Mortgage Strategy
29 November 2004
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Abbey for Intermediaries scoops provider award
29 Nov 2004
Abbey for Intermediaries has picked up the Best Mortgage Provider award at The Clarkson Hill Group's annual awards ceremony in Edinburgh.
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Abbey offers payment protection savings
2 Dec 2004
Abbey is offering people the chance to save 25% off their annual mortgage payment protection.
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AdviserTools adds to provider line up
2 Dec 2004
AdviserTools has added Derbyshire, Lutine and Skandia to its increasing line up of supporting providers.
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Amber receives positive KFI feedback
29 Nov 2004
Amber Homeloans says intermediary take-up of its KFI facility has been strong and that it has received positive feedback about its ease of use.
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AMG commissions xit2 to create customised system
29 Nov 2004
The asset management group AMG has commissioned xit2 to create a customised system to support its business.
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AMI responds to FSA call for tighter fraud prevention
2 Dec 2004
The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has announced a raft of support designed to help members tackle fraud.
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AMI's Cummings increases his responsibilities
3 Dec 2004
The Association of IFAs has announced its director-general is to be David Severn, currently head of retail investment policy at the FSA.
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Bananas Inc supports Children in Need
29 Nov 2004
Bananas Inc staff members have raised 1,000 for Children in Need. The packager achieved the sum by plunging compliance manager Eddy Parsons into an inflatable paddling pool filled with 50 catering-sized cans of baked beans.
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Bankhall urges brokers not to ignore depolarisation
30 Nov 2004
As the Financial Services Authority releases its final rules on depolarisation Bankhall has urged mortgage brokers not to ignore them.
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BDS appoints Clarke Roxburgh to insurance panel
30 Nov 2004
BDS Mortgage Group, the South-Coast based mortgage packager and distributor, has appointed firm Clarke Roxburgh as an insurance broker.
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Bradford & Bingley makes solid progress
1 Dec 2004
Bradford & Bingley says the group is making solid progress and currently expects trading profit for the full year to be towards the top end of estimates.
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Bristol & West to improve selected rates
30 Nov 2004
Bristol & West Mortgages will improve selected mortgage rates from its core range on December 2.
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Britannia drops its SVR
2 Dec 2004
Britannia has decreased its standard variable rate to 6.35%, dropping 40 basis points.
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Broker warns buy-to-let investors over advice
29 Nov 2004
Buy-to-let investors could find themselves in financial difficulties if they follow Inland Revenue advice, warns a London-based broker.
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Brown says house price inflation is moderating
2 Dec 2004
In his pre-Budget statement today Chancellor Gordon Brown told the House of Commons that the expected moderation of house price inflation had started.
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C&G launches lower-priced fixed rate mortgages
30 Nov 2004
Cheltenham & Gloucester is launching a range of lower-priced fixed rate mortgages from 5.29% for two, three, five or seven years.
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Capital Home Loans offers brokers Xmas bonus
2 Dec 2004
As a sales incentive in the run-up to Christmas, Capital Home Loans is giving away 10 Marks & Spencer gift vouchers for every submitted non-regulated buy-to-let mortgage application.
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Cartel survey reveals uncertainty in housing market
1 Dec 2004
The summer of 2004 has left consumers wary and looking for professional advice, says Cartel
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CETA launches BI comparison system
30 Nov 2004
CETA has enhanced its software system to enable brokers to compare notional sum insured buildings insurance products from a panel of insurers.
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Chancellor fails to cheer homebuyers, says Halifax
3 Dec 2004
UK homebuyers will be disappointed the chancellor did not take the opportunity to reduce housing tax policy, stamp duty and inheritance tax, says Halifax.
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Charcol comments on contradicting house price predictions
3 Dec 2004
Charcol has reacted to Nationwide's and Halifax's contrasting house price predictions.
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Charcol disappointed at lack of Stamp Duty reform
2 Dec 2004
Charcol says it is is disappointed, but not surprised, with lack of reform on Stamp Duty, in the pre-Budget.
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Charcol launches flexible lifetime tracker
29 Nov 2004
Charcol is offering a lifetime tracker at Bank base + 0.14% for the term of the loan, giving a current rate of 4.89%.
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CMLS signs up Capital Mortgages
1 Dec 2004
Complete Mortgage and Loan Services has signed up packager Capital Mortgages as a CMLS franchise.
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Essex credit broker has licence revoked
2 Dec 2004
A credit broker from Brentwood has had his consumer credit licence revoked by the OFT.
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Estate agents urge potential sellers to act now
29 Nov 2004
A survey by the National Association of Estate Agents has revealed that over 80% of estate agents are recommending that potential sellers should act now.
