Mortgage Strategy
8 September 2008

  • 19% house price fall predicted by 2010

    12 Sep 2008

    Cantor Spreadfair, the housing spread betting firm which allows investors to bet on the Halifax House Price Index, is predicting house prices will fall 19% by 2010.

  • 80 Prestbury ARs transfer to Personal Touch

    9 Sep 2008

    Around 80 Prestbury appointed representatives have transferred to rival network Personal Touch Financial Services today.

  • A boost for social housing

    8 Sep 2008

    The Home Builders Federation says it supports the rescue plan as a tool for advancing investment in social housing but action is still needed to address funding constraints.

  • A failure to tackle liquidity

    8 Sep 2008

    The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association says the government's mortgage rescue package fails to address underlying liquidity problems but hopes the completion of Sir James Crosby's housing finance review will free up additional funding for lenders.

  • Abbey slices 0.6% off of 85% LTV deals

    12 Sep 2008

    Abbey for Intermediaries is slashing its 85% LTV range by 0.6% and fees by up to £1000 from Monday September 15.

  • AFB publishes White Paper on secured loans regulation

    12 Sep 2008

    The Association of Finance Brokers has published a White Paper on the future regulation of the secured loans industry.

  • AMI says UK should follow US example

    8 Sep 2008

    The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries is calling on both Sir James Crosby and the UK government to follow the example set by the US in its attempt to rectify the capital markets.

  • ANALYSIS: Show of strength from Nationwide

    8 Sep 2008

    The Nationwide has flexed its muscles again and swallowed up rivals the Derbyshire and the Cheshire, to make it the undisputed super-power of the mutual world.

  • Another fine mess you've got us into

    8 Sep 2008

    Having had a couple of weeks off to enjoy better weather and try and forget the challenging mortgage market, I nearly choked on my San Miguel when I read the Sunday newspapers and reports of chancellor Alistair Darling's latest gaffe.

  • Argos on the lookout for secured partner

    9 Sep 2008

    Argos has confirmed it is on the lookout for potential partners to offer secured loans through its Argos Homeowner Loan brand.

  • B&B director quits firm

    8 Sep 2008

    Matt Stevens, group sales director and executive director at Bradford & Bingley, resigned last week.Stevens is expected to leave his role by the end of September.

  • BDS Secured teams up with Link Lending

    12 Sep 2008

    BDS Secured Loans is launching a bridging finance proposition in association with bridging provider Link Lending.

  • Bear could have slain big three

    8 Sep 2008

    According to an analysis by JP Morgan Chase, the Bear Stearns debacle earlier this year could have brought down Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.It says that each firm's exposure meant that all three could have failed if Bear had not been rescued.

  • Between a rock and a hard place

    8 Sep 2008

    Next week marks the first anniversary of the run on Northern Rock and the first run on a UK bank for over 100 years. In the only case of consultation and review with NR customers since the run began, Steve Nuttall, head of YouGov, and Tony Dent, statistician and chairman of Sample Answers, analyse what went wrong

  • Blow the whistle on dodgy brokers

    8 Sep 2008

    Mortgage fraud is on the rise so brokers, lenders and BDMs need to work with the regulator to strengthen the industry’s defences and finger the guilty parties, says Sue Read

  • BM to offer exclusive packager range

    8 Sep 2008

    Nigel Payne, managing director of BM Solutions is set to reclaim his title as “friend to the packager,” by boosting proc fees and launching an exclusive product range for packagers.

  • Bridgewater sees bright future for equity release

    8 Sep 2008

    Bridgewater Equity Release says the strength of the sector is likely to continue into Q3 2008.

  • Broker website to search network market

    10 Sep 2008

    Brokers looking to choose a network can now use a single website to research the network market, with networks pitching to brokers for their business.

  • Brokers should fear unpaid proc fees as networks close

    8 Sep 2008

    The straw poll in your September 1 issue shows that 26% of brokers don't fear their networks closing and walking off with proc fees they are owed. But a note of caution to those 26%. I was a member of Classic Network Solutions, which was taken over by GHL Network. I left in December 2007 and was paid until the end of January 2008.

