov 2006

    The Mortgage Business launched a series of house-to-house products in its new product range.

  • Towergate buys Paymentshield

    9 Nov 2006

    Towergate has bought Paymentshield, the UK’s largest independent supplier of mortgage related general insurance products to the intermediary sector.

  • Trafalgar Square Solutions launches second phase of invitations

    6 Nov 2006

    Packager Trafalgar Square Solutions launched its second phase of membership invitations at a lunch in South London on Friday October 27, 2006.

  • Trigold launches £800 champagne prize draw

    8 Nov 2006

    Trigold is offering brokers the chance to win a nebuchadnezzar of champagne worth £800 by submitting applications via the E-Trading Centre.

  • UK consumer debt slows

    7 Nov 2006

    Consumer debt is growing at its slowest rate for the last 13 years, according to the latest Borrowing Monitor from Alliance & Leicester. The latest figures for consumer borrowing, borrowing other than for the family mortgage, is reversing the growth shown in recent years.

  • W3 Debt Solutions promotes IVA scheme

    6 Nov 2006

    New figures released from W3 Debt Solutions show that banks and other lenders should recover an average of 48p in the pound of their unsecured bad debts under W3s Individual Voluntary Arrangements schemes.

  • We must help people see value of protection

    6 Nov 2006

    The truth is that the population of this country is getting worse not better when it comes to looking after their personal finances.

  • We should do more than refuse to use inefficient lenders

    6 Nov 2006

    From Paul Brown Due to problems with BDMs who don't care and call centres that are inadequately staffed, Halifax has been blacklisted by me when it comes to purchase mortgages for the past couple of years. It has been sent the odd remortgage if totally straightforward, but luckily its products rarely seem to be the best which makes it easy to ignore. Service often relies on personal support and varies as staff change. Perhaps that's where edeus is different. From what ...

  • West Brom offers 100% rental cover

    7 Nov 2006

    West Brom for Intermediaries has reduced the standalone rental cover requirement on its buy-to-let product range from 120% to 100%.

  • What do you think will be the role of mortgage networks in 10 years' time?

    6 Nov 2006

    Networks will provide brokers with the chance to build sustainable profits in an increasingly regulated industry, say our experts.

  • What's bad for FTBs is good for B2L

    6 Nov 2006

    The government is taking action to address the shortage of new homes that is fuelling rising house prices but for now it's good news for the buy-to-let sector, says Sally Laker

  • When lenders compete, brokers win

    6 Nov 2006

    This year's Benchmark Study on lender technology shows lenders becoming increasingly innovative which means the true winners will be brokers, says Frank Eve

  • When the dream overwhelms reality

    6 Nov 2006

    We are fast approaching the season of joy and goodwill but we can all see that what is always an expensive time of the year has all the signs of being even more so this year, as the Monetary Policy Committee plots the extent of the next Bank of England base rate increase.

  • Will you fund your retirement with a pension or property?

    6 Nov 2006

    It was revealed last week that over half of the people surveyed by Lincoln Financial Group felt that their property was a safer investment than a pension. Although research shows the average person pays off their mortgage at 56, around 1.58 million do not expect to clear their mortgage until they are 55.

  • Woolwich dropped from Optoma panel

    6 Nov 2006

    Optoma has announced that it will no longer include Woolwich on its lending panel. Woolwich has been a prime lender with Optoma for a number of years, but the number of applications with Woolwich has reduced significantly over the last 12 months.

  • Yorkshiremen are nothing like Ebenezer Scrooge

    6 Nov 2006

    From Philip Holroyd I write regarding Isabelle Kassam's article headlined 'Ebenezer Scrooge is a Yorkshireman' (Mortgage Strategy October 23). As a Yorkshireman I take exception to her comparison. It is a well known fact that Ebenezer Scrooge became a generous benefactor. A true Yorkshireman would never let himself go down such a slippery slope.Philip Holroyd Joint managing director SimplyBiz Mortgages By email

  • Young professionals feel pressured to spend

    7 Nov 2006

    Three quarters of young professionals feel pressure to spend thousands of pounds that they cannot afford, reveals a report.

Poll

Do you recommend fast-track to customers?

Current Issue

Lending Zone
petitions
debate
Define Advice
Advanced search