Mortgage Strategy
22 November 2004

  • 20% of tenants have problems recovering deposits

    23 Nov 2004

    The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors has revealed that 20% of tenants have problems recovering deposits.

  • Abbey offers advice not price to intermediaries

    23 Nov 2004

    Intermediaries selling general insurance products or looking to start introducing home and mortgage payment protection insurance, are being offered advice by Abbey for Intermediaries so they meet FSA requirements that come into effect on January 14 2005.

  • Abbey offers advice not price to intermediaries

    22 Nov 2004

    Intermediaries selling general insurance products, or looking to start introducing home and mortgage payment protection insurance, are being offered advice by Abbey for Intermediaries to help ensure they understand and meet the new FSA regulatory requirements that come into effect on 14 January 2005.

  • Abbey restructures following Santander sale

    24 Nov 2004

    Abbey is making changes to its organisational structure following its acquisition by Banco Santander Central Hispano.

  • Abbey to relaunch flexible mortgages

    22 Nov 2004

    Abbey is re-launching its flexible mortgage range this Wednesday, after pulling out of the market pre Mortgage Day.

  • Avoid the slippery slope of underinsurance

    22 Nov 2004

    Some 2.65 million people will be heading for the mountains this year, but according to recent research commissioned by Halifax General Insurance its not just for the skiing.

  • B&B welcomes Queen's speech

    24 Nov 2004

    Bradford & Bingley says it welcomes the new credit legislation unveiled in the Queen's Speech.

  • BDS adds Halifax to its direct lender panel

    24 Nov 2004

    BDS Mortgage Group, the south-coast based mortgage packager and distributor, has added Halifax to its direct lender panel.

  • BM Solutions launches self-cetification deals

    25 Nov 2004

    BM Solutions, the UK's number one specialist lender, has launched its range of tracker deals.

  • Bradford & Bingley's pre-Budget wish list

    26 Nov 2004

    Bradford & Bingley in its pre-Budget wish list, says it would like to see the government raise tax thresholds and eradicate inequalities, as well as rewarding those who plan for the future.

  • Brokers turn to BM Solutions online

    23 Nov 2004

    BM Solutions says it has seen a dramatic increase in the number of brokers registering with its online service.

  • Building societies lag behind banks

    23 Nov 2004

    A survey of major UK financial institutions reveals significant differences in compliance preparedness, with societies lagging behind banks in the race to meet new regulations.

  • Cartel promotes Shemitt to head of processing

    24 Nov 2004

    Cartel has promoted Joanna Shemilt to the role of head of processing.

  • Charcol backs Strategy's Step Up Stamp Duty campaign

    23 Nov 2004

    Chacol today said it was going to back Mortgage Strategy's campaign to get it SUSD and Step Up Stamp Duty.

  • Consumer credit laws to be updated

    23 Nov 2004

    The government has revealed in this year's Queen's Speech, plans to update consumer credit laws to provide greater protection against unfair credit practices.

  • Done in 60 seconds at A&L

    23 Nov 2004

    Alliance & Leicester has revealed that over eight out of ten, 85%, of all online mortgage applications submitted to it by mortgage intermediaries now receive a decision in principle within 60 seconds.The lender is urging mortgage intermediaries to consider the merits of online-based mortgage applications which can save both the intermediary and their client precious time when compared with paper-based applications.A typical paper-based mortgage application takes an industry ...

  • Egg says discount rates more expensive

    22 Nov 2004

    On average homeowner choosing a mortgage with an initial discount and a high ongoing standard rate, will collectively pay 520 million more in interest each year than they would on long term low tracker or standard variable rate (SVR), according to latest research by Egg.

  • E-HIP to make Home Information Packs a reality

    24 Nov 2004

    Electronic Home Information Packs will bring to an end what the government calls, the shambolic homebuying and selling marketing system in England and Wales, reveals OneSearch Direct.

  • em-financial launches into Republic of Ireland

    26 Nov 2004

    em-Financial has launched into the Republic of Ireland.

  • eMoneyfacts links with 1st Adviser Office system

    26 Nov 2004

    eMoneyfacts, the intermediary portal, announces today that it has linked directly to 1st Adviser Office.

  • Final FPC entry deadline looms, warns CII

    26 Nov 2004

    The Chartered Insurance Institute has warned advisers that they only have until December 17 to enter for the Financial Planning Certificate.

