Monty’s Mortgage Blog

Tag Archives: Mortgage Broker in London

Tin Hats & Bayonets

By Andrew Montlake | Published: 05.12.11

Ever since the issues first engulfed our industry 4 years ago I seem to be fed up of saying, “wow, that was an extraordinary week” and last week was no exception.

It began with some positives from the previous week; UK growth was confirmed at 0.5% in the 3rd quarter of this year and the Government launched its much anticipated Housing Strategy, pulling together a range of announcements with a couple of new ones to try to stimulate growth and return some confidence back to the house building industry.

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Posted in Coreco, European Union, First Time Buyers, House Prices, Housing Strategy, Independent Mortgage Advice, Large Mortgage Loans, Mortgage Blog, Mortgage Brokers in London, Regulation, The Economy | Also tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Window Dressing

By Andrew Montlake | Published: 28.11.11

Another interesting week in store as Georgie boy, the Chancellor prepares to deliver his Autumn Statement tomorrow. Expect a dash of hard realism with a hint of hope that will be crushed by the media fixated on the mantra that bad news sells.

The real issue, like an annoying soap opera you don’t really like but can’t help watching, is still playing itself out in Europe. Rumours are both good, that the IMF is preparing a EU600 billion bail out of Italy to solve its issues, (denied by the IMF for now) and bad, that ratings agencies are poised to basically downgrade the whole of Europe causing further issues, (not denied)!

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Posted in Best Mortgage Rates, Coreco, European Union, First Time Buyers, Independent Mortgage Advice, Large Mortgage Loans, Mortgage Blog, Mortgage Brokers in London, The Chancellor, The Economy | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does anyone really care about the base rate anymore?

By Andrew Montlake | Published: 25.11.11

Let’s face it; there is more chance of Sepp Blatter becoming the next England manager than the Bank of England changing their rate from the 0.5% low at present. But as has been the case for many a month now, the rate itself is not the real issue, it is everything else that is happening around it and boy there is a lot going on.

The Euro turmoil is starting to affect the biggest countries in the EU now, and for the first time in around a decade the UK is now able to borrow on cheaper terms than Germany. German 10 year government debt rates increased to 2.21% whilst the UK, relishing it’s new found “safe-haven” status, sits at a mere 2.16%.

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Posted in Bank Base Rate, Best Fixed Rates, Best Mortgage Rates, Coreco, Economic Recovery, European Union, GDP Figures, Large Mortgage Loans, Mortgage Brokers in London, Professional Mortgage Brokers, Remortgage | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Snap Out Of It, Mr Shapps!

By Andrew Montlake | Published: 24.10.11

When I read that Mr Shapps, who I actually like, had made a speech within which he called for 30 year fixed rate mortgages I must admit my shoulders sagged a touch.

My first reaction was if that was the best idea he can come up with then we are all up the proverbial creek without a you know what. In reverting back to an oft tried and never achieved call for 30 year mortgages we suddenly saw that actually, no one in power at least, seems to really get the issues.

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Posted in Best Fixed Rates, Best Mortgage Rates, Coreco, Interest Rates, Large Mortgage Loans, Mortgage Advice, Mortgage Brokers in London, Mortgage Funding, Mortgages, Professional Mortgage Brokers, Property Market, The Economy | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

HSBC – Stop It, My Sides Hurt…

By Andrew Montlake | Published: 18.10.11

Apparently, and, (said in the style of Theresa May), I am not making this up, HSBC have said that “HSBC accepts around nine in 10 of all customers who apply for a mortgage with the bank”.

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, (stop it, ha, my, ha, sides hurt, ha).

Actually maybe that’s a little disingenuous, as to be fair at least they are giving the impression of supporting the average mortgage borrower and their rates have been consistently attractive. However, in making this comment whilst trying to put the proverbial boot in to mortgage brokers who they clearly see as an irritant, (who needs independent advice pah, advice is for wimps), they are opening themselves up to closer inspection.

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Posted in Best Mortgage Rates, Coreco, First Time Buyers, Independent Mortgage Advice, Interest Only Mortgages, Large Mortgage Loans, Mortgage Blog, Mortgage Brokers in London, Professional Mortgage Brokers | Also tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment