News

Struggling to save a huge deposit for your first home? New figures show mortgages for buyers with smaller deposits are accounting for a bigger share of lending. But a 5% deposit does not necessarily mean buying will be affordable, so here is what first-time buyers need to know. For many aspiring homeowners, it is not…

House hunters are returning after the summer lull, but a bumper choice of properties means buyers can afford to be choosier. Here is what the changing autumn market could mean if you are planning a move. Britain’s housing market is showing signs of waking up for autumn. New sellers increased their asking prices by 0.7…

Around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages are expected to come to an end during 20261. If yours is one of them, waiting until the final few weeks to investigate your options could leave you with less time and less choice. If your mortgage deal is due to expire between now and next spring, there is a…

The Bank of England has kept its headline interest rate at 3.75%, yet mortgage borrowers are seeing fixed-rate deals become more expensive. So what is going on, and what should you do if you are buying a home or your current deal is coming to an end? If you thought an unchanged Bank Rate should…

The laptop is packed. The phone is permanently in their hand. But are their belongings actually insured? With A-level results now out and university move-in dates approaching, thousands of families are preparing for one of the biggest changes in their children’s lives. There are bedding sets to buy, kitchen cupboards to fill and probably a…

Summer can be a difficult time to read the property market. Families go away, house hunting competes with holidays and good weather, and some of the most reliable housing statistics arrive several weeks after the activity they measure. But as September approaches, we now have enough evidence to get a clearer picture of what has…

When your mortgage deal comes to an end, it is natural to focus on one question: what will my new monthly payment be? But there is another important question worth asking at exactly the same time. If something happened to you or your income, would your mortgage and household finances still be protected? With 1.8…

Why giving your mortgage a proper review could be one of the most useful financial jobs you do this year Mortgages have a habit of becoming part of the furniture. You arrange the deal, the monthly payment leaves your bank account and, for the next few years, it can be tempting to forget all about…

The Government plans to replace the Lifetime ISA with a new savings account designed solely to help first-time buyers purchase a home. But several important details, including the bonus and property price limit, have yet to be decided1. First-time buyers could eventually be offered a new, more flexible way to save for a deposit under…

A mortgage can run for decades, but a household’s income can change overnight. Illness, a serious diagnosis, redundancy and death create different financial problems, and no single insurance policy necessarily covers them all. Most homeowners understand the need to insure the building they live in. Buildings insurance is commonly required under the terms of a…