Archive for the ‘Houses and Mortgages’ Category

TweetShareA number of first-time buyers are struggling to get onto the property ladder as they are finding it hard to amass deposits. This is according to Helen Adams, managing director of FirstRungNow, who observed that, although the rise in mortgage numbers appears to be a sign of recovery, it is still “extremely difficult” for first-time [...]

TweetShareMiddle Britain homeowners may find themselves more susceptible to falling further into debt if plans for rises in council and capital gains taxes come to fruition. These increases are currently being pushed forward by Labour’s deputy leader Harriet Harman, This Is Money reports, in a bid to reduce inequalities in income. A report, which was [...]

TweetShareThe savings market is inadvertently helping borrowers as it is promoting greater mortgage lending, an industry expert has said. Quoting Moneyfacts 7, which revealed that banks and building societies are offering rates of five per cent or more, Ray Boulger of UK mortgage advisor John Charcol observed that the “relative stability of savings rates has [...]

TweetShareThe sell-off of Northern Rock, which looks set to occur following acceptance of restructuring plans by the European Commission, has been applauded as being “good for consumers”. So the head of personal finance at lovemoney.com Ed Bowsher has said, observing that the building society “has actually been offering some very good deals to consumers” and [...]

TweetShareBorrowers are turning away from fixed-rate mortgages because they think they are too expensive, it has been suggested. Responding to figures from John Charcol revealing that such products declined in popularity in September – with variable rates covering almost two-thirds of the market – Ray Boulger of the company observed that “most fixed rates still [...]

TweetShareThe proposed changes to the pension credit system, due to come in on November 2nd, may be of some assistance to those aged 60 and over who are eligible for pension credit, according to equity release specialist Key Retirement Solutions. In response to the alterations announced by chancellor Alistair Darling who stated that the time [...]