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Mortgage Market Comes Back To Earth

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Mortgage Market Comes Back To EarthThe UK mortgage market is beginning to return to a state of normality after an extended period of high prices and easy access to property purchase loans, Your Mortgage has claimed.

While many homeowners may be worried about tumbling house prices and first-home buyers may be struggling to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder, the market has for some time been inflated beyond realistic levels, presenting people with a home sales environment that was “too good to be true”.

For those who are having difficulty securing finance for a property in this unfavourable climate, taking out a personal loan may be an effective way to boost the amount of cash that can be put down as a deposit, thereby encouraging lenders to extend finance.

Meanwhile, Your Mortgage said that both buyers and sellers should brace themselves for an extended period of adverse property conditions, with a recovery not expected for at least 12 months.

Commenting recently, Barney McCarthy, editor of the independent advice website, said that the recent falls in house prices would not necessarily help first-time buyers enter the market.

“While house prices are lower than they have been for a long time - so it looks more affordable - the actual lenders themselves are more reticent to actually lend the money and are actually requiring much larger deposits than before,” he said.

However, Mr McCarthy went on to remind people that the current situation is not as dire as it could be.

“The situation at the moment isnt as bad as people make out; over the last couple of years it has almost been too good to be true and now it is returning to something more approaching normality,” he commented.

However, he did say that the days of easy access to loans and credit had been resigned to history, suggesting that many Britons will have to work harder to secure finance for the foreseeable future.

For those who have found themselves shut out by banks as the financial woes have rumbled on, taking out a bad credit loan may prove an effective way to begin to repair damage done to their finances. In applying for this type of loan, people could find they are able to begin to make regular payments on items outstanding in a bid to present a more positive image of their financial position to banks and other lenders.

Meanwhile, Mr McCarthy concluded by suggesting that while some would struggle as cheap mortgage lending began to dry up, he said that this could soon pave the way for a more measured approach to borrowing where consumers are less likely to struggle to keep up with mortgage repayments. In such a scenario, consumers could find that it becomes easier to put money aside each month. According to research carried out by Nationwide, a quarter of Britons currently feel that they are not saving enough money, although more than half (52 per cent) said they are hopeful they will be doing so in six months time.

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The Richest Streets In Britain Revealed

Monday, November 17th, 2008

The Richest Streets In Britain RevealedBritons who are on the hunt for a cheap property in the current adverse financial climate may do well to avoid Kensington and Chelsea, it has been revealed.

New figures from Halifax note that while the famous London borough has long been considered a haven for the rich and famous, half of all the top 50 most expensive streets in Britain are located there. And while there are plenty of high-value postcodes found in the area, residents in the Vale may take a certain satisfaction in knowing that they live on the most expensive road in the country. According to the financial services provider, the typical house price on this street totals 4.68 million pounds, more than 200,000 pounds dearer than its nearest rival, which is Ingram Avenue in Barnet.

For those people who are setting their sights a little lower as they look to put their foot on the first rung of the property ladder, taking out a cheap loan may prove an effective way to boost deposits and make their offer more appealing to lenders during this difficult period.

And for homeowners looking for cheap property in the capital, they may find plenty of houses that are out of their price range after Halifax figures showed that 39 of the 50 most expensive roads were located in London. Meanwhile, house hunters may also like to avoid the south-east and Poole in the south-west, as these areas filled out the remaining 11 positions in the top 50 most expensive postcodes.

Indeed, Panorama Road in Poole was the only street outside of London to make an appearance in the top five, with house prices there totalling a typical 4.16 million pounds, putting it in fifth position, behind two more Kensington and Chelsea postcodes which came in fourth and third.

Commenting on the preponderance of the borough of Kensington and Chelsea addresses in the list, Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax, said that the area had always been considered a cool place to live among celebrities, although in recent years house prices may have received a further boost from the financial sector.

