Mortgage Strategy
13 December 2004
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A Quest for instant online valuations
13 Dec 2004
Quest Associates has developed a tool for fast-track, accurate property valuations. Frank Eve looks at how the Computer Assisted Re-Appraisal could improve service and cut costs
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A view from the floor
13 Dec 2004
Stuart Bernau, executive director at Nationwide, says Key Facts Illustrations have made it easier for consumers to track down the best mortgage
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Abbey launches six-month fixed rate at 4.54%
15 Dec 2004
Abbey is introducing an introductory six-month fixed rate of 4.54% on its Flexible Plus mortgage from December 15.
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All I want for Christmas is cheaper calls to lenders
13 Dec 2004
Letter of the week - From Michael Norwood
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All we want for Christmas...
13 Dec 2004
There has been an impressive groundswell of support for Mortgage Strategy's Step Up Stamp Duty Campaign, which is lobbying the Treasury to raise the lowest level of the tax from its current, absurdly low, level of 60,000 to a more realistic 150,000.
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Amber joins Mortgage Promotion's panel
17 Dec 2004
Mortgage Promotions has added Amber Homeloans to its direct access lending panel.
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Banks underestimate lending risks to commercial sector
13 Dec 2004
The Bank of England has warned the UKs biggest banks they may have been underestimating the risks associated with lending to the commercial property sector.
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Blue Sky
13 Dec 2004
It is critical that you understand the point I am about to make. For if you do, neither your business nor your life will ever be the same.
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Brokers opt for TFC online system
13 Dec 2004
Brokers have backed mortgage distributor The Finance Centre's war on rip-off application fees, with 1,000 signing up for its online TRACK system in two weeks.
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Brokers vote in favour of a soft landing
13 Dec 2004
Intermediaries at the Council of Mortgage Lenders' annual conference voted in favour of a soft landing for the housing market.
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Charcol launches federal reserve mortgage
16 Dec 2004
Charcol has launched a federal reserve mortgage.
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Charcol says use your mortgage to pay for Christmas
14 Dec 2004
With consumers due to spend 813 each on Christmas this year, Charcol is advising people to remortgage to cover the cost.
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Come on Northern Rock, can we have some service please?
13 Dec 2004
From Brian Humphreys
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Commercial property demand to carry on growing
16 Dec 2004
Occupier demand for commercial property is expected to be sustained even though confidence about the general business climate has slipped.
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Concern that sellers will be deterred by HIP costs
13 Dec 2004
The cost of Home Information Packs will hit the consumer hard and could deter sellers from putting their homes on the market, experts warned last week.
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Confidence falls for the sixth month in a row
15 Dec 2004
The Woolwich consumer confidence index shows that just 40% of homeowners now believe that their property will continue to gain in value over the next year.
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Conjuring up images of Christmas In the past, present and future
13 Dec 2004
Regulatory concerns, housing downturns, high consumer debt and a weak economy were some of the issues the FSA touched on its Christmas speech, says Rachel Blackmore
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Consumer advertising tricky for brokers, claims PR
15 Dec 2004
The mortgage industry - particularly those operating in the sub-prime market - is finding consumer advertising problematic under the Financial Services Authority regime, claims Llewellyn-Slade PR.
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Controversy grows over Gummer's new post
13 Dec 2004
AMI chairman John Gummer's decision to take on the role of non-executive board director at home reversion firm Sovereign Reversions is netting him around £15,000 a year.
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Countrywide kills UK launch
14 Dec 2004
US mortgage giant Countrywide Financial Corp has killed - for now - plans to create a sub-prime lending division in the United Kingdom.
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Curriculum Vitae - Martin Reynolds
13 Dec 2004
"Recently at a golf day I totally shanked a shot and nearly decapitated one of my key accounts"
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Dear Delia
13 Dec 2004
Dear Delia I am in negotiations to buy a house which is suffering some disturbance because of the close proximity of a London Underground line. Does this affect its value and why does it occur?
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Dial4aloan forced to pull National ad campaign
13 Dec 2004
Dial4aloan, one of the UK's leading direct to consumer mortgage and secured loan brokers, has been forced to pull its national newspaper advertising campaign following an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading.
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e.surv predicts soft landing for the housing market
14 Dec 2004
e.surv has backed results from the Council of Mortgage Lenders' conference that suggest a soft landing for the housing market.
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Estate agents record six months of house price falls
14 Dec 2004
Figures released by the National Association of Estate Agents show that the average property price in the UK fell 1.1% over the last month.
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Exclusive Connections bares all for charity calendar
14 Dec 2004
Staff at packaging network Exclusive Connections have bared all for a 2005 calendar.
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Fight this tax with tea on the Thames tactic
13 Dec 2004
Andy Valvona, director, Mortgage Next Network Stamp Duty is the oldest money-raising trick going. It has been about for well over 300 years and is the oldest tax which is administered by the Inland Revenue.
