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February 2012
Making waves
06 February 2012
Charles Haresnape took Aldermore boldly where no other lender was going and launched a 100% LTV product. As managing director of residential mortgages, he has set his sights firmly on further innovation this year
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January 2012
The human league
30 January 2012
Some specialist lenders are using the human touch when deciding cases, adding what they call intelligent underwriting to the process, but here our experts debate how effective this approach really is
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Fit for purpose
23 January 2012
This week it's lenders' turn to reveal how brokers could improve their business. It's the quality of applications that causes the most grief and the devil's often in the detail
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Pet peeves
16 January 2012
Brokers and lenders are locked in a marriage that is mostly happy, but what are the bad habits of lenders that drive intermediaries to distraction? We reveal brokers' greatest bugbears
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Loud & Clear
09 January 2012
Brokers have welcomed moves in the FSA's latest MMR paper to ban non-advised sales and demand greater clarity over lenders' provision of advice to consumers
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December 2011
Shapps and the beanstalk
19 December 2011
An everyday tale of a minister’s efforts to solve the housing crisis
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In limbo
12 December 2011
It's been one step forward, two steps back in 2011. A year in which regulation played a prominent role saw the industry buffeted between signs of an upturn and the lingering effects of recession
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Mr Right
05 December 2011
A few eyebrows were raised when Paul Smee was made director-general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders earlier this year, but he has quickly won enthusiastic support from members and the industry
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November 2011
B2L boomers
28 November 2011
As buy-to-let sees a rush of new entrants, our industry experts debate whether the sector will be the housing market's saviour or if this is just the beginning of an unsustainable expansion
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Future tense
21 November 2011
Our round table experts discuss how the mortgage industry can withstand the effects of ongoing economic turmoil and new regulations going into 2012
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Flying high
14 November 2011
Jonathan Samuels, chief executive officer of Dragonfly Property Finance, has led the business from strength to strength and sees snapping up competitors as essential on its flight to success
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Regional home truths
07 November 2011
The housing markets in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are as subdued as in England, but initiatives are afoot to boost sales, particularly among first-time buyers
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October 2011
Spanish touch
31 October 2011
Miguel Sard, the first Spanish managing director of Abbey for Intermediaries, is determined to keep the lender at the top of the leader board for products and service, and has a few ideas up his sleeve on how to do just that.
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Product problems
24 October 2011
When the market downturn hit four years ago, one of the first things to be affected was the sheer variety of products available.
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Pushing offset up the agenda
17 October 2011
A lack of availability, low broker confidence in selling the product and general misconceptions about it are preventing the offset sector from growing, say our round table experts
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Tread carefully
10 October 2011
As the trend for renting gathers pace, buy-to-let is again becoming an attractive proposition. But this could turn into a double-edged sword, as the memories of lax lending and fraud in the boom times still haunt the industry
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The fraud fightback
03 October 2011
Fraud is back in the spotlight after the FSA’s review found lenders’ processes and controls wanting. Although the mortgage industry has taken strides in tackling the problem there is still plenty to do to stamp out this menace
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September 2011
Debating the new homes problem
26 September 2011
The UK is desperately short of homes but new-builds are dogged by cautious LTVs and inconsistent valuations. Our round table discussion tries to get to the bottom of these issues and find ways to kick-start the sector
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Wilson's journey
19 September 2011
Since its parent group was bought by Lloyds TSB in 2009, Halifax Intermediaries has gone through many changes, not all which have been embraced by brokers. But its head of sales Ian Wilson says the company welcomes their feedback and is working hard to resolve issues and bring the best products to market
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Near-primetime
12 September 2011
Near-prime is a growing niche which can offer borrowers locked out of the mainstream market a helping hand. But take-up of these products has been low so we ask the experts to shed some light on the sector
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Direct approach
09 September 2011
HSBC's head of lending Martijn Van der Heijden insists dealing directly with customers instead of using brokers is the best way to get the volume it wants, but he’s keeping an open mind
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August 2011
Complaints casualties
29 August 2011
Firms fishing for PPI mis-selling business have made brokers’ lives a misery, with spurious claims costing them time and money when they have done nothing wrong. Now the industry is trying to lobby the MoJ and launch a legal fightback
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Mixed fortunes
22 August 2011
The mortgage market has been in a state of flux since the financial crisis and, more than four years later, it is still battling economic and regulatory uncertainty. A plethora of issues look set to shake brokers’ world, from interest rate rises to Skype. Mortgage Strategy examines the 10 key things to look out for in the next few years
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On a mission
15 August 2011
Grenville Turner (right) and Nigel Stockton are helping realise Countrywide’s ambition to become bigger and better with acquisitions in new areas, but they are still hungry for more
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Set to blow
8 August 2011
With forbearance measures under scrutiny from
a regulator worried about the true level of arrears
being masked, the debt time bomb could soon
be set alight if lenders' policies change and
interest rates rise
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Industry logs on
1 August 2011
Social media is a growing force in the world of business and is only expected to get bigger. It’s time brokers caught on to the benefits of using such media to fuel growth
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July 2011
The road ahead for brokers
25 July 2011
Leading players discuss what the broker industry will look like five years from now from the changes that need to be made to the mistakes that mustn’t be repeated
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Caring role
18 July 2011
The Dilnot report is a huge step towards recognising the role of equity release in funding care and could bring the sector back to life
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Scotland the brave
11 July 2011
If you thought the market was struggling in the UK take a look at Scotland, where it’s toughest of all. But the provincial government is making some bold moves to improve things, and they look good
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Foundation for growth
4 July 2011
Around 15,000 people build their own homes in the UK every year and the government is committed to pushing this number up significantly. But first it has to solve the issues of land scarcity and lender reluctance.
