Blogs
Commercial opportunity increases as we look to 2024

Commercial opportunity increases as we look to 2024

The commercial property market, like the residential market, has faced a challenging 2023. However there are reasons to be positive as we look ahead to 2024. First, the market is becoming more competitive, rates have started to drop and we have seen the return of...

New product structures offer hope to Buy to Let investors

New product structures offer hope to Buy to Let investors

Interest rate rises earlier this year hit the Buy to Let market hard, given that affordability for these clients is based almost entirely on a direct calculation of the rental income compared to the monthly mortgage payments. However, lenders have responded with the...

Using bridging to get people moving

Using bridging to get people moving

Brokers have had many frustrations to deal with this year, with frequent rate changes to deal putting a squeeze on customer affordability. Another issue has been the length of time that some property transactions are taking to complete, with the protracted process...

New year, new space

New year, new space

Mortgage borrowers are shifting their mindset. They are getting used to the new rate environment and increasingly taking more practical decisions regarding their future. As we move into the new year and households start to think about needing more space for their...

It is possible to maximise affordability, even with recent adverse

It is possible to maximise affordability, even with recent adverse

Affordability has consistently been an issue for customers throughout this year, as the ongoing cost-of-living crisis has increased monthly expenditure for all households at the same time as higher rates have restricted the loan sizes available to customers. However,...

Semi-commercial gets competitive

Semi-commercial gets competitive

The trend for property investors to explore alternative opportunities, such as semi-commercial, continues and lenders are responding with improved propositions and more competitive rates. Semi-commercial contains elements of both residential property and commercial...

Limited company dominance shows as landlords get serious

Limited company dominance shows as landlords get serious

Recent research from Paragon found that three quarters of landlords (74%) intend to buy property in the next a year plan to use a limited company structure. This is the highest recorded by the survey and is up from 62% in the first quarter of this year. This statistic...

Securing a home amidst broken chains

Securing a home amidst broken chains

The slowdown in the property market means it is now taking nearly twice as long to sell a home than it did last year. This is according to data released earlier this year that showed properties took an average of 49 days to sell in May, compared to 26 days in May...

The demand is out there

The demand is out there

Consumers are now finally getting used to the fact that higher interest rates are here to stay. Rather than sitting on their hands and putting their lives on hold, they are considering their options, undertaking research and realising that there are ways they can...

A hands-on approach to stretching affordability

A hands-on approach to stretching affordability

Affordability continues to be a key issue for brokers when it comes to successfully placing cases. Earlier this year, research platform, MBT, published research that found more than three quarters (76%) of brokers say they work with clients they believe should be able...

Increasing options for semi-commercial clients

Increasing options for semi-commercial clients

Commercial property can provide lucrative returns for investors and is attracting more attention from residential property investors who are looking to diversify their portfolio. Making the leap from residential investment to commercial can sometimes seem daunting,...

Turning challenge into opportunity

Turning challenge into opportunity

It's during times of challenge that the best businesses really come to the fore, adapt to the environment, deliver customers what they need and set themselves apart from the competition. With a stagnant property market and lenders snapping up remortgage business with...