  • Brokers warned on equity release

    8 Sep 2008

    Experts have warned that equity release could be a ticking compliance time bomb for brokers new to it.

  • Brown should have got better advice before proceeding

    8 Sep 2008

    The Prime Minister's mortgage rescue plans constitute the most ridiculous proposals ever.

  • Budget flight cuts won't hit prices

    8 Sep 2008

    The reduction in the number of low-cost flights to property hotspots poses no threat to the value of overseas property, says Conti Financial Services.

  • C2 pulls plug on mortgages

    11 Sep 2008

    C2 financial says it is no longer actively seeking mortgage business in the broker market as a result of the continued economic downturn.

  • Cantor predicts 19% house price fall by 2010

    10 Sep 2008

    Cantor Spreadfair, the housing spread betting firm which allows investors to bet on the Halifax House Price Index, is predicting house prices will fall 19% by 2010.

  • Cheshire Mortgage Corporation to help Salt brokers

    11 Sep 2008

    Cheshire Mortgage Corporation has confirmed its continued commitment to the mortgage market following the close of Salt Finance.

  • Clients crackers not to want trackers

    8 Sep 2008

    With the base rate likely to fall in the next 12 months, trackers are taking over from fixed rate mortgages as the product of choice on brokers’ list of recommendations, says Rob Clifford

  • Clients unaware of regulation

    8 Sep 2008

    Equity release providers are concerned about consumer research from the Financial Services Authority which shows the over-65s are one of the age groups least aware of FSA regulation.

  • CML bemoans slow progress on arrears protocol

    8 Sep 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has lashed out at the Civil Justice Council for its inability to finalise an arrears protocol for lenders.

  • CML scheme on builder incentives

    8 Sep 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders is calling on developers to disclose incentives to ensure new-build homes are valued accurately. CML members will ask new-build developers to complete a disclosure of incentives form.The CML believes this will ensure that mortgages are offered based on accurate valuations, help prevent fraud and boost confidence in the sector.

  • Conflicting confidence data

    8 Sep 2008

    Differences have emerged between Financial Services Authority data and independent research into consumer confidence following the Northern Rock fiasco. YouGov recently carried out a poll of NR savers as part of the only consultation with customers since the run on the bank. It asked them how confident they are that financial firms have adequately qualified staff and enough money. It found only 2% of customers are confident all financial firms meet these standards compared with 12% ...

  • Cover the bases for business protection

    8 Sep 2008

    To engage effectively with potential clients in terms of business protection, you must broaden your understanding of how their businesses function. While deep technical expertise isn't necessary, a good understanding will allow you to position business protection effectively and help identify clients' needs.

  • Credit Crunch End Game

    8 Sep 2008

    Leaving aside thoughts of particle accelerators and the world ending,the US government have made what could prove to be a historicallysignificant move by taking "Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae" under their wing.

  • CRM can leave brokers waving not drowning

    8 Sep 2008

    Association of Mortgage Intermediaries director-general Chris Cummings is correct when he says customer relationship management is the key to success for brokers (Mortgage Strategy September 1).

  • Darling in reported multibillion pound mortgage market shake-up

    9 Sep 2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling is believed to be planning a multibillion pound kick-start to the UK housing market, which would see the government temporarily guaranteeing high quality mortgage-backed securities.

  • Darling torpedoes Brown's failing defences

    8 Sep 2008

    You could almost hear the sound of the crockery smashing in Downing Street as Prime Minister Gordon Brown read the extraordinary interview given by chancellor Alistair Darling to the Guardian.

  • Death throes of a dying government

    8 Sep 2008

    With the rift between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and chancellor Alistair Darling reaching untenable proportions, we should all be concerned about how much more damage the death throes of this ailing government will inflict on the mortgage market.