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June 2011
The future is flat
27 June 2011
The remortgage sector is in dire straits and has hit a 13-year low. Key industry figures come together for our round table to examine ways in which it could be unblocked
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Foreign interest
20 June 2011
The recession affected purchases of homes abroad, but enquiries are on the rise again as many countries are offering low interest rates and bargain prices. So brokers need to be aware of potential opportunities in this market and be ready to advise clients
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Taking cover
13 June 2011
With mortgage volumes flat the focus has shifted to adding insurance to brokers’ targets, but there is concern that creating a pressurised sales environment could lead to clients being sold cover they don’t need or want
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Value of surveys
6 June 2011
The downturn and allegations of over-valuations and potential fraud have taken a toll on the surveying industry and its relationship with brokers. But it's time to start rebuilding trust and ensure advisers are educated on how surveys can help business and customers
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May 2011
Targeting talent
30 May 2011
The industry needs to nurture the next generation of advisers and training schemes or apprenticeships could be the way forward
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Bullish on buy-to-let
23 May 2011
Despite the prospect of competition from a rash of new entrants in the buy-to-let space, Paul Howard, head of corporate accounts at Nationwide, is confident the mutual will hold on to its market share
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Left standing
16 May 2011
With the financial crisis leaving banks' reputation in tatters, the time was ripe for building societies to jump in and make a difference. But some argue they have just watched as opportunities have sailed by
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No contest
9 May 2011
One of the greatest casualties of the downturn has been competition, as lenders have consolidated or gone under.
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At your service
3 May 2011
Abbey for Intermediaries has gone from being a no-go lender to the top of the service charts, thanks to the efforts of its heads of sales Brad Fordham and Jeremy Duncombe.
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April 2011
Facing a housing storm
25 April 2011
The MMR will make borrowers safe, says Shelter's chief executive Campbell Robb, who is going to have his hands full dealing with the implications of massive spending cuts on housing
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European effect
18 April 2011
Change is coming to the UK mortgage industry, whether we like it or not. We examine the EC directive and how it will affect all parts of the market.
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Full steam ahead
11 April 2011
IMLA members are ready to lend again, seven months after soul searching led to a vote of confidence in its role and value, say John Heron and Tony Ward
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Outnumbered
4 April 2011
There are far more men than women in the mortgage industry and just a handful of females in top positions. It is hard to pinpoint why, as some blame sexism but others claim there are no barriers.
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March 2011
Rough justice
28th March 2011
Slashed police funding means forces are likely to neglect mortgage fraud at a time when is rising. This will leave the industry even more vulnerable and having to fend for itself.
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Reinventing the market
21st March 2011
Sharing risk between parents and offspring, tax relief on savings for a deposit, helping first-time sellers and a reworked MIG are just some of the innovations that could kickstart the market.
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Building up bridging
14th March 2011
United Trust Bank, traditionally focussed on development finance, is now setting its sights on the booming bridging sector.
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Walking the line
7th March 2011
AMI director Robert Sinclair is a busy man, what with making sure the broker's voice is heard in the industry and dealing with the regulator and impending MMR.
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February 2011
More than mortgages
February 28th 2011
Since being bought out by Towergate, John Charcol is moving beyond mortgages and aims to take advantage of all its parent has to offer to broaden its services.
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Hit and miss
February 21st 2011
Some swear by lead generation while others say it misses the target.
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The colour of money
February 14th 2011
After a tough year, the future looks rosier for Pink Home Loans since its acquisition by LSL.
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Do or die
February 7th 2011
The question of whether to charge fees can literally be life or death for some firms who face a central conundrum - should they charge and risk losing clients or rely solely on proc fees?
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January 2011
A company man
January 31st 2011
One key thing Mike Jones brings to his role of mortgage sales director at Lloyds Banking Group is his long history of working at the lender
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Reading the market's future
January 24th 2011
House prices, interest rates and mortgage funding are all predicted to be the hot topics of 2011, with no-one certain which way the market will go
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On top of their game
January 17th 2011
When Ashdown Lyons went under, Simon White and Ray Clune wasted no time in setting up London’s Surveyors & Valuers to provide services to private banks
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Cleaning up
January 10th 2011
Alan Mathewson, managing director of Abbey for Intermediaries, has put improving service levels and growing direct and broker business firmly in his sights since joining the lender
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