Promising house price growth

The UK housing market is showing signs of resilience, as August saw the fastest pace of annual house price growth since December 2022

Conditions slightly improved for FTBs

The average monthly mortgage bill for first-time buyers (FTBs) has reduced over the last year, according to recent figures

Hoping to clear your mortgage?

Most lenders charge an early repayment fee, so it’s essential to know what yours would be. You might work out that, despite the charge, clearing your mortgage is still the right option as you would save more money in interest costs. But if your mortgage is coming to an end soon, you may decide that the early exit fee is not worth it.

Mortgage approvals on the up

Consumers are continuing to rebuild their confidence, with mortgage approvals hitting the highest level in nearly two years.

Has the mortgage guarantee scheme helped?

Recent data has highlighted the effectiveness of the government’s mortgage guarantee scheme.

Buyers will go green for a better deal

A study has found that prospective buyers would improve the energy efficiency of their property in order to get a better mortgage deal.

Don’t price your home too high

Recent data has highlighted the negative impact of pricing your home too high.

What are buyers looking for?

A survey of homebuyers and movers has offered an insight into what the nation wants from the new Labour government.

higher mortgage rates be the norm?

Market experts have predicted that mortgage rates of 4.5% will be the ‘new normal’ in the UK.

Labour’s changes to housing policy

Following Labour’s landslide election win, much of the nation is waiting to find out what is in store for the UK housing market. Many major policy changes will be announced in the Autumn Budget on 30 October, but Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has already announced the new draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is now out for consultation until September.

Preparing your home for viewings

As confidence grows among sellers, many homeowners are preparing to put their property up for sale. Here’s how you can get your home ready for viewings.

Longer sale time for properties

Despite an increase in buyer and seller demand, the home-buying process is still not plain sailing; on average, it currently takes more than seven months for a seller to move home once they have put their property up for sale.

Fewer young adults are homeowners

Over the last two decades, the number of young adults who own a home has dropped significantly.

Housing stock improves

It seems that 2024 is a popular year to sell, as housing supply has reached an eight-year high.

Home movers undeterred by elections

As the UK adjusts to the aftermath of the General Election, many will be wondering what this means for the housing market. However, analysis of previous election periods suggests that home movers are largely unfazed by changes in Parliament.

Buyers are settling for less space

Demand for smaller homes has increased, indicating that the high cost of borrowing has prompted many homeowners to readjust their expectations.

Get yourself mortgage-ready

If you are hoping to buy a new home soon, it’s never too early to start preparing – get yourself mortgage-ready this summer by following these steps.

Research has revealed the least and most expensive cities to be a first-time buyer (FTB) in the UK.

High LTV mortgages – are they a good idea?

Prior to the Spring Budget, there was speculation that the government may introduce a 1% mortgage deposit scheme. That did not come to fruition; however, a leading mortgage lender has recently introduced a new product which offers first-time buyers (FTBs) a £5k deposit on homes up to £500,000 – effectively a 99% loan to value (LTV) mortgage.

Housing market – a spring update

The first few months of 2024 showed some promise for a housing market which is stabilising following a challenging period for buyers and sellers alike. So, with spring well under way, how is the property market faring at the moment?