  • Derbyshire reports pre-tax loss of £17m

    8 Sep 2008

    The Derbyshire has revealed it is expecting to make an unaudited pre-tax loss of £17m for the first half of 2008.

  • Don't give up on remortgages

    8 Sep 2008

    Brokers should not be discouraged by falling remortgage approvals because busi- ness may be placed at a later stage, says Alexander Hall.

  • Economic sabotage and the forces of evil

    9 Sep 2008

    Deep in the bowels of the Secret Intelligence Service’s HQ Agent Orange and her economic intelligence unit have been number crunching.

  • Edeus offers golfing trip to brokers

    8 Sep 2008

    Brokers who submit savings account business via edeus are being offered the chance to win a four night golfing trip to Portugal.

  • Estate agents report less than one sale a week

    9 Sep 2008

    Data from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors reveals that some estate agents are conducting less than one sale per week amidst the lowest transaction levels since the survey began.

  • Fees glorious fees

    11 Sep 2008

    Yesterday I spent most of the day at the Royal Bank of Scotland Roadshow in London where among the speakers were Grenville Turner, group chief executive of Countrywide and Phil Spencer of Location, Location,Location fame.

  • Financial Network partners Exclusive Connections

    12 Sep 2008

    The Financial Network has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Exclusive Connections giving its appointed representatives access to its whole of market offering.

  • Financial Network signs up with Exclusive Connections

    12 Sep 2008

    The Financial Network has signed an exclusive partnership agreement with Exclusive Connections giving its appointed representatives access to its whole of market offering.

  • First-time buyers still struggling reports CML

    9 Sep 2008

    Loans for first-time buyers continued to decline in July, while remortgaging rose and lending for house purchases held steady, compared with June, show figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • Fitch sees arrears rise by 11.63% in UK RMBS

    10 Sep 2008

    Fitch Ratings has discovered an upward trend in arrears and repossessions in UK residential mortgage backed securities in Q2 2008.

  • FLA not in favour of regulatory change

    12 Sep 2008

    In response to the Association of Finance Brokers White Paper on the regulation of secured loans, the Finance and Leasing Association has called for the industry not to focus on any regulatory change in the current climate.

  • Focus on new-build won't stimulate FTB interest

    8 Sep 2008

    Why does the government's mortgage rescue plan include new-builds and not second-hand properties if one of its objectives is to stimulate the first-time buyer market?

  • Freedom Finance launches third Scandinavian business

    9 Sep 2008

    Wilmslow-based financial services group, Freedom Finance, has continued its European expansion with the launch of its third Scandinavian business.

  • FSA censures Coventry broker

    8 Sep 2008

    The Financial Services Authority has censured Mohammed Habib for failing to ensure his customers received suitable advice.

  • FTB loan scheme could cause US-style problems in the UK

    8 Sep 2008

    Regarding the government's mortgage rescue plan, no-one has explained who will be liable for the 30% HomeBuy loans. It looks like they are effectively second mortgages.

  • FTB plan dubbed dangerous

    8 Sep 2008

    Mortgage expert Jonathan Cornell has branded the government's mortgage rescue plan offering first-time buyers interest-free 30% loans to buy new-build properties dangerous and short-sighted.

  • GEMHL appoints chief operating officer

    8 Sep 2008

    GE Money Home Lending has appointed Ian Ferguson as its new chief operating officer, reporting to Colin Shave, CEO of GE Money Home Lending.

  • Good times rolled

    8 Sep 2008

    2007’s lending figures hit £364bn, a record for the industry, but that was before the credit crunch overwhelmed the mortgage industry, says Richard Griffiths

  • Government could guarantee mortgage-backed securities

    9 Sep 2008

    Chancellor Alistair Darling is believed to be planning a multibillion pound kick-start to the UK housing market, which would see the government temporarily guaranteeing high quality mortgage-backed securities.