  • Finegold steps down from Kensington board

    23 Nov 2004

    Martin Finegold, the US-entrepreneur that founded Kensington Mortgage Company, is to step down as a non-executive director of the board to pursue other business interests.

  • First-time buyer fall in UK world beater, reveals CML

    23 Nov 2004

    The proportion of first-time buyers in the UK has fallen more rapidly than in any other country surveyed, research by the Council of Mortgage Lenders reveals.

  • First-time buyers don't shop around, says Abbey

    24 Nov 2004

    Two thirds of first-time buyers admit to taking the first mortgage deal theyre offered, says research from Abbey.

  • Football fans pay the price of away support

    23 Nov 2004

    With both the 2004/05 Premiership season and the UEFA Champions League well under way, die hard Premier League football fans are preparing to travel thousands of miles to support their teams, but funding their dedication can be an expensive business - especially if they follow Newcastle United.

  • Freezing weather protect your home now

    22 Nov 2004

    One of the coldest winters in recent memory could be about to hit Britain.

  • FSA warns banks on treating customers fairly

    23 Nov 2004

    FSA tells banks not to force its hand on treating customers fairly

  • Global signs deal with Kensington

    23 Nov 2004

    Global Home Loans has signed a standby servicing contract with non conforming lender Kensington Mortgages.

  • Homes underinsured says Sainsburys Bank

    22 Nov 2004

    Research commissioned by Sainsbury's Bank reveals that one in three home insurance policies offer minimum contents cover of just 15,000 or lower.

  • House prices to rise 2% in 2005

    26 Nov 2004

    House prices are to rise just 2% in 2005, says research out from FPDSavills.

  • House prices to rise just 2% in 2005

    23 Nov 2004

    House prices are to rise just 2% in 2005, research out from FPDSavills reveals.

  • Huntswood launches Glasgow recruiting campaign

    25 Nov 2004

    Huntswood Outsourcing has launched a campaign this week to recruit hundreds of high-quality financial services professionals for its new Glasgow office.

  • IF's 48 hour mortgage promise

    25 Nov 2004

    Intelligent Finance has launched a service initiative, called the 48 hour mortgage promise.

  • Kensington on track for strong earnings growth

    23 Nov 2004

    Kensington Mortgages says the company is on track to meet expectations for strong earnings growth.

  • L&G's Mortgage Club offers exclusive fixed-rate

    23 Nov 2004

    Legal & General's Mortgage Club is offering an exclusive fixed rate loan from Norwich & Peterborough with a rate of 5.44%, fixed for ten years.

  • Landlords' average total returns rise to over 24%

    26 Nov 2004

    Paragon Mortgages has revealed that landlords' average total returns have risen by over 24%.

  • Leeds & Holbeck launches five-year buy-to-let

    26 Nov 2004

    Leeds & Holbeck has launched a five-year buy-to-let mortgage aimed specifically at existing landlords wishing to remortgage existing properties in their portfolio.

  • Legal & General appoints customer director

    23 Nov 2004

    Legal & General has appointed Julie Robinson as its customer director.

  • Lenders look to reinvent branches

    23 Nov 2004

    Lenders are looking to reinvent the role of branches, changing them into advice centres for affluent customers, or as financial shops for the masses, says a report by Datamonitor in this months news and views from the Council of Mortgage Lenders.

  • Lettings industry takes over to solve deposit abuse

    22 Nov 2004

    In little more than a year since government abandoned its own scheme for protecting deposits, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme is up and running and backed by all three professional organisations whose members are active in the rental market, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) said today.

  • Letwin backs Strategy's Stamp Duty campaign

    22 Nov 2004

    Oliver Letwin, the Conservative shadow chancellor, has thrown his weight behind the Mortgage Strategy campaign to Step Up Stamp Duty.

  • Lib Dems back Strategy's Step Up Stamp Duty campaign

    23 Nov 2004

    The Liberal Democrats have added their support to Mortgage Strategys campaign for Stamp Duty reform.

  • Lifetime mortgages fund home improvements and holidays

    22 Nov 2004

    Norwich Union research has revealed what the companys customers spend their lifetime mortgage money on.

