This week’s top five stories:
1) 1.43m leasehold property owners at risk
Property owners with leases of less than 80 years run a heightened risk of negative equity, warns e.surv.
2) Barclays reduces mortgage flexibility for existing customers
Barclays has made changes to its range which will see customers offered less flexibility with their mortgages.
3) Nationwide cuts mortgage rates to historic low
Nationwide is to lower rates on a number of its fixed rate mortgage products, a move which the lender says will see it offer the lowest mortgage rates in its history.
4) What is the future for interest-only?
In March 2012, the Financial Services Authority director Martin Wheatley admitted to MPs there was a ‘ticking time bomb’ of one million interest-only mortgages repayable over the next decade.
5) NatWest makes major cuts to range
NatWest Intermediary Solutions has announced a number of rate reductions on products across its range of up to 74bps.
Here are some stories you may have missed:
FCA promises ‘back to basics’ fee review
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is to conduct a “back to basics” review of fees and segmentation of the industry.
Should brokers snitch on each other?
The Financial Ombudsman Service recently revealed that as many complaints about advisers originated from fellow brokers than did claims management firms.
Public demands more government action on low deposit mortgages
The majority of British public would like greater help from government for homeowners who do not have a large deposit, according to YouGov research published by the CML.
Calling all lenders, we need mortgage diversity
It’s a truism, but I’ll say it anyway: we have a monochrome residential mortgage market and, notwithstanding heightened levels of competition and some innovation, the market continues to exclude many aspiring borrowers.
How brokers can take advantage of the new tax year
This is a time of year when many people are focusing on tax allowances, exemptions and relief as well as focusing how they can save, invest, tighten financial belts and generally speaking have a good old fashioned spring clean of personal and family finances.