  • Government plans avoid the big issue

    8 Sep 2008

    The government’s package of measures to boost the housing market is welcome but fails to address the central problem – lack of liquidity in the market, says Mark Harris

  • Government proposals are negligent

    8 Sep 2008

    Last week the government unveiled a package of measures to rescue the housing market. The Stamp Duty threshold has been raised from £125,000 to £175,000 for one year. Housing associations can now buy homes from borrowers facing repossession and rent them back. They can offer shared ownership deals too.

  • Government's cunning plans will not help borrowers and are irresponsible to boot

    8 Sep 2008

    What a waste of time the government's Stamp Duty changes are. Surely an exemption up to £250,000 was the least the market needed. Raising the threshold by £50,000 is a token gesture, designed to appease the masses after chancellor Alistair Darling's latest gaffe about the state of the economy. Cabinet members are becoming more like characters from Blackadder every day - Darling is Darling and Prime Minister Gordon Brown is Baldrick.

  • Graeme Wade joins Your Broker Network

    8 Sep 2008

    Graeme Wade, ex-group regional account manager at Swift has joined Your Broker Network as a business development manager.

  • Halifax adds Rate Guard to all core tracker mortgages

    8 Sep 2008

    Halifax is to include Rate Guard in all of its core tracker mortgage products with effect from September 10.

  • High notes

    8 Sep 2008

    The Mortgage Strategy crew were taken out by Nigel Stockton, managing director of HBOS Intermediaries, and Nigel Payne, managing director of BM Solutions, for a night of karaoke last week.

  • Home & Capital reports 43% increase in equity release business

    10 Sep 2008

    Home & Capital’s parent company Sovereign Reversions has revealed strong growth for both its equity release advisory and provider businesses at today’s annual general meeting.

  • Home front

    8 Sep 2008

    The Yorkshire came under attack from The Sun col-umnist Jane Moore last week, in particular Tanya Jackson, its corporate affairs manager.

  • Hornby makes dire liquidity forecast

    8 Sep 2008

    Andy Hornby, chief executive of HBOS, says it will be 18 months before liquidity returns to the market.

  • House prices up 76% in Liverpool

    8 Sep 2008

    House prices in Liverpool have increased 76% since being named the European Capital of Culture for 2008 in June 2003 with some areas seeing a 188% rise.

  • Ian Ferguson appointed COO at GEMHL

    8 Sep 2008

    GE Money Home Lending has appointed Ian Ferguson as its new chief operating officer with immediate effect.

  • IMLA calls for action from BoE

    12 Sep 2008

    The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association is calling on Bank of England governor Mervyn King to urgently address the lack of mortgage finance and boost investor confidence.

  • Insurer says senior CML heads should roll

    9 Sep 2008

    Payment protection insurer Burgesses is calling for disciplinary action at the Council of Mortgage Lenders for ineffective lobbying to protect lenders.

  • InterBay bought by 5D

    10 Sep 2008

    InterBay Commercial has been sold by its US parent Bayview Financial to rival UK commercial lender 5D Group.

  • InterBay sold to 5D

    10 Sep 2008

    InterBay Commercial has been sold by its US parent Bayview Financial to rival UK commercial lender 5D Group.

  • It's dangerous to play the waiting game

    8 Sep 2008

    The fall in house prices continues apace with Nationwide's latest figures confirming the worst - prices dropped 1.9% in August and more than 10% over the past 12 months.

  • JMP joins Money Partners panel

    10 Sep 2008

    Just Mortgage Packaging has been appointed to the key partner panel of specialist lender Money Partners.

  • John Dalby joins Mathon

    9 Sep 2008

    John Dalby has joined Mathon as a business development director.

  • Jupp smash

    8 Sep 2008

    Rob Jupp, managing director of Personal Touch Packaging, has finally settled on a name for the merry band of industry professionals participating in the Berlin Marathon on September 28. As nominated by Kevin Pat-erson, the name Jupp has opted for is The Lean Green Mortgage Machine. Mole is unsure about the 'green' part of thename but assumes it is something of an homage to Marvel anti-hero The Incred- ible Hulk.

