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


08/12/2011 by Drew

TODAY'S MPC MEETING A SIDESHOW WITH ALL EYES ON THE ECB MEETING
 
•       Eurozone crisis Summit will Determine the Fate of he Euro
 
Ray Boulger of leading independent mortgage adviser John Charcol comments on the news that the MPC...

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Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, House Prices, First time buyers, Remortgaging, Moving Home

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21/12/2010 by Drew

Read what Ray Boulger has to say on the latest ads from Lloyds Banking Group. Click here to find out more.

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Categories: Mortgages, Buy to let, Interest rates, House Prices, Remortgaging

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08/09/2009 by Drew

Rates

Bank Of England rate  - 0.5%  - kept on hold (next decision 10th September)
ECB  rate kept on hold at 1%  - (next decision 8th October)

A meeting of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), which consists of the...

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Categories: Interest rates, House Prices, Mortgages

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27/10/2008 by Drew

The Markets suffer yet again, particularly the Far East  :-

Nikkei (-6.4%)  lowest level for 26 years  
South Korea - Kospi (+0.8) following rate cut of 75bps
Hang Seng (-12.7%)  biggest single day fall since 1991
China - Shanghai...

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Categories: Interest rates, House Prices, Mortgages, Mortgage Lenders

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13/08/2008 by Drew

News today is that the chancellor's recents statements on stamp duty have caused house hunters to delay putting in offers on properties, according to estate agents.  ...

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Categories: Interest rates, House Prices, Stamp Duty, Media, Estate Agents

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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...

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Categories: Mortgages, House Prices, Media

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29/02/2008 by Katie Tucker

Today Cheltenham and Gloucester and many other lenders are reducing their maximum LTV from 100% all the way down to 90%. (more listed below) ...

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Categories: First time buyers, House Prices

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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...

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Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, House Prices

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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. ...

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Categories: Mortgages, House Prices

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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,...

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Categories: House Prices, Mortgages

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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.