New customers rushed to cash in on tax-free ISA savings this month, pushing account applications up 52% on last year. The new, higher ISA limits have boosted the already-popular savings accounts, which are already held by over a third of households in the UK.
There are now over 150 mortgage deals offering 90% mortgages to first time buyers. The figures have doubled in 9 months, and there are more on the way, according to the Bank of England.
The latest Nationwide house price index has shown house prices increase by 0.7% in March, reversing the downward trend in February which had worried many experts, fearful of a second recession.
The Bank of England has today decided to hold interest rates at the historic low of 0.5%. Customers seeking first time buyer mortgages right now are being advised to seek quality independent financial advice. An independent mortgage advisor, with their ‘whole of market’ approach, can find the very best mortgages based on the whole of the UK market, and will on average save you almost £1,000 on your annual mortgage repayments.
Mortgage lending in November was down by 10% over October, and is expected to remain stable or drop slightly in the coming months, according to new data released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders today.
This should not set alarm bells ringing, however. A slowdown is normal for the time of year, due to seasonal factors and, this time round, the end of the stamp duty holiday on 31 December. These factors caused a ‘bunching’ in house buying activity over the last few months of 2009.
Most holders of variable rate mortgages in the UK are now paying £100 – £200 per month less on their mortgage than a year ago, according to new data from the Bank of England.
The Bank of England is lowering interest rates to encourage us to spend more but many smart mortgage borrowers are using the falling rates – and consequently lower mortgage repayments – as an opportunity to overpay their mortgages and reduce the amount they owe. Both Lloyd’s TSB and HSBC have been advising their variable rate [...]