  • Just joins AMPD

    9 Sep 2008

    Just Mortgage Packaging has joined the Association of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors.

  • Just Mortgage Packaging joins AMPD

    8 Sep 2008

    Just Mortgage Packaging has joined the Association of Mortgage Packagers and Distributors.

  • Just Mortgage Packaging joins Money Partners panel

    10 Sep 2008

    Just Mortgage Packaging has been appointed to the key partner panel of specialist lender Money Partners.

  • Just Retirement sales up 13% year-on-year

    10 Sep 2008

    Just Retirement has reported a sales increase of almost 13% to £763.5m while value of new business after tax was £42m up from £41m in 2006-2007.

  • Katie Tucker joins mortgageforce

    8 Sep 2008

    Katie Tucker, former technical manager at John Charcol, has been named technical manager of mortgageforce.

  • Key Retirement teams up with law firm

    10 Sep 2008

    North East law firm Gordon Brown Associates has teamed up with equity release specialist Key Retirement Solutions.

  • Labour seems unwilling to learn from its past mistakes

    8 Sep 2008

    The government does not understand how the mortgage and property markets work. How will raising the Stamp Duty threshold to £175,000 for one year help anyone?

  • Labour sidesteps the biggest issue

    8 Sep 2008

    We've said it before and we'll say it again - the so-called mortgage rescue plan announced by the government last week was a wasted opportunity. A year-long Stamp Duty holiday for loans up to £175,000 is little more than a political sticking plaster. All this proposal will generate are more media headlines.

  • Landlords call for regulation of sale-and-rent-back

    8 Sep 2008

    Almost two thirds of landlords believe that the sale-and-rent-back sector needs to be regulated, reveals the latest data from the BDRC.

  • Leadbay to begin trial of life cover leads

    8 Sep 2008

    Leadbay will begin a trial run of life assurance leads tomorrow with the expectation of a full roll out of the service in the next six weeks.

  • Lehman Brothers may be on verge of insolvency

    14 Sep 2008

    Lehman Brothers is thought to be teetering on the edge of bankruptcy following billions of dollars in write downs this year.

  • Lenders dropping fixed rates to boost market

    9 Sep 2008

    Fixed rate mortgages priced below 5% are back as lenders cut rates in a bid to boost the market, research from mform.co.uk shows.

  • Losses at mutuals prompt merger

    8 Sep 2008

    Expected pre-tax half-year losses in excess of £27m have played a major role in the Derbyshire and the Cheshire merger with Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society.

  • M2000 scraps DIY subscription fee

    8 Sep 2008

    Mortgage 2000's DIY Packaging system has scrapped its monthly subscription fee of £90. This follows a 63% cut in the fees for M2000's core mortgage sourcing system. M2000 says the move means brokers can now access both systems at a saving of £1,278 a year.

  • Marathon Money

    8 Sep 2008

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

  • Mark Blackwell joins Xit2 as sales director

    9 Sep 2008

    Mark Blackwell, previously intermediary sales director at Alliance & Leicester has joined Xit2 as sales director.

  • Market Watch 08 September 2008

    8 Sep 2008

    Swaps fell below their recent levels last week. They are now back to where they were in May this year and in December 2006.

  • MD of L&G Mortgage Club leaves for Towergate

    10 Sep 2008

    Legal & General has confirmed Ben Thompson is leaving after a year as managing director of L&G mortgage club.

  • Money Partners added to Mortgage Next lender panel

    11 Sep 2008

    Mortgage Next Packaging will add Money Partners to its panel of lenders on September 15.

  • Moneysupermarket.com launches secured loan product

    8 Sep 2008

    Moneysupermarket.com has launched an exclusive secured loan product, with a of 7.5% APR.

  • Mutuals fall victim to the credit crunch

    8 Sep 2008

    The announcement today that the Britain’s ninth and eleventh largest building societies are to merge with Nationwide should not come as a surprise to the industry.

  • Nationwide enters into consultation with staff

    12 Sep 2008

    Five processing centres are being considered for closure by Nationwide.