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FSA appoints two non-executive directors
29 Nov 2004
The Treasury has announced that Karin Forseke and Michael Slack have been appointed as non-executive directors of the FSA.
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Garfield confirms long-term commitment to Charcol
1 Dec 2004
John Garfield says he is back with Charcol for the long term and will restore the business he founded to its former glory.
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Garfield returns to Charcol
1 Dec 2004
Charcol has confirmed that John Garfield and Charles Wishart are once again involved with the business that they founded some three decades ago.
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Genesis presents MiniCooper to lucky broker
30 Nov 2004
Genesis has revealed the winner of its Mini Cooper prize draw.
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Government to tackle financial exclusion
2 Dec 2004
In today's pre-Budget statement chancellor Gordon Brown announced plans to tackle financial exclusion and encourage more people to open bank accounts.
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Gummer appointed to equity release firm board
2 Dec 2004
The chairman of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries and the Association of IFAs, John Gummer MP, has been appointed as a non-executive director of equity release firm Sovereign Reversions.
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HBOS predicts 2% fall in house prices in 2005
3 Dec 2004
HBOS is predicting a fall in house prices of 2% in 2005.
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Homeowners call for Stamp Duty modernisation
1 Dec 2004
Research by The Woolwich has revealed that 79% of homeowners think that Stamp Duty should be scrapped for first time buyers.
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House prices fell 0.4% in November, says Halifax
3 Dec 2004
The latest Halifax price index for November has revealed that house prices fell by 0.4% in November.
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Housing Act 2004 fails both landlords and tenants
1 Dec 2004
The National Federation of Residential Landlords says the government's passing of the Housing Act 2004, fails both landlords and tenants.
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igroup introduces Northern Irish range
29 Nov 2004
igroup is introducing a GEM Northern Ireland range following the relaunch of its mainland UK GEM mortgage range on March 31.
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Industry could take six months to recover from M-Day
2 Dec 2004
Half of brokers say it could take at least six months for business to be back to normal post M-Day, says Advantage Home Loans.
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Industry reacts positively to Charcol MBO
1 Dec 2004
The mortgage industry reaction to Bradford & Bingley's official announcement of the sale of Charcol, has been largely positive.
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Its not right but is it okay?
2 Dec 2004
One month on from mortgage regulation and the storm clouds are brewing. A good many brokers and intermediaries are not happy and they have every right to be upset.
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Labour to free up funds to reduce council tax inflation
2 Dec 2004
The chancellor Gordon Brown has pledged in his pre-Budget report to free up money from central government departments to help keep council tax inflation down.With council tax inflation running at 5.9%, he pledged 1bn in funds to help local councils battle inflationary pressures.However, there was no mention of any plans to reform Stamp Duty, which Mortgage Strategy had been campaigning for the government to address.
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Lib Dems say pre-Budget is complacent
2 Dec 2004
In response to the pre-Budget report, Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Dr Vince Cable MP says: "Last week the Prime Minister gave us the politics of fear; this week the chancellor has offered the economics of complacency. There are serious challenges ahead from the falling dollar and from the rapid downturn in the UK housing market and rising personal debt. But they have not been confronted.
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Lifequote launches online case tracking
1 Dec 2004
LifeQuote has launched an online case tracking service for all applications placed through its website.
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LIME launches insurance panel
29 Nov 2004
LIME is launching an insurance panel with a number of household names and specialist niche providers.
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Manor Mortgages expands its Portishead HQ
29 Nov 2004
Bristol-based packager Manor Mortgages is relocating its Almondsbury offices to its head office in Portishead. Manor opened its Portishead offices in October 2002 and embarked upon its expansion plans in earnest.
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Mortgage Express acquires GMAC-RFC portfolio
1 Dec 2004
Mortgage Express has completed the purchase of a mortgage loan portfolio from GMAC-RFC for a consideration of around 407m.
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Mortgage Express launches buy-to-let products
2 Dec 2004
Mortgage Express has launched a range of buy-to-let products, including a three-year discount mortgage.
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Mortgage Talk recruits Beaumont Residential
30 Nov 2004
Mortgage Talk has recruited Beaumont Residential to its mortgage franchise scheme.
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Mortgage Times welcomes First National onsite
2 Dec 2004
First National, a GE company, has deployed an underwriter to work onsite at The Mortgage Times Group.
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Most homeowners relying on home equity
1 Dec 2004
Nearly three quarters - 71% - of the homeowners are relying on the value of their home instead of savings, Abbeys latest Savings Insight report has revealed.
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NAB expands its UK broker presence
29 Nov 2004
The National Australia Bank Group has revealed plans to expand its presence in the UK mortgage intermediary market.
