by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2019 | blog, mortgages
Being a First Time Buyer was daunting to start with, but once I got in touch with an Openwork Adviser, they settled all my nerves and made the process of buying a place to call home incredibly easy. The big decision Before I could look at houses and house prices, I...
by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2019 | blog, mortgages
Do you aspire to own a new-build home? Are you looking to move home, but lack sufficient funds to afford the repayments on a low-deposit mortgage? You may find it easier to join, or move up the property ladder, thanks to the government-backed Help to Buy scheme. There...
by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2019 | blog, mortgages
Thousands of people with interest-only mortgages expiring this year do not have a repayment plan – putting their homes at serious risk of repossession. An estimated 81,400 mortgages will come to an end in 2019, totalling around £9.2bn in value, according to...
by Brian Downton | J, Jul, 2019 | blog, mortgages
On Thursday 2 August 2018 the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised interest rates by 0.25 from 0.50% to 0.75%. It’s important to regularly review your mortgage, as it can often make sense to transfer to a new deal – or even a different...
by Brian Downton | J, Nov, 2018 | blog, mortgages
You’re not bound by law to have a survey done on a property you’re buying, but while it may feel like an unnecessary expense given all the other costs involved in home-buying, it could actually save money and stress in the longer-term. A survey is...
by Brian Downton | J, Nov, 2018 | blog, mortgages
Since its launch in April 2013 more than 145,000 properties have been bought using the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme. Five years on and the interest-free element of the loan is due to end, with homeowners potentially facing expensive fees. The Help to Buy Equity Loan...
by Brian Downton | J, Oct, 2018 | blog, mortgages
When it comes to selling your house first impressions count, and that starts with kerbside appeal. Start with free Before spending any money, have a look around your property to see what improvements you can make that won’t cost a penny. If you have a garden, plants,...
by Brian Downton | J, Jun, 2018 | blog, mortgages
2018 began with a surprising pick-up in house price growth, up 0.6% month-on-month with January seeing a ten-month high increase of 3.2 percent. Even with the wider economy and Brexit developments, the housing market activity is only expected to slow a modest amount....
