Is the UK primed to bounce back (and Scottish Mortgage) TiM podcast

We publish our podcast every Friday to the player on This is Money, above, and on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) and on the podcast platforms Audioboom and Acast, both of which allow you to listen on desktop, mobile, or download an app. We also now publish to Spotify. To download the Apple Podcasts app if you … Read more

Self-employed mortgage struggle for seven in 10

This is Money spoke to two freelancers about their struggles getting on the housing ladder.  Daniel Mitchell, professional musician and tutor from Greater Manchester  Daniel Mitchell, a musician, says he feels ‘lucky’ to have secured a mortgage during the pandemic as a self-employed person I have been a full-time freelancer since the start of 2019. … Read more

What has happened to mortgage and saving rates since the base rate cut?

Easy-access savings rates have fallen by seven tenths, but many mortgage borrowers have barely benefited since the Bank of England cut its base rate to an all-time low last year, data suggests.  Savings rates have plummeted but some of Britain’s biggest lenders have failed to pass on the full 0.65 percentage point cut since last … Read more

Habito launches new mortgage with a 40 year term

A mortgage being touted as Britain’s ‘longest-ever’ fixed rate home loan will be launched next week. The new product, Habito One, will allow home buyers to stay on the same mortgage rate for up to 40 years. This is common in countries such as the US and Netherlands, but the longest mortgage term buyers could … Read more

Scottish Mortgage was down 25% since February. What does this mean for the UK’s most popular trust? 

The hugely popular Scottish Mortgage investment trust has slumped by more than 25 per cent in three weeks as it suffered from a sell-off in global technology and growth stocks. Rising US bond yields and inflation fears sent the £16billion fund’s share price falling another 4.5 per cent today to 1,040p. That leaves legions of British … Read more

Budget 2021: Homebuyers react to Rishi Sunak’s new mortgage guarantee scheme

Aspiring homebuyers today welcomed the Chancellor  announcement that they will receive extra help to get onto the ladder as he pledged a new mortgage guarantee scheme and an extension of the stamp duty holiday.  Rishi Sunak‘s fresh initiative will incentivise lenders to provide mortgages to first-time buyers as well as current home-owners with just 5 per cent … Read more

Finance industry could see widespread mortgage defaults if leaseholders forced to pay for repairs

Could cladding scandal trigger new bank crisis? Finance industry could see widespread mortgage defaults if leaseholders are forced to pay for safety repairs, MPs are warned Widespread mortgage defaults could spark a economic meltdown, expert warns It is due to cladding on buildings which could cost thousands to homeowners Expert says unaffordable bills would cause … Read more

How will a government-backed 5% deposit mortgage work?

Aspiring first-time home buyers will be listening keenly to the Budget this week with Chancellor Rishi Sunak expected to announce Government-backed mortgages with deposits of just five per cent. The Government is set to guarantee the loans, enabling lenders to offer mortgages worth 95 per cent of the purchase price on properties worth up to … Read more

10 tips to boost your credit score and avoid mortgage rejection

More than one in five aspiring homeowners blame bad credit for having their property purchases thwarted, citing this as the reason their mortgage application is turned down.  Having a bad credit history is the reason behind 22 per cent of mortgage rejections, according to a survey commissioned by mortgage broker, Haysto. The survey found that … Read more