BSL Financials

‘It would really help us’: renters in the UK who want a 100% mortgage

No-deposit loan presents possible route out of rental trap to those deemed eligible When Skipton, one of Britain’s biggest building societies, launched the UK’s first 100% mortgage exclusively for renters last month, reactions varied wildly. While some commentators regard the first-of-its-kind home loan as a “revolutionary” way to get people out of the rental trap […]

Housebuilders cut back on construction as UK mortgage rate rises spook buyers

Work on residential building sites slips in May to weakest level since 2009 UK banks pull hundreds more mortgage deals as fixed rates rise Britain’s housebuilders are cutting back on the construction of new homes amid signs that potential buyers are being spooked by the prospect of increases in mortgage rates over the coming months. […]

Agreed house sales in UK at highest point this year, says Zoopla

But property website warns that rebound in activity could be hit by rising mortgage rates More prospective house sellers are returning to the UK’s property market, pushing agreed home sales to their highest point of the year in May, according to Zoopla, although it warned that the rebound in activity could be knocked by rising […]

UK homeowners and first-time buyers warned to brace for 5%-plus mortgage rates

Lenders forced to raise fixed-term deals after latest inflation figure pushed swap rates upwards Households looking for a new mortgage deal have been warned to expect 5%-plus fixed-rate deals in the coming weeks, after Wednesday’s inflation figures sent the money markets back into turmoil. Nick Mendes, the mortgage technical manager at the broker John Charcol, […]

How to Evaluate a Potential Real Estate Investment Opportunity

Evaluating a potential real estate investment opportunity can be stressful. There are many factors to consider, including market conditions and property prices. However, it’s also important to consider whether your plan for improvements will be successful in increasing the value of the property over time. In this blog post, we will explore strategies for evaluating […]

Studio flats for sale – in pictures

From a historic art deco ‘bachelor’s pied-á-terre’ in the heart of Chelsea, to one of Manchester’s coolest geometric glass creations Continue reading…

UK house prices could be stabilising despite falls, say surveyors

Rics data for February shows improvement in new buyer inquiries and sales The UK housing market remains in decline but there are some signs of stabilisation, with an improvement in new buyer inquiries and sales last month, according to surveyors. Many told the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) that a return of optimism, and […]

Will The Housing Market Collapse In 2023?

When it comes to stocks and shares, I’ve never been a massive fan of (or very good at) predicting what the market will do over a period of 12 months or so. If it goes up, great, if it doesn’t- I’ll buy more and sit on it. With housing however, it isn’t quite that straight forward. For […]

How rising interest rates sent the UK housing market into reverse

An end to ultra-low rates mean borrowers can only afford smaller mortgages BoE boss says interest rates may have peaked UK house prices fall at fastest annual rate since 2012 Since the turn of the year the news on the economy has been less bad than expected. Growth has been a bit stronger, spending in […]

UK mortgage market contracts for fifth month after Liz Truss mini-budget

Approvals at lowest since 2009 – bar during Covid lockdown – as demand for new homes continues to fall Britain’s mortgage market has contracted for a fifth month in a row, official figures show, as the jump in interest rates that followed Liz Truss’s September 2022 mini-budget continued to trigger a collapse in demand for […]

UK house prices fall at fastest annual rate since 2012

Year-on-year February 1.1% decline comes as average price of property drops to £257,406, says Nationwide BoE boss says interest rates may have peaked How rising rates sent the UK housing market into reverse Annual house price growth in the UK turned negative in February for the first time in almost three years, Nationwide data shows, […]

UK house sales outlook for 2023 remains ‘uncertain’, says Barratt

Housebuilder reports ‘modest uplift’ in reservations of new homes in January but remains cautious Britain’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, has reported grounds for optimism in the UK housing market after an increase in sales in January – but it said the trading outlook for 2023 remains “uncertain”. Barratt reported a “modest uplift” in reservations of […]

UK Mortgage Payments Hit Highest Level Since 2008

Mortgage costs relative to income in the United Kingdom have risen to their highest level in years. The latest data published by mortgage lender Nationwide Building Society Friday (Jan. 13) revealed that in the final quarter of 2022, first-time buyers were spending on average 39% of their take-home pay on mortgage repayments, the highest level […]

Average UK house price falls for fourth month in a row, says Halifax

Figure of £281,272 comes as property values drop by 1.5% in December, after 2.4% decline in November The average UK house price fell for the fourth month in a row in December, according to Halifax, with experts expecting a further slowdown amid a long recession. Property values decreased by 1.5% in December, the lender’s monthly […]

What is happening to the UK homebuying and rental markets?

House prices for buyers have started to fall, while housing rents have reached record highs For Joe, a youth worker in his 20s, soaring rents have made living and working in London precarious. “Our rent costs 50% of our combined wage before bills,” says Joe, who shares with his partner, a receptionist. They pay £1,450 […]