Today’s 0.25% increase in the base rate – the first rise for a decade – exposes those people who still have their mortgage on what is called the Standard Variable Rate (SVR). And by the look of it that’s almost half of all people who have mortgages! So it’s time for them to act quickly. …Read More

The world of insurance is complicated and one thing that causes more confusion than any other is the difference between the different types of cover. One that springs to mind is the difference between income protection and critical illness insurance. At first glance you’d be forgiven for thinking that they do the same thing i.e. …Read More

I’d like to bet that most people think all life insurance policies are the same. I would also be prepared to bet that most, particularly those who took out a policy some time ago and have forgotten the details, think their policy will see them through to the end of their lives. The truth is, …Read More

I’ve spoken quite a bit in recent months about mortgage rates and the need to stay alert on what rate you are paying. Well now more than ever it is time to make sure your loan is at the best rate you can get. Why? Because lenders are just starting to sneak their rates up …Read More

It’s a fact of life, but for many people doing nothing is the easiest way, the path of least resistance. How many of us let our TV packages or our broadband products run from one year to the next without ever checking them? In the case of mortgages though, this can be a very expensive …Read More

If you have a poor credit record, have missed payments on a loan or even had a County Court Judgement against you, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve no chance of getting a mortgage. But you just might be wrong… Variously known as bad credit mortgages, sub-prime or adverse credit mortgages, they are simply mortgages …Read More

When it comes to getting a new home, no matter what you want to do chances are there’s a finance package to help you do it. In this article I want to talk briefly about two of those packages – self-build mortgages and bridging loans. You might not have heard of them but if they …Read More

The trend for lower and lower mortgage rates continues, despite a recent slow-down in falling rates, latest figures show. But the question is, with lots of speculation about the Bank of England increasing the base rate, how long can it last? And is it a good time to be fixing your mortgage rate, especially if …Read More

You might not have heard of them but second charge mortgages are becoming more and more popular with people who need to raise some money for a wide variety of different reasons. Also known as a second mortgage, you might want one to do some home improvements, help your children get a foot on the …Read More

I want to share with you a recent case study of a typical client, as I think it illustrates many of the services I provide. ‘I was recently approached by a young couple – let’s call them Mr and Mrs Scarborough – in their mid-twenties and looking to get on the property ladder for the …Read More