We live in ever changing times, and the mortgage market rarely, if ever, stands still. To reflect this dynamism Mortgage Solutions has undergone a revamp; and as well as insightful news and in-depth features we will now include feature-length interviews with the main movers and shakers in the mortgage industry and highly focused regional analyses designed to help advisers operating in different locales.
We are also launching a new fortnightly, electronic bulletin on 17 February, which has been designed to bring advisers the latest news and comments from industry experts. This service will be available to all mortgage advisers in the UK. To ensure you receive a copy, email: emurray@benn.co.uk.
What hasn’t changed, however, is our commitment to the professional mortgage advisers who are looking to prosper in this market.
And with events in the Middle East threatening to overtake us before March it seems likely that further external factors will soon impact on the market.
The pressure on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to cut the base rate is increasing, and can only grow stronger whenever international politics has a key role in determining whether the UK manufacturing sector will emerge from its slump. If there is a war then the inevitable concerns over jobs and bonuses are likely to affect consumer spending, paving the way for an interest rate cut which will lead to house price rises and increased consumer debt.
However, with all the signs pointing towards an escalation of hostilities, talk is now of whether a short war would actually benefit the economy. Or whether the £1bn the Chancellor has put aside for such an event will be enough if the war becomes drawn out or if it will force the MPC to raise interest rates.
Whatever happens, the uncertainty is often worse than the reality and most industry commentators think the mortgage market above others will be robust enough to withstand the economic shocks of war.
l Following the success of The Mortgage Event last year, it has been decided to move to larger venues in some cities to cope with demand. To register, and for more information on the dates and locations of this year’s events, log on to www.themortgageevent.com.
Ben Marquand, editor