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Financial health matters
13 Dec 2004
Concluding a two-part article, I look at the role of information in promoting responsible lending and the part profit-making organisations can play as debt advice providers.
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First Active brings snow to Trafalgar Square
15 Dec 2004
First Active has transformed Trafalgar Square into a winter wonderland today, with real snow shipped in for the occasion.
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Freedom Finance expands management team
13 Dec 2004
Freedom Finance has strengthened its management team with the appointment of Steve Kember as operations director.
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FSA is quietly policing the market
13 Dec 2004
Small firms will not have had any communication with the FSA since receiving authorisation but it is actively monitoring the market and will take action where necessary, warns Neal Smith
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FSA starts reviewing KFI length with major lenders
13 Dec 2004
The Financial Services Authority has confirmed that it is conducting a review of Key Facts Illustrations, saying "less is more".
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FSA to act on selected proposals from Miles report
13 Dec 2004
The Financial Services Authority will finally carry out some of the recommendations in the Miles report.
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FSA to crack down on unauthorised GI business.
14 Dec 2004
In a speech in New York last night, John Tiner, chief executive at the Financial Services Authority, pledged to crack down on unauthorised general insurance intermediation business.
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FSA to examine lifetime mortgage products
13 Dec 2004
The FSA has flagged up lifetime mortgages as an area that requires special investigation.
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GMAC-RFC completes 800m securitisation
15 Dec 2004
GMAC-RFC has closed its latest securitisation, valued at 800m, through its RMAC programme.
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Halifax denies pushy sales tactics
13 Dec 2004
Halifax has refuted claims that it is aggressively cross-selling insurance products to new mortgage clients.
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HM Treasury publishes home reversion response
16 Dec 2004
The government has responded to the consultation on the definition of home reversion plans in a document summarisng responses published by the Treasury.
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How will mortgage networks fare in 2005?
13 Dec 2004
Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Or will you take a cup o' kindness yet, For auld lang syne.
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IFA Training.com reveals training dates
13 Dec 2004
IFA Training.com says its recent CeMAP traing days were a success.
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Industry divided over proc fees
13 Dec 2004
The industry is split down the middle on whether proc fees on sub-priA straw poll of nearly 2,000 individuals on Mortgage Strategy's website saw 51% say they should not be standardised and 49% calling for a limit.me business should be standardised.
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Internet Insite
13 Dec 2004
Mortgage Strategy's weekly guide to what's hot and what's not on the web. Jeff Sutherland-Kay checks out the websites of brokers, lenders, mortgage clubs, mortgage networks and packagers
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KFIs reveal true cost of borrowing, says Nationwide
13 Dec 2004
Nationwide claims that consumers are able to make more informed decisions about choosing a mortgage since statutory regulation.
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KFIs win hands down as issue of the year Let me feel the uality, not the size
13 Dec 2004
I thought it appropriate - as this is the last issue of the year - to review some of the major events of 2004. No prizes in guessing which event takes the number one slot.
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Knight Funding appoints Liz McClay as BDM
16 Dec 2004
Knight Funding has appointed Liz McClay as business development manager.
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KRS backs government on Home Reversion plans
17 Dec 2004
Key Retirement Solutions has welcomed the governments response to definition of Home Reversion plansDean Mirfin, business development director at Key Retirement Solutions, says: "We view this as a positive step in the process of achieving full FSA regulation for Home Reversion plans.
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Lack of appreciation for the FSA's rules on issuing IDDs
13 Dec 2004
From Les Whitfield
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Light adverse deals from TMW
13 Dec 2004
The Mortgage Works is gearing up to launch a range of light adverse products in the new year.
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Lloyds-TSB to introduce endowment time bar
17 Dec 2004
Lloyds-TSB will introduce a time bar from February 2005 which will limit the timeframe in which mortgage endowment policyholders can make a mis-selling complaint.
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LMS gets back to basics for 2005
16 Dec 2004
LMS Packaging says it is getting back to basics for 2005, concentrating on its core values of speed, support, service and satisfaction.
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Market Watch
13 Dec 2004
Swaps fell last week but there was little action on the rate front. I guess lenders are concentrating on minced pies and mulled wine rather than their rates.
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Millfield unveils multi-tie intentions
14 Dec 2004
Millfield has unveiled plans to launch its multi-tie proposition in Q1/Q2 of 2005.
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NAEA predicts stable housing market for 2005
17 Dec 2004
The National Association of Estate Agents is predicting a stable housing market in 2005, continuing the slowdown of the last few months of 2004.
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Northern Rock introduces product range
17 Dec 2004
Northern Rock has introduced some products and reduced rates on much of its existing range.
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Number of homeless households hits 100,000
14 Dec 2004
Shelter has slammed the government as the number of homeless households hits 100,000.