“Chelsea and Kensington have some of the most expensive streets in England and Wales. The Royal Borough has been a highly fashionable area to live in since the swinging 60s. In recent years, its prime location in central London has attracted affluent celebrities and ultra wealthy foreign businessmen helping to drive up house prices,” he said.

For buyers who have struggled to get ahead in the property market in recent months as access to cheap mortgage lending has dwindled and acceptance criteria has tightened up, taking out a personal loan may prove a lucrative weapon in the battle to secure the keys to their own home. By boosting the size of their initial deposit, consumers could find they are able to encourage banks to extend a competitive mortgage deal for the purchase of a new property. Opting for a loan for this purpose may become increasingly important after the Council of Mortgage Lenders warned that the availability of home purchase loans may constrict further as the country moves towards a recession.

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First Home Buyers Make A Comeback

Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

First Home Buyers Make A ComebackThe residential property market has been buoyed by the return of first-home buyers, new figures have shown.

According to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA), new entrants to the market helped to push up total house purchase sales for the first time since January. Figures from the group indicated that while estate agents typically handled five home sales during August, this rose to seven in September. This increase was in part attributed to the abolition of stamp duty tax on properties worth less than 175,000 pounds last month, which was said to have encouraged cautious first-time buyers to put in bids on property.

Indeed, Chris Brown, president of the NAEA, said that for those who can secure finance in these difficult lending conditions, now is the perfect time to get their foot on the first rung of the property ladder. Consumers who are looking for an effective way to boost the deposit on the home of their dreams may find that taking out a personal loan is appealing.

However, he noted that many current homeowners are hesitant about making moves on the market at the moment.

“It is clear that certain factors are in motion within the property market, with a decision being made on stamp duty last month, but this is still not enough. As property prices continue to drop the government needs to take action and make some drastic changes to restore confidence. It is evident from the results that despite some positive indicators, consumers are still cautious, with many continuing to adopt a wait and see attitude and are only moving if it is necessary. Those who are not desperate to move are staying put in their homes and waiting for some stability to be restored across all sections of the market,” he said.

The group went on to point out that with many homeowners still nervy about plunging house prices, figures indicate that estate agents are now being forced to work harder to secure deals. While the average time between instruction and sale stood 8.64 weeks in September 2007, last month average turnarounds took 14.13 weeks. However, while many consumers are showing a reluctance to commit fully to moving home, the number of people showing provisional interest continued to grow.

According to the NAEA, the typical estate agent had 211 house hunters on its books in September, up from 207 in August and 192 in July. However, such a figure is still down considerably on the average 326 people on the search for a home registered with estate agents around the country in September 2007.

For consumers who are keen to put in an offer on a property but are finding it difficult to get finance from cautious mortgage lenders, taking out a personal loan may prove an effective way to increase the size of initial deposit and reduce the perceived risk of extending finance for the sale of a home. Potential buyers may be particularly interested in applying for a loan after the monetary policy committee slashed interest rates earlier this month.

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Consumers Warned To Get Prepared Before Winter

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Consumers Warned To Get Prepared Before WinterAs the nights grow colder and longer, it is important to make sure that heaters and other winter warming appliances are in good working order, it has been warned.

Confused has alerted Brits to the fact that failing to do so could leave them with a decidedly chilly feeling when looking at the costs of repairing damage done by faulty oil burners, electric blankets and similar devices. It urged consumers to make sure that they carry out a thorough safety check when bringing out appliances for the winter season. In addition to removing the gathered dust - particularly from elements - it is also vital that people check for frayed leads and cracked fuses to avoid a costly and potentially dangerous fault with the device. For those who find them to be in a state of disrepair, a personal loan may be an effective way to purchase a new appliance quickly before the cold weather gets into full swing.

In addition to making sure heaters are in good working order, the price comparison site also recommended a number of good practice guidelines when using heating devices. Making sure that they are not left on for extended periods of time was said to be particularly important, as was making sure they were situated away from any exposed flammable sources such as potpourri.

Meanwhile, to avoid the potential catastrophe of a fireplace fire, Confused urged consumers to make sure that their romantic visions of roaring log fires are seen through safety glasses. It pointed out that open fires can easily send sparks out of the hearth and on to any nearby carpets. As such, it advised Brits to make sure the surrounding fireplaces were kept clear to avoid the risk of a toasty night in resulting in a speedy departure into the cold night air. Furthering this, it urged consumers to invest in a fireguard to make sure such circumstances do not arise.

Confused also reminded people that while chimneys may be out of sight, they should not be out of mind as the winter months approach. Flues that have not been cleaned for a long period can develop dangerous levels of creosote residues which in turn increase the likelihood of chimney fires. So too, the deposits also cause chimneys to overheat, which can lead to cracked walls and fire damage, the group pointed out.

Darren Black, head of home insurance at the price comparison site, commented: “Dusty electric heaters, roaring fires and boilers which havent been turned on for most of the summer heighten the risk of claiming on your home insurance during the winter. We are also seeing the evenings getting darker earlier, which provides the perfect concealment for opportunistic burglars. In addition to being increasingly vigilant over the next couple of months, having the right home insurance is an integral part of securing peace of mind. Confused customers could save an average of 193 pounds per year on home insurance policies, which demonstrates the importance of shopping around.”

For those who are looking to overhaul their home heating this winter for safety and comfort, taking out a homeowner loan may prove an effective way to meet the costs of new equipment and installation. Meanwhile, those keeping an eye on energy costs may do well to shop around for a new provider in the coming months. Earlier this month, Confused claimed that Brits are potentially wasting billions of pounds because of a failure to do so.

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Buyers Need To Go Big On Deposits

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

Buyers Need To Go Big On DepositsHomeowners need to put in a big deposit when buying a new house in order to secure a competitive mortgage deal, Moneyfacts has warned.

According to the financial advice website, the availability of loans for house purchase for buyers with a small deposit has reduced dramatically in the last year. It reports that for those with a deposit of less than ten per cent of the total value of the home they wish to purchase, the number of mortgages on offer has shrunk by 45 per cent in the last 12 months. Indeed, it noted that 74.2 per cent of all deals on the market last year could be obtained by buyers with a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of ten per cent or less. Now, 29.2 per cent of the mortgages available can be bagged by buyers in this situation.

For those who are finding it difficult to front the cash for a sizeable deposit, taking out a cheap low-rate loan may prove a quick and effective way to raise the funds and make sure that property opportunities do not pass them by. Applying for this type of loan may be of particular interest to consumers who are struggling to find a 100 per cent LTV mortgage after figures from Moneyfacts showed that just 0.5 per cent of all the deals available are being offered to consumers in such a position. In September last year, 100 per cent LTV deals were available on 13.4 per cent of mortgages.

In todays tightened lending environment, consumers are most likely to secure an arrangement if they are able to put down a deposit equal to between 20 and 30 per cent of the propertys value. Of all the packages on the market, 38.7 per cent are for consumers looking for a loan of between 70 per cent and 79 per cent LTV.

Commenting on the findings, Moneyfacts claimed: “Competition was one of the major factors when setting mortgages rates and best buys were awash with deals at 95 per cent LTV. Today, the overriding factor when setting mortgage rates is risk. Lenders are focusing much more on risk. They are making less products available to borrowers with a small deposit and making the few that are available much more expensive.”

Furthermore, as the reverberations of the recent financial crisis in the US ripple through the UK, Moneyfacts noted that a number of major lenders are already raising their rates further, with Northern Rock, Yorkshire Building Society and West Bromwich Building Society all upping the price of their 90 per cent LTV products.

“As house prices continue to fall, lenders may be worried that before the deal period ends, these borrowers may fall into negative equity, which poses a threat to the value of their recoverable security,” the advice site explained.

For those who are finding it difficult securing a mortgage deal, taking out a cheap loan may prove an effective way to increase a deposit and improve chances of being accepted. Doing so may be of particular interest to those consumers identified in a recent Nationwide study as finding it increasingly difficult to put money aside in todays financial environment.

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