  • Nationwide may close processing centres

    11 Sep 2008

    Five processing centres are being considered for closure by Nationwide.

  • Nationwide to merge with Derbyshire and Cheshire

    8 Sep 2008

    Nationwide has confirmed that it has agreed to merge with two of its smaller rivals, the Derbyshire and the Cheshire.

  • Nationwide to merge with smaller rivals

    8 Sep 2008

    Nationwide has confirmed that it has agreed to merge with two of its smaller rivals, the Derbyshire and the Cheshire.

  • Negative mindset towards protection needs to change

    12 Sep 2008

    In the good ol’ days brokers didn’t need to bother too much about selling protection alongside a mortgage.

  • Nemo revamps products

    8 Sep 2008

    Nemo, the secured loan arm of the Principality, has increased commission on a number of its deals and launched a product with a 8.49% rate, 65% LTV and 5% commission.

  • Nemo rumoured to have won Argos contract

    12 Sep 2008

    Nemo Personal Finance is believed to have fought of rivals to become Argos main business partner for secured loans. Central Trust is also rumoured to have been appointed as a secondary partner and will get a percentage of the leads. Argos did offer the loans through FirstPlus until it pulled out of the secured loan market in August.Nemo would not comment as to whether it had been successful, while Argos says it is still making a decision.

  • Nervous wait for GMAC staff

    8 Sep 2008

    Sources close to GMAC-RFC say staff at the firm will have to wait until the end of September to discover whether they will share the fate of the 5,000 US workers axed by parent firm GMAC.

  • New head of mortgages at Moneysupermarket.com

    11 Sep 2008

    Kevin Mountford is head of mortgages at moneysupermarket.com having replaced John Myers.

  • Nine of 12 main lenders drop two and three-year rates

    8 Sep 2008

    Nine of the UK's 12 main mortgage lenders have cut two and three-year fixed rates over the past two weeks, says Moneysupermarket.com.

  • Not much left of edeus after golden goodbye is extended

    8 Sep 2008

    Regarding the recent announcement by edeus that it will extend its golden goodbye scheme.

  • One in three employees willing to move to find work

    8 Sep 2008

    The failing UK economy has staff concerned with nearly one in three employees polled by YouGov considering moving to find work.

  • Orbiter launches mortgage and loan sourcing system

    10 Sep 2008

    Online sourcing and compliance system Oribter, is allowing advisers to source mortgages deals against secured loans.

  • Orbiter launches mortgage and secured loan comparison system

    10 Sep 2008

    Orbiter has enhanced its system to compare mortgages and secured loans in addition to direct mortgages.

  • Overhaul Stamp Duty, say experts

    8 Sep 2008

    Industry figures have called for a root and branch reform of Stamp Duty in response to the government's tax holiday for properties valued at £175,000 and below.

  • Paradigm adds L&E to conveyancing panel

    8 Sep 2008

    Paradigm Mortgage Services has added London & European to its conveyancing panel.

  • Paymentshield to link with Trigold platform

    8 Sep 2008

    Paymentshield will link its Inertia software to Trigold's Prospector AAA platform in the coming months.

  • Pink calls for FSA regulation of secured loans

    12 Sep 2008

    Neil Hoare, associate director of marketing and IT at Pink Home Loans says he would like to see the FSA regulate secured loans.

  • Pink teams up with BDS Secured Loans

    11 Sep 2008

    Pink Home Loans has added to its current secured loan offering with BDS Secured Loans.

  • PMS unveils ER referral scheme

    9 Sep 2008

    Premier Mortgage Service has unveiled a new equity release referral scheme via Age Partnership.

  • Portal poised for launch

    8 Sep 2008

    Rachel Bancroft, former managing director of KGB Packaging, will launch her one-stop mortgage portal on October 1.

  • Prestbury ARs transferred to PTFS

    9 Sep 2008

    Around 80 Prestbury appointed representatives have transferred to rival network Personal Touch Financial Services today.