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On the beat
13 Dec 2004
So the chancellor's pre-budget statement has come and gone. Guess what, there has been no announcement of any overhaul of Stamp Duty. I, along with many others, support Mortgage Strategy's campaign to increase Stamp Duty thresholds. If you have not lent your support I suggest you do so now.
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Our ARs are happy with choice of insurers and providers
13 Dec 2004
From Richard Griffiths
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Perfect present
13 Dec 2004
As Christmas fast approaches, the gift at the top of the industry's wish list is a raise in the Stamp Duty threshold to help first-time buyers, says Helen McCormick
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PMI Europe appoints senior adviser
13 Dec 2004
PMI Mortgage Insurance has appointed Alberto Costantini as senior adviser to the company in Italy.
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Portman revises mortgage range
16 Dec 2004
Portman is launching a revised rate of mortgages witheffect from December 18.
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RAMP ends month-long feud with BM Solutions
13 Dec 2004
The Regulatory Association of Mortgage Packagers has drawn a line under its dispute with BM Solutions' Michael Bolton and has decided it is time to move on.
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Recruitment
13 Dec 2004
Looking for a new job? From tips on writing the perfect CV to expert comment and latestrecruitment news, each week our experts offer guidance to help you move up the career ladder in the mortgage market.
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Regulation at its most ridiculous
13 Dec 2004
There is no escaping the fact that after all this year's talk of regulation the new year will mean putting words into action. Chris Cummings looks at the lighter side of some heavy duty issues
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Regulation good for consumers
13 Dec 2004
The FSA regime will benefit consumers and intermediaries and the transition to statutory regulation has been smooth, say senior industry figures.
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SHIP welcomes home reversion progress
17 Dec 2004
UK equity release industry body, Safe Home Income Plans, has welcomed the governments progress on home reversion plans.
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Shoosmiths continues to expand finance team
17 Dec 2004
National law firm Shoosmiths has boosted its finance team with the appointment of two regulatory compliance experts.
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Ski fans to benefit from Andorra mortgage scheme
17 Dec 2004
UK property buyers can now benefit from a mortgage scheme for Andorra from Hove-based Conti Financial Services.
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SLB appoints five account managers
16 Dec 2004
Standard Life Bank has strengthened its sales field force with the appointment of five account managers.
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SmartNewHomes.com predicts growth for 2005
15 Dec 2004
SmartNewHomes.com has predicted a 2%-5% growth for the housing market in 2005.
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SPML appoints BDM
16 Dec 2004
Southern Pacific Mortgage Limited has appointed Mayuri Thakrar as BDM for the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
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Stamp Duty reforms vital to stop market going into freefall
13 Dec 2004
From Frances Scanlan
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Stamp price increase will annoy customers, says MP
13 Dec 2004
Royal Mail is to increase the cost of a first class stamp from 28p to 30p from April 2005.Malcolm Bruce MP, Liberal Democrat shadow DTI secretary, says: "Putting up postage prices, before delivering on performance targets, will irritate a lot of Royal Mail's customers."Royal Mail must ensure the extra revenue generated by this price rise will be used to improve its performance quickly or people may feel it is abusing its monopoly position."
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Sub-prime probe welcomed
13 Dec 2004
Lenders have welcomed the Financial Services Authority's pledge that sub-prime will be one of the first parts of the mortgage industry to be probed.
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The Cheshire opens flagship branch in Manchester
13 Dec 2004
The Cheshire is opening a flagship branch in Manchester this week.
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The FSA now says it will review KFIs despite saying to the contrary earlier. Is this right?
13 Dec 2004
A lender network and a lender discuss whether the FSA should review KFIs now or should it be left till the problems with them are fully understood
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The great advertising challenge
13 Dec 2004
Rules in MCOB 3 governing financial promotions alter the way products can be promoted and companies will have to think of innovative ways to present information, says Charlie Geller
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The Mortgage Mole
13 Dec 2004
Digging the dirt in the mortgage world
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The year that was, and the one ahead
13 Dec 2004
This year saw the mortgage market scramble to prepare for FSA regulation while next year will see changes in the packager community and network consolidation, says Richard Griffiths
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UK recovery has passed its peak, says Experian
16 Dec 2004
Experian has warned that the UK economy will not deliver Gordon Brown's latest estimates for growth because the current cycle has now peaked, reveals Experian.
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Website for landlords proves a success
13 Dec 2004
LandlordTrader.co.uk is giving property investors a new outlook on buying residential property.
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Why do legal costs have to be shown in a KFI anyway?
13 Dec 2004
From SM Foster
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Working on, not in, your business
13 Dec 2004
Frances Scanlan, CEO of Knight Funding, agrees with the principle that owner-managers need to step back from the nitty gritty of the everyday running of a business and instead direct it
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Wriglesworth predicts mixed year for 2005
14 Dec 2004
Hometrack's housing economist John Wriglesworth has predicted that stability will return to the housing market in 2005.
