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Two interest rate cuts in a single week have brought the base rate down to a record low of just 0.1 per cent. This could be good news for anyone on a tracker mortgage, first-time buyers and those looking to remortgage. Can you benefit?
The 2010s saw the slowest house-price growth since the 90s, according to the Decades Report by Nationwide. With interest rates still low, this means a first home is now more affordable than many believe.
The rental property market has grown tougher recently, so is it still possible to make a decent income from buy-to-let in the 2020s? We look at how the market has changed, the main pitfalls and the biggest areas of opportunity and growth.
Ah, estate agents. We love ’em really, the little scamps. But like anyone, their job is to make as much money as possible – and the source of that money is often you. Here’s how to avoid becoming an estate agent’s doormat.
High-risk borrowing is at its highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Bank of England. But as first-time buyers benefit from record low fixed rates, there is a danger that some are overreaching themselves.
Super-long fixed rate mortgage deals continue to make a comeback, as Virgin Money launches the first 15-year fix since 2008. The mortgage is available for buyers with surprisingly low deposits – but such long deals may not be right for every buyer.
The Help-to-Buy ISA will close this year to new applicants, while another popular home-buying resource – the Help-to-Buy equity loan scheme – is also ending in the near future. But this double whammy for first-time buyers isn’t as bad as it looks.
Returning home from a three-week absence, Surrey resident Angela Ellis-Jones was horrified to find she was no longer her house’s registered owner – and faced a four-month fight to get the property back.
For years many homeowners in leasehold properties have been vulnerable to a raw deal, if their landlord chooses not to play fair. A new government enquiry seeks to establish the extent of the problem, with a view to achieving greater protection for homebuyers.
What’s keeping you from buying your first home? Most likely it’s saving up enough for a deposit. We look at how much you might need, how long it may take, and the fastest and most effective ways to build up the money you need to get on the property ladder.
Many in the UK remain unaware of how much their credit file may be influencing their lives. A simple scoring error derailed the career of IT manager Debbie Scott, while the cost of borrowing varies widely across the country – and credit data may even affect which ads you see.
A rise in interest rates is only a matter of time – it’s just that no-one’s sure exactly when. So it’s a good idea to review your own mortgage now, to make sure your home will be secure whichever way the wind blows.
It looks like bamboo, it tastes like sour rhubarb, and it can knock tens of thousands off a property’s value. But are the scare stories surrounding Japanese knotweed really justified? And what should you do if you find it?