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NAEA disappointed at chancellor's report
2 Dec 2004
The National Association of Estate Agents is disappointed that the chancellor did not take the opportunity to amend stamp duty levels in his pre-Budget report today.
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NAEA urges government to raise Stamp Duty
30 Nov 2004
The National Association of Estate Agents is urging the government to re-set the levels of stamp duty as the chancellor makes his pre-budget report on December 2.
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Nationwide forecasts 2% property rise in 2005
30 Nov 2004
Nationwide has predicted that the price of an average UK property will rise just 2% in 2005.
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Nationwide wins trio of innovation awards
29 Nov 2004
Nationwide has won a trio of titles at the Financial Innovation Awards 2004, held by the Institute of Financial Services.
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NFRL launches local authority initiative
30 Nov 2004
The National Federation of Residential Landlords is launching an initiative called Working Together on December 3.
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Norwich Union shows there's no place like home
2 Dec 2004
Norwich Union research has shown that home is where the heart is for many people aged over 55.
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Over two-thirds of British people rent at some point
1 Dec 2004
A survey conducted by Paragon Mortgages has revealed that 68% of the British population have rented at some point in their lives.
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PFS sets up specialist faculties for financial planners
1 Dec 2004
The Personal Finance Society, created from the merged membership of the LIA and SOFA, is to establish specialist faculties for corporate financial advisers and for financial planners.
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Pink appoints Kay Leslie as compliance controller
2 Dec 2004
Pink Home Loans has appointed Kay Leslie to the position of compliance controller from January 1 2005.
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Platform launches five two-year fixed rate mortgages
2 Dec 2004
Platform, the intermediary lender of Britannia is launching five two year fixed rate non-conforming products.
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PMS not withdrawing exclusives from M2000's Encore
3 Dec 2004
Premier Mortgage Services has decided not to withdraw its exclusive products from Mortgage 2000's Encore sourcing system.
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PMS withdraws exclusives from M2000 Encore system
3 Dec 2004
Premier Mortgage Services will be withdrawing all itsexclusives from the M2000 Encore sourcing system until further notice, with immediate effect.
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Portman refines best buy mortgage range
29 Nov 2004
Portman has reduced interest rates across its mortgage range with immediate effect.
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Praxis joins RAMP to drive packaging standards
30 Nov 2004
Praxis has become a member of the Regulatory Alliance of Mortgage Packagers as part of its continuing commitment to improving standards in the sector.
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Pre-Budget statement ignores Stamp Duty
2 Dec 2004
The mortgage industry is united in being disappointed about Chancellor Gordon Brown ignoring calls for the Stamp Duty minimum threshold to be increased.
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Regulation won't block rental growth, says ARLA
30 Nov 2004
The Association of Residential Letting Agents says landlords, tenants and buy-to-let investors are well placed for the coming year, despite regulation.
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Rents could rocket if tenants stop paying charges
2 Dec 2004
Rents in the private sector could rise by as much as 15% if pressure to remove administrative charges from tenants is successful, warns the Association of Residential Letting Agents.
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Rents raising at fastest ever rate for three years, says RICS
3 Dec 2004
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors residential lettings survey for three months to the end of October 2004, says rents are rising at their fastest pace for three years.
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Saffron Walden & Essex raises 1,100 for Children in Need
3 Dec 2004
Pantomime dames helped Saffron Walden Herts & Essex raise more than 1,100 for the Children in Need appeal.
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Scottish Provident on target for 60m CI payouts
1 Dec 2004
Scottish Provident is on target to pay out 60m in critical illness payments in 2004.
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Severn becomes new director-general of AIFA
3 Dec 2004
David Severn, former head of retail investment policy at the Financial Services Authority, is to replace Paul Smee as director-general of the Association of IFAs.Chris Cummings currently director of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries has been appointed deputy director-general of both AIFA and AMI.Fay Goddard will work on policy across both organisations.
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Slowdown in new homes sector
2 Dec 2004
The average price of a new home in the UK increased by 2.7% last month to 268,724, data released SmartNewHomes.com reveals.
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SPML deploys Vignette technology
2 Dec 2004
Southern Pacific Mortgages Limited, says it has revolutionised its business processes by deploying Vignette IDM to electronically store and process all of its customer records.
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Standard Life responds to depolarisation rules
30 Nov 2004
Advisers and lenders must work together if they are to ensure the rules for depolarisation are communicated effectively, says Standard Life Bank.
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TFC declares war on extortionate application fees
29 Nov 2004
Mortgage distributor The Finance Centre has declared war on extortionate application fees and abolished its stepped fee in favour of a flat sum of 199.
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Trigold reveals growth in subscribers
29 Nov 2004
Trigold has announced it has received 2,000 net new users in the past month.