  • Prestbury confirms PTFS talks

    11 Sep 2008

    Prestbury has officially confirmed it is in talks to transfer around 80 of its appointed representatives to Personal Touch Financial Services two days after takeover negotiations were revealed.

  • Prestbury suspended from AIM

    10 Sep 2008

    Prestbury Holdings has been suspended yet again from the Alternative Investment Market for failing to file its half-year interim results on time.

  • Prestbury suspended from AIM again

    10 Sep 2008

    Prestbury Holdings has been suspended yet again from the Alternative Investment Market for failing to file its half-year interim results on time.

  • Principality reports pre-tax profit of £8.4m

    12 Sep 2008

    Principality has revealed a pre-tax profit of £8.4m for the six months to 30 June 2008, compared to £16.2m over the same period last year.

  • Principality sees pre-tax profit of £8.4m

    12 Sep 2008

    Principality has revealed a pre-tax profit of £8.4m for the six months to 30 June 2008, compared to £16.2m over the same period last year.

  • Promise adds two lenders to panel

    9 Sep 2008

    Promise Solutions has added two lenders to its sub-prime and self-cert secured loan panels.

  • Promise teams up with First European Securities

    9 Sep 2008

    Promise Solutions has added two lenders to its sub-prime and self-cert secured loan panels.

  • RBS Intermediary Partners appoints head of sales

    8 Sep 2008

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners has appointed Graham Felstead as head of sales.

  • Remortgage business increases in July

    9 Sep 2008

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has seen an increase in remortgage business in July, up 14% in volume and 16% in value from June.

  • Rescue plan unlikely to work in prevailing mortgage market

    8 Sep 2008

    The government's rescue plan is unlikely to work in the prevailing market conditions as lenders are not keen to securitise on new-builds. This is a result of their inflated pricing in relation to other property types.

  • Reverse takeover of Elephant foiled by crunch

    8 Sep 2008

    David Peters, chief executive of se-cured loans network FT Partnership, has blamed the company's decision to scrap plans for a reverse takeover of Elephant Loans & Mortgages on market conditions.

  • Rule change

    8 Sep 2008

    Mole was intrigued to learn that even the Queen is feeling the effect of plummeting property prices.

  • Salt pulls out of market

    8 Sep 2008

    Salt is to withdraw from the residential mortgage market. Its deadline for direct business is 6pm on September 12, while packager applications with decisions in principle must be received by 6pm on September 19.

  • Service is the problem for HSBC, says Boulger

    8 Sep 2008

    Poor service, rather than brokers, is the main barrier to HSBC achieving greater success in the mortgage market, says industry guru Ray Boulger.

  • Sesame to support ARs from failing networks

    11 Sep 2008

    Sesame is enhancing its support for mortgage brokers in response to an increase in network failures.

  • Short-term tinkering

    8 Sep 2008

    Connells Survey and Valuation brands the rescue plan short-term tinkering and says the government must pave the way for lenders to recapitalise their balance sheets.

  • Sinclair puts words into action

    12 Sep 2008

    Robert Sinclair, director of the Association of Finance Brokers has never been one to mince his words when it comes to the subject of the Financial Services Authority regulating secured loans.

  • Skipton offers 95% LTV deals

    8 Sep 2008

    Skipton is to offer first-time buyers 95% LTV deals through its Mutually Exclusive scheme.From September 15 its account holders can access the deals if they or a family member put 20% of the property's value into one of the mutual's savings accounts.

  • SMS boosts broker commission

    9 Sep 2008

    Solent Mortgage Services is offering brokers enhanced commission fees of up to £50 or an additional 0.10% for using its online portal and application system.

  • Solicitor on CAL panel

    8 Sep 2008

    Salans' Thetford office has joined Conveyancing Alliance's solicitor panel, offering brokers conveyancing and volume legal processing services.

  • Stamp Duty change will only push down property prices

    8 Sep 2008

    The mortgage rescue plan is too little too late. What about consumers who will be anxious to buy below the new Stamp Duty threshold? The change means more sellers will be forced to reduce their asking prices.

