4 things to consider before taking out equity release (the points that often go overlooked)
Search for articles and online advice on equity release and you’ll find an abundance of material. For example, you’ll quickly find the age requirements (55 and over), you’ll swiftly discover the answer to ‘what is a lifetime mortgage?’, and you’ll easily find articles covering the benefits of equity release. The one thing that they all have in common […]
How will Renters’ Reform affect buy-to-let mortgages?
Okay, so we might be jumping the gun with this one. After all, whilst Renters’ Reform is set to happen towards the end of this year (or the beginning of 2026), it hasn’t happened yet. However, as a Maidenhead mortgage broker, our view is that it’s better to be prepared as early as possible. Now, if you’re a landlord, […]
Time to reduce buy-to-let mortgage stress?
For existing and prospective buy-to-let landlords, getting a buy-to-let mortgage can sometimes be a stressful experience. And even though we’re a Maidenhead mortgage broker that manages buy-to-let mortgage applications every day, we recognise that the aptly named buy-to-let stress test can be … well, stressful. However, our team of Berkshire mortgage advisers feel that there is a reason why applying for a buy-to-let mortgage should become less stressful in […]
Less than three months to go for first time buyers
If you’re struggling to get back in the work groove after a restful festive break, then you’re not alone. In fact, an American study revealed that 50 per cent stated how they feel drained for a week after returning to work after a holiday. However, if you’re a first-time buyer then there’s good reason to shake […]
A welcome boost for first-time buyer mortgage applicants
In our last first-time buyer mortgage article, we predicted that the best first-time buyer mortgage deals might be on the horizon. However, we didn’t expect to be so close to that horizon. Only weeks after publishing the piece, it was announced that first-time buyers now have access to first-time buyer mortgages that lend up to six times salary. Six times! That’s an astonishing […]
On the road to recovery
As a Maidenhead mortgage broker, there are very few things more pleasing to the ear – and probably the ears of our clients, too – than news that the housing market is on the up. After all, if the housing market is doing well (and homeowners’ property equity is growing in the process), then so too […]
First-time buyer mortgage hotspots
This is Money has revealed the top 10 first-time buyer hotspots, following a study by Halifax into the most popular locations sought by those new to homeownership. And, as a Maidenhead mortgage broker, it was pleasing to see that Slough, which is only a stone’s throw from us, made it onto the list. According to the survey, […]
10 top tips on getting mortgage fit and remortgage ready – part 1
As the weather begins to finally warm up and summer creeps closer, many of us will be thinking about getting our bodies beach ready in time for the holiday season. However, with over 1.5 million people needing to remortgage in 2024*, getting beach body fit shouldn’t be the only priority over the next couple of […]
What’s next for the UK mortgage market?
It was all looking so good at the start of the year. The positive outcome of the much-touted mortgage wars that opened 2024 wasn’t just the fact that cheap UK mortgage deals seemed to be getting cheaper on a daily basis, but also the fact that consumer confidence began to increase. The UK’s housing market was moving again, the best mortgage deals that […]
Mortgage market mixed messages
If you’re not using a mortgage broker right now, then getting a mortgage must be a minefield. It’s certainly a lot more erratic than it was 15 months ago. Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen products being pulled, rates changing daily and, more recently, rates dropping to more competitive (if not wholly palatable) levels. But wait, things […]
The benefits of equity release (and two alternatives to consider)
Equity release mortgages – or lifetime mortgages, as we’ll be referring to them here – are big at the moment. In fact, data released by the Equity Release Council (the industry voice for equity release in the UK) highlights that over £700m in equity was converted into cash via this type of mortgage in Q3 of 2023 alone. So, what […]
Full steam ahead for first-time buyers?
It’s been tough for first-time buyers of late. And it often is in general, if we’re being honest. After all, a first-time buyer – by their very nature – typically has no property wealth in the form of accrued equity, and they’re often trying to enter the property market with a deposit that just about qualifies them […]