  • Membership soars for new independent body

    22 Nov 2004

    The Independent Mortgage Association, formed to promote the benefits to consumers of seeking independent mortgage advice, has reported that over 1,000 firms signed up for membership within the first seven days of its launch on November 10.

  • Mortgage Next AR attacks FSA for delay

    22 Nov 2004

    A broker has attacked the Financial Services Authority for still failing to provide his firm with an authorisation number three weeks into regulation.

  • Mortgage Trust and SPF offer two-year B2L fix

    24 Nov 2004

    Mortgage Trust has teamed up with Savills Private Finance to offer a buy-to-let two-year fixed rate of 5.49%.

  • Mortgages PLC moves head office

    26 Nov 2004

    Mortgages PLC, the specialist non-conforming lender, has moved its head office to the Merrill Lynch FinancialCentre in London. The move will see Mortgages PLC based on the same site as over 3,200 Merrill Lynch employees.

  • Moulton to back Charcol MBO

    23 Nov 2004

    Turnaround entrepreneur Jon Moulton is understood to be backing the management buyout of Charcol in a move which will see the return of legendary founder directors John Garfield and Charles Wishart.

  • N&P's 5,000 eco-build competition ends soon

    23 Nov 2004

    N&P's competition for homeowners to prove their home is the most environmentally-friendly self-build, in relation to location, construction, type, features and value, is due to come to an end.

  • N&P's launches electronic trading service

    24 Nov 2004

    Norwiich & Peterborough has launched its electronic trading system, making it available to the whole market through a simple registration process.

  • NAEA CEO elected to international committee

    23 Nov 2004

    Peter Bolton King, chief executive of the National Association of Estate Agents has been elected to the executive committee of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations.

  • New Abbey chief exec excited by intermediaries

    23 Nov 2004

    Francisco G?-Rold? the new chief executive at Abbey, has promised that the lender will remain committed to the mortgage intermediary market.

  • Newcastle launches Will writing service

    25 Nov 2004

    Newcastle has launched a branch based will writing service, in conjunction with Just Wills plc.

  • NFRL launches Working Together

    26 Nov 2004

    The National Federation of Residential Landlords, the umbrella group of landlord associations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, will be launching Working Together.

  • North-west launch for Elephant Loans

    26 Nov 2004

    South-west London based packager, Elephant Loans, is launching its first branch office in the north-west of England, on December 1, 2004.

  • Ombudsman not expecting large number of complaints

    25 Nov 2004

    The Financial Ombudsman in its November newsletter says it does not expect a large increase in the number of complaints referred to them about mortgages.

  • Onesearch Direct appoints new business director

    23 Nov 2004

    OneSearch Direct, the largest private supplier of local searches in the UK, has promoted Peter Slack from account manager, Northern England to business director, England.

  • Over 600 ARs signed up to Personal Touch

    24 Nov 2004

    Personal Touch Insurance Financial Services supermarket has grown its number of intermediary firms to 670.

  • Overwhelming support for MS Stamp Duty campaign

    26 Nov 2004

    Mortgage Strategys campaign to Step Up Stamp Duty has received overwhelming support from the industry.

  • Packagers show the way ahead for the mortgage industry

    23 Nov 2004

    It is a testament to the resilience of the mortgage industry that all the wobbles and problems occurring across the sector at the moment are not having a bigger impact on how we all do business. Lenders are struggling with technology and KFIs, networks are holding their breath and counting their members, and an awful lot of intermediaries seem to have gone AWOL completely.

  • Paragon voted top buy-to-let lender

    25 Nov 2004

    Paragon Mortgages has been awarded the NACFB Business Finance Buy-to-Let Lender of the Year award for the third year in a row, beating off stiff competition.

  • Pinnacle stresses importance of consumer education

    23 Nov 2004

    Research by Pinnacle Insurance shows the more knowledge a consumer has, the more accurately they understand the link between risk and return in investment products.

  • PMP signs up First Active to lender panel

    25 Nov 2004

    Professional Mortgage Partnerships, the second biggest mortgage network in the UK, has added First Active to its lender panel.

  • Preferred appoints national sales manager, South

    24 Nov 2004

    Preferred Mortgages has promoted Mick Bradley to national sales manager, South, with effect from December 1, 2004.

  • Preferred receives Fitch residential servicer rating

    24 Nov 2004

    Fitch Ratings has assigned Preferred Mortgages top residential servicer ratings.

