Virgin Money partners with Countrywide

News release from Countrywide 18th August 2017 headlined ‘Virgin Money partners with Countrywide to support bottowers fro New Build, Custom Build and Shared Ownership properties.’ Countrywide Surveying Services has been appointed by Virgin Money as its valuation services partner to support borrowers for New Build, Custom Build and Shared Ownership properties. Commenting on the new…

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Loans for house purchase at a near 2 year low in January according to CML

New data for January released yesterday by the  Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) headlined ‘Home buying activity declines in January’. In January, home buyers borrowed £8.4bn, first-time buyers borrowed £3.6bn for home-owner house purchase, home movers borrowed £4.9bn. In the report CML stated: The number of loans advanced for house purchase in January was at…

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Overall borrowing rose in December 2016 says BBA

The British Banker’s Association (BBA) today published figures for the High Street Banks for December 2016. They mention in the news report that: Overall borrowing rose in December 2016. House purchase approval numbers were slightly higher than in December 2015 but in 2016 as a whole were 4.1% lower than in 2015. Remortgaging approvals were…

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Equity release market hits all-time high in 2016

A recent press release from Keyretirement.co.uk highlighted that retired homeowners withdrew more than £2.1 billion of property wealth last year 2016. New analysis from leading over-55s finance specialist Keyretirement.com reveals  that the equity release market hits new all-time high in 2016 after fifth year of growth. Dean Mirfin, technical director at Key Retirement (www.keyretirement.com), said: …

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Mortgage approvals at 8 month high in November

bank of england interest rate

UK mortgage approvals rose to an eight-month high in November, a rise of 0.19% from October, according to Bank of England (BoE) lending statistics out today. Lending secured on dwellings increased by £3.2bn in November, broadly in line with the average over the previous six months. The number of approvals for remortgaging hit an eight…

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Deal on mortgages for Armed Forces

Recent announcement published 26th December 2016 from Ministry of Defence and Mark Lancaster TD MP on Gov.uk website headlined ‘Boxing Day deal on mortgages for Armed Forces’. Personnel redeployed within the UK will now be able to rent out their homes without facing higher costs or having to change their mortgage. Defence Minister Mark Lancaster…

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Paragon Group report strong results in a transitional year

The Paragon Group of Companies PLC the specialist lender and banking group last week announced its full year results for the year ended 30 September 2016. Commenting on the results, Nigel Terrington, Chief Executive of Paragon, said: “I am pleased to report a strong set of results in which we significantly increased revenue, strengthened net…

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Signs of Underlying weakness in housing market

The BBA today released the September 2016 figures for the high street banks. Gross mortgage borrowing of £12bn in the month was 2% lower than in September 2015, net mortgage borrowing is 2.6% higher than a year ago. House purchase approval numbers are 15% lower than in September 2015 and in the first nine months…

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Statistics point to a softer housing market says BBA

Report out today from the BBA headlines ‘August 2016 figures for the high street banks’ House purchase approval numbers are 21% lower than in August 2015 but in the first eight months of 2016 they are 2% lower than in the same period of 2015. Remortgaging approvals were 6% lower than in August 2015 but…

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Nationwide HPI August

The Nationwide House Price Index (HPI) released today headlines ‘Slight pickup in house price growth in August’ House prices increased by 0.6% in August up from 0.5% in July. Annual house price growth increased to 5.6%, from 5.2% in July. Commenting on the figures, Robert Gardner, Nationwide’s Chief Economist, said: “UK house prices increased by…

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First-Time buyer numbers increase first half 2016

what is happening to house prices

The numbers of first-time buyers made up 47 per cent of the mortgage market in the first half of 2016, that was an increase of an estimated 10 per cent  year on year, according to Halifax. Chris Gowland, Mortgages Director at Halifax, said: “There was a further increase in the number of first-time buyers in…

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