Category: Blogs

16 Nov
Couple statement1

End of Help to Buy

The Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme was first introduced in 2013, though it has evolved over the years with the latest guise seeing the introduction of regional property price caps. Essentially, it offered first-time buyers the chance to purchase a new-build property with a minimum 5% deposit. They could also use an equity loan […]

15 Oct
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How much can I borrow?

As anyone currently looking for a mortgage knows, the chaotic scenes at the top of government have had big repercussions when it comes to home loans. The speculation over likely increases to the Bank Base Rate, following the disaster that was the mini-Budget, has meant significant increases in the interest rates on offer to borrowers, […]

28 Sep
Couple statement

Mortgage Update – What we are experiencing

Only one word can express the start of this newsletter – Chaos! At the time of writing, many lenders have stopped lending completely and most others have increased their rates substantially. The pound has devalued, and the markets are reacting to the budget. However, whilst this has reduced options, and there may be challenging times […]

Life after Help to Buy (Views from Vida Homeloans)

March 2023 is the date set to see the end of Help to Buy. What is more, anyone looking to use this scheme must secure a property by the end of October – when Halloween is upon us. This is a scary thought, so what next for the new build sector and will it be […]

11 Aug
Happy family

The benefits of overpaying on your mortgage

If you are considering overpaying on your mortgage, you will be looking to reduce how much interest you pay and bring forward the day you are mortgage-free. But before going ahead with this apparent no-brainer, it’s important to be sure that it’s the best use of the funds available for you. You will also want […]

Upcoming EPC changes and renovations for older housing stock

With the proposed deadline to meet the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements for rental properties only a couple of years away, many landlords throughout the UK are currently in the process of assessing their property portfolios and weighing up the cost of renovations to ensure they can satisfy the forthcoming changes.    The regulations, which […]

13 Jun
Bad credit

Debunking the myth you can’t get a mortgage with poor credit

Understanding the world of mortgages can be difficult at the best of times. If you have bad credit, it’s important to remember that contrary to what you might have heard already, you can still apply for a mortgage. Let’s take a look and debunk some of the myths you might have heard.  Myth #1. Mortgage […]

Considering adding an HMO to your property portfolio?

Have you considered adding a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) to your property portfolio? Nowadays, many landlords looking for ways to maximise yields and minimise risks are turning to HMO properties. Here are five reasons why: The main attraction of HMOs is that rental yields can be up to 20% higher than for a typical […]

05 May
Rear view kids playing with boxes moving day

Broker advice crucial as affordability crisis worsens

The recent announcement by the Bank of England that the base rate was to rise for the fourth time in five months did not really come as much of a surprise. With the rate of inflation at a 30-year high and expected to have reached 7.25% in April, the move by the bank to contain […]