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
22/11/2011 by
HSBC’s recent claim that “81% of all best buys are provided by direct lenders” seems to have missed out on the vital point of it’s only a “Best Buy” if you can actually get it. If you can’t it might as well be on the moon. “How do...
Categories: Mortgages, Mortgage Lenders, Tracker mortgages, Fixed rate mortgages, First time buyers, Remortgaging, Moving Home, Home Mover, Buy to let
23/02/2009 by
Northern Rock is set to return to the mortgage market with a £14bn lending plan only 12 months after it was nationalised. The nationalised bank will also offer deals up to 90 per cent loan to value, a level that has been severely...
Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders, Government
21/11/2008 by
The historic cut in interest rates of 2% over the last two months has seen many mortgage borrowers’ monthly payments reduce dramatically. You should, if you can, maintain pre-cut payments and use the low interest rate environment...
Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders, Tracker mortgages
27/10/2008 by
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...
Categories: Interest rates, House Prices, Mortgages, Mortgage Lenders
16/10/2008 by
Another bad day for the markets yesterday, with the Dow finishing 733 down, the Nikkei 1,089 and most other indices were in negative territory. It is also not looking promising today as the FTSE slips below 4,000 in early...
Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders
21/08/2008 by
News from the Council of Mortgage Lenders that lending activity picked up very slightly in July, with £24.8 billion advanced to borrowers. This is up a modest 5% from June, but still down 27% year on year. ...
Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders
27/03/2008 by
FURTHER BANK RATE CUT STILL NEEDED DESPITE INFLATION AND GROWTH FIGURES
Treasury predicts 2.25% growth for 2009 and inflation reaches the magic 3%
Categories: Mortgage Lenders
29/02/2008 by
Borrowers who took 100%-plus mortgages or 100% mortgages, who need to remortgage, may soon find that there are no deals available
Most will have accrued some equity to make it onto the few remaining 95% deals, and the lucky ones...
Categories: Mortgage Lenders, First time buyers
18/12/2007 by
Staggeringly, most of the big lenders in the market seem to have passed on the full rate cut to their borrowers as I write. ...
Categories: Mortgages, Mortgage Lenders, Interest rates
10/12/2007 by
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. ...
Categories: Mortgages, Interest rates, Mortgage Lenders
The blog postings on this site solely reflect the personal views of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, positions, strategies or opinions of John Charcol. All comments are made in good faith, and neither John Charcol nor Drew Wotherspoon will accept liability for them.