  • Probate by professionals

    23 Nov 2004

    Following the recent trend in legal services being carried out by non-solicitors, plans are underway to enable probate services (previously the domain of lawyers and trust corporations) to be carried out by high street banks and building societies, insurance companies and possibly other service providers.

  • Purely says market will continue to slide

    22 Nov 2004

    The CML last week said new lending had fallen in October for the third month in a row and Ian Giles, marketing director at Purely Mortgages, says its not likely this decline will reverse in the near future.

  • Regulate endowment complaint handling companies

    22 Nov 2004

    Norwich Union, the UKs largest insurer, is calling for the regulation of third-party mortgage endowment complaint handling companies to help ensure consistent handling of mortgage endowment complaints across the industry.

  • Rooftop appoints compliance officer

    22 Nov 2004

    Rooftop Mortgages has appointed Richard Nettleingham as compliance officer.

  • Sale of Abbey National France to BNP completed

    23 Nov 2004

    Abbey National announces that, with all conditions having been satisfied, the sale of Abbey National France to BNP Paribas has been completed.

  • Scottish charities receive boost

    24 Nov 2004

    Six charities focussed on working in Scotlands communities have received a two-year boost from Dunfermline.

  • Scottish Provident and Scottish Mutual brands to go

    24 Nov 2004

    Abbey has confirmed plans to scrap its Scottish Provident and Scottish Mutual brands, following its acquisition by Banco Santander Central Hispano.

  • Sellers cut prices to woo buyers back to market

    22 Nov 2004

    Property website Rightmove says asking prices are down over 3,200 or 1.7% this month, the second biggest fall this year, as a sharp dose of realism hit the market. This month's Index provides evidence of a significant downward correction in house prices, as the market recognises that prices had become too high and that affordability had been stretched too far.

  • Sesame adds Bananas Inc to its panel

    24 Nov 2004

    Bananas Inc, the branded lender and packager, has been appointed to the panel of Sesame, the largest IFA network in the UK. The move gives Sesame's 7,000 IFAs access to Bananas Inc's expertise in non-conforming mortgages and branded lending.

  • Skipton raises 15,000 for Children in Need

    23 Nov 2004

    Skipton's chief executive swapped jobs with a customer adviser last Friday, at Skipton's Crosshills branch, West Yorkshire, to help raise money for Children in Need.

  • Societies to provide Child Trust Fund products

    24 Nov 2004

    Yorkshire and Homeowners Friendly Society is announcing a strategic alliance to provide a full range of Child Trust Fund products.

  • Sofa debate advice issues at annual conference

    26 Nov 2004

    The Society of Financial Advisers debated many issues concerning how advice should be delivered to consumers at its annual conference in Birmingham this week.In the pensions arena the issue of advice to consumers was hotly debated with delegates hearing from at least one leading commentator that in their view anyone who does not pay higher rate tax cannot be safely advised to purchase a pension in view of the government approach to pension credit.The issue of residential ...

  • Spicerhaart calls for dry-run on HIPs

    25 Nov 2004

    Spicerhaart is concerned about the government's simplistic approach to Home Information Packs.

  • Stamp Duty campaign gathers momentum

    24 Nov 2004

    Mortgage Strategys campaign to Step Up Stamp Duty is gathering momentum by the day.

  • STL welcomes HIP revolution

    24 Nov 2004

    STL Group has welcomed the news that the House of Commons has now approved the compulsory introduction of Home Information Packs in 2007. Anyone selling a house will be required to develop a Home Information Pack, which will contain a property condition report, seller's information form, list of fixtures and fittings, local searches, building warranties and details of any planning or building regulation consents.

  • Strong profit growth for Paragon

    25 Nov 2004

    The Paragon group of companies has announced strong profits for the year ending September 30, 2004. Paragon is one of the UK's largest specialist lenders offering buy-to-let mortgages, personal loans, vehicle finance and retail finance,

  • Tories offer options to reform Stamp Duty

    22 Nov 2004

    The Conservative Party has today unveiled five options for making Stamp Duty fairer for house buyers on the same day that Mortgage Strategy launches its campaign Step Up Stamp Duty.

  • Universal Direct launches fixed rate mortgage

    24 Nov 2004

    Universal Direct will launch its latest fixed rate mortgage deal on November 26, with an initial rate of 4.75%.

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