Mortgages & me

Bringing both explanation and humour (yes, it is possible) to an often perceived realm of boredom

Mortgages. Let’s not kid ourselves here. If you had the choice of having one or not then there would be no choice. However, the vast majority of us, Russian billionaires excluded, need them to fuel that much loved British tradition – homeownership. So, if we all accept that we need them, you may as well do something positive and get the best one for you. It is staggering how many people make sure they get value for money from every day items but do not manage their home loan properly - the savings far outweigh the difference between the best baked beans and the value ones.

So, this blog will attempt to look at the world of mortgages and the housing market and try to bring both explanation and humour (yes, it is possible), and spark some comment, to an oft perceived realm of boredom. Here goes…

Drew Wotherspoon


12/08/2008 by Drew

Seems obvious, but we are not talking about the actual shape of one's abode.  Rather the movement in the value of each distinct type of property.  Figures released today from the government show that the avearge price of a flat...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, House Prices, Media

Be the first to comment


12/08/2008 by Drew

Figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders have revealed that the number of loans for house pruchase in the UK in June fell to fewer than half the number made in the same month in 2007.  Some 47,000 loans were approved compared...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Fixed rate mortgages, Tracker mortgages

Be the first to comment


30/01/2008 by Katie Tucker

Unfortunately, price changes are evenly distributed by neither location nor property type, New Build flats are the first to feel the brunt of the "property price adjustment". Having been overpriced for quite some time, a...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, House Prices

Be the first to comment


30/01/2008 by Drew

Mervyn King has been re-elected as the Governor as the Bank of England. Whilst he bears the history of the Northern Rock debacle, he makes firm decisions for the stability or the UK economy and is charged with the challenge of...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages

Be the first to comment


30/01/2008 by Katie Tucker

Land Registry figures for house prices out this week show that they were down 0.4% in December, which brings the annual rate of growth for 2007 was 6.7% according to their scale. ...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, House Prices

Be the first to comment


18/12/2007 by Drew

Staggeringly, most of the big lenders in the market seem to have passed on the full rate cut to their borrowers as I write. ...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Mortgage Lenders, Interest rates

1 comment(s)


10/12/2007 by Drew

Life moves pretty fast, if you don't stop and take a look around once in a while... ok, the strangest of starts to a mortgage related blog, but one that is all too apt at the moment. ...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders

Be the first to comment


07/12/2007 by Drew

Good news yesterday. The Bank of England finally lowered interest rates much to the pleasure of many mortgage...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders, Tracker mortgages, Variable mortgages

Be the first to comment


31/10/2007 by Drew

About this time of year we are treated to a wealth of predictions and opinions on what the housing market will do in the coming year.  The last few years have seen a great number of pundits and commentators sitting on the fence,...

Read more

Categories: House Prices, Mortgages

1 comment(s)


24/10/2007 by Drew

With Halloween just one week away we creative types look for ways to use this day to promote mortgages.  Tenuous I hear you cry...Well, here goes.  The scariest thing in a lot of people's lives, mother-in-laws aside, is their...

Read more

Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates

Be the first to comment


Terms & conditions

Your initial mortgage consultation is obligation free. There will be a minimum fee for our mortgage service of £450, of which £150 is payable when you apply, and we will retain the commission from the mortgage lender. Alternatively, you can choose the fee only option which is typically 0.65% of the amount borrowed. The precise amount will depend on your circumstances and mortgage loan amount, and will be discussed and agreed before you make a mortgage application.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

Legals

John Charcol is a trading style of Towergate Financial (West) Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority; our registration number is 147692. John Charcol Associates LLP is an appointed representative of Towergate Financial (West) Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.  Registered office: Towergate House, Eclipse Park, Sittingbourne Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 3EN. Registered in England No: 02292688.  This mortgage site is only directed at persons within the UK.   The FSA does not regulate some investment mortgage contracts.  Calls may be recorded for training and monitoring. Max call charge from a BT landline is 3.9p per minute. Calls from other networks may vary.