Our Blog
How can the Bank of Family support first time buyers?
With gifts and loans from the Bank of Mum and Dad totalling a whopping £9.4bn in 2023, it would be one of the UK’s biggest if it was a real bank or lender. Given the clear affordability challenges still facing house buyers – particularly first timers – that figure...
What are the pros and cons of 100% mortgages?
A 100% mortgage is, very simply, a home loan which allows the buyer to purchase a property without putting down any money (or a deposit) up front. Prior to 2008, it was common for lenders to offer deposit-free mortgages as standard, with some even allowing consumers...
Jargon Buster: What are the key mortgage terms every first-time buyer should know?
Buying a house can certainly be a daunting experience, especially when it’s your first time doing so. What doesn’t help is the wealth of jargon and terminology used during the mortgage process and throughout the entire journey to buy your new home. If you’re looking...
Living in interesting times: how advice can help
We’re living in unpredictable times; from rising living costs and market fluctuations to fast-moving changes in jobs, tech, and even family structures. For many people, the old financial playbook no longer applies. In these moments, advice isn’t about chasing the...
How private medical insurance can help you cope with cancer
Cancer impacts so many of us Cancer is a disease that leaves very few of us untouched. Statistics from Cancer Research UK suggest that as many as one in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with some form of the disease over the course of their lifetime....
First-time buyer benefits – what schemes are available?
Any first-time buyer trying to save up for a deposit to purchase their first home may feel daunted by how expensive the housing market is. There is no doubt that it is much more difficult to get your foot onto the property ladder than ever before. In 2023, House Buyer...
What does an interest rate cut mean for mortgages?
Every six weeks or so, all eyes are on the Bank of England and its Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) – the group that decides whether interest rates will be increased, held or cut. How they choose to act has an impact on how much it costs banks to borrow money and what...
What’s the difference between a product transfer and a remortgage?
If you want to stay on top of your mortgage repayments and ensure you’re getting the right deal for your circumstances then remortgaging is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. But is it best to change to a new mortgage product with your current...
Consolidating your pensions – is it a good idea?
Jenny is a 47-year-old Account Manager with a long and varied CV. She hasn’t quite had more jobs than hot dinners but, when she thinks about the various pensions she’s acquired over the years, sometimes it feels that way. Jenny has recently been considering...
Stamp Duty relief not extended for buyers – what you need to know before rules change
In Labour’s first Budget since taking office, the Chancellor announced her plans to fix the so-called ‘black hole’ in the UK’s public finances and increase investment in public services, setting out £40 billion worth of tax rises. While changes to stamp duty did form...
