“Unrealistic” expectations

Housing transactions are being held back by sellers’ continually unrealistic house price expectations, with the market set to remain subdued in the coming months, according to RICS.

Lift off

Accord Mortgages announced that it would launch into 90% LTV lending with a range of two and five-year fixed rate deals from Thursday 12 January.

In the money

Enness Private Clients, the mortgage and high net worth specialist, announced each of its advisers completed, on average, £36.3m of business in 2011.

Bites the dust

On Wednesday Aviva revealed that it would stop offering home reversion plans from February 2012, saying the majority of its clients opt for lifetime mortgages.

SPOTY

John Eastgate from Saffron Building Society blogged for us this week where he discussed why Sports Personality of the Year can’t compare with the MMR.

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Broken promises

On Thursday, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) admitted that it has not used mystery shoppers for at least 18 months, despite a promise from Hector Sants that the regulator would make more use of the tactic.

Warning ahead

Following the latest Credit Conditions survey from the Bank of England, over 40% of brokers expect the mortgage market to be knocked off course by another credit crunch in 2012, in the latest Mortgage Solutions poll.

Shock exit

AIFA and AMI director general Stephen Gay announced his decision to leave the trade body to become director of life, savings and protection at the Association of British Insurers (ABI).

Fewer BDMs

NatWest Intermediary Solutions confirmed it is to slash its BDM team from 40 to 19 as part of a restructure of the business, but insisted the quality of service it offers brokers will not be affected.

 

And…

Cantona’s ‘fake’ presidential bid highlights French housing crisis

 

Earlier this week it was revealed that Eric Cantona’s surprise presidential bid was a publicity stunt to attract media attention to the French housing crisis.

The 45-year-old, a former footballer turned actor, announced he would enter the race to gain 500 signatures of support from French mayors, the necessary condition to enter the presidential race.

However, it was later revealed that his candidacy was just a way to attract media attention to the housing crisis in France, in association with charity ‘Fondation Abbé Pierre’.

 

Finally…top tweets

 

Mortgage_Stu

Getting some oxygen ready for climbing my mortgage enquiries again in the morning…god I love this job. Sometimes. 😉

Queen_UK

Eric Cantona plans to run for French President? One can only assume he’s got the wrong idea when they said “kick start the economy”.

Charles_HRH

Thank goodness the Bank of England have kept interest rates at 0.5%. One has a tracker mortgage on the Duchess of York.

Louisa Barber

Five people in the queue, and one cashiers desk open. Really Lloyds?