  • Stonehaven drops rates for under 70s

    8 Sep 2008

    Stonehaven has dropped its rates for equity release clients under 70 years old.

  • Survey shows gap between demand and approvals

    8 Sep 2008

    The government's rescue plan may help at the margins but the big problems will occur next year when the fixed rate mortgages taken out in the first half of last year come to an end.

  • Take Pole position at battle of the scousers

    8 Sep 2008

    Fancy being part of the great Liverpool FC comeback? After a slow start to the season the Reds are clearly waiting for one of the most important games of the campaign to strut their stuff - the Merseyside derby on September 27 - and you could be there to see it.

  • Tax change won't help South-East

    8 Sep 2008

    The National Association of Estate Agents says changes to Stamp Duty won't have a significant impact in the South-East but that the move is a step in the right direction.

  • The chancellor is from Mars, the market is from Venus

    8 Sep 2008

    In the London area you can't buy a studio apartment for £175,000. Darling is on another planet.

  • The law on squatting is far out, man

    8 Sep 2008

    Dealing with squatters has been a problem for many years but the law is not on the side of aggrieved owners of affected properties, says Simon White

  • The Price Of Property

    9 Sep 2008

    While enjoying a lovely homemade mushroom risotto last night I flicked over the TV to watch The Price of Property on Channel Four.

  • Three Lehman executives to go in staff shuffle

    8 Sep 2008

    Three senior directors are leaving Lehman Brothers as the firm shuffles its team of global executives.

  • Tiuta contines to offer 75% LTV

    8 Sep 2008

    Bridging loan company Tiuta has reiterated that it continues to lend up to 75% LTV on open market valuations.

  • Tiuta still lending 75% LTV

    8 Sep 2008

    Bridging company Tiuta has reported record levels of enquiries in the last quarter of 2007, which it puts down to it still offering 75% LTV.

  • TMW offers landlords free EPCs

    12 Sep 2008

    The Mortgage Works is offering landlords who are remortgaging on selected products a free energy performance certificate.

  • TMW to allow online portfolio B2L applications

    8 Sep 2008

    The Mortgage Works is to bolster its online proposition by allowing brokers to input details of portfolio buy-to-let applications for the first time.

  • Too little, too late

    8 Sep 2008

    Cluttons says the package is too little, too late but that the proposed £300m shared equity scheme will help the building trade.

  • Trade bodies seek members

    8 Sep 2008

    RAMP and AMPD will battle for members after plans to form a unified alliance were scrapped.

  • US government bails out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

    8 Sep 2008

    The US government has bailed out the country's two main mortgage suppliers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

  • Wave on brink of crashing, say sources

    8 Sep 2008

    Industry sources are adamant that Merrill Lynch is to close Wave.

  • White Label increases rates and scraps AVMs

    12 Sep 2008

    Secured loan lender White Label Loans has increased its rates by up to 1% on a number of its products and will no longer accept automated valuation models as a means of valuation.

  • Whitehall cannot stop extinction event

    8 Sep 2008

    In the natural world species that can adapt to change thrive. Charles Darwin called it natural selection and explained how the theory worked in The origin of species, published 149 years ago.

  • Whitehall more interested in builders than wider market

    8 Sep 2008

    The rescue plan announced by the chancellor is a joke. The £50,000 hike to the Stamp Duty threshold will do little to help.

  • Winners for September Claridge's lunch revealed

    8 Sep 2008

    The latest winners of LMS' Chef’s Table lunch competition at top London eatery Claridge's - run in conjunction with Mortgage Strategy - have been decided.

  • Wizard launches exam planner and CPD tool for brokers

    11 Sep 2008

    Wizard Learning has launched an online exam planner and continuing professional development tool to help prepare brokers and IFAs prepare for their industry examinations.

  • Yorkshire unveils comparison site

    8 Sep 2008

    The Yorkshire has launched a conveyancing price comparison website for consumers.

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