http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/?service=Rss http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-lending-picks-up-after-quiet-summer-1823429.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-lending-picks-up-after-quiet-summer-1823429.html <p> Mortgage lending rose by 5 per cent during October as the market continued to recover from its traditional summer dip, figures showed today. </p> Mortgages Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:28:38 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/interest-rates-slashed-on-lloyds-mortgages-1822176.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/interest-rates-slashed-on-lloyds-mortgages-1822176.html <p> Lloyds Banking Group slashed interest rates on a number of its mortgages today and launched a new best buy deal. </p> Mortgages Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:20:38 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/wealth-check-is-my-deposit-enough-to-buy-my-first-home-1820833.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/wealth-check-is-my-deposit-enough-to-buy-my-first-home-1820833.html ]]> <p> <b>The patient</b> </p> <p> Caroline Bann, 30, wants to maximise her savings in preparation for stepping on to the property ladder in a year's time. "I plan to buy with my boyfriend," says the public relations executive for the Association of Accounting Technicians, who earns £24,000 a year. "So I've been building up cash for a deposit for this – and want to make the most of it." </p> Mortgages Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:51 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/competition-returns-to-home-loan-market-1820832.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/competition-returns-to-home-loan-market-1820832.html <p> The past few weeks have seen a number of new mortgages and rate cuts, suggesting a loosening in the market and a welcome sign that competition is returning, but what are the real implications for homeowners? </p> Mortgages Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:21 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/spotlight-mortgages-1820504.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/spotlight-mortgages-1820504.html <p>Abbey has launched a market-leading, fee-free three-year fixed mortgage at 5.99 per cent for existing current account customers who have only a 10 per cent deposit. To qualify, you must have had an Abbey or Alliance & Leicester current account for at least six months. But if you are eligible and are looking for a new mortgage, and need to borrow up to 90 per cent, then Abbey's three-year fix is worth considering.</p> Mortgages Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/number-of-mortgage-approvals-resumes-upward-trend-1818538.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/number-of-mortgage-approvals-resumes-upward-trend-1818538.html <p> The number of mortgages approved for people buying a home resumed its upward trend during September, following a seasonal dip in August, figures showed today. </p> Mortgages Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:55:24 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/beware-ndash-there-are-still--sharks-swimming-in-the-saleandrentback-pool-1812646.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/beware-ndash-there-are-still--sharks-swimming-in-the-saleandrentback-pool-1812646.html ]]> <p>Against many analysts' expectations, Britain remains deeply entrenched in recession, with all the woe that brings for job prospects and family incomes. Lenders may have promised to be sympathetic to those behind with their mortgage payments, but there are still thousands of homeowners up and down the country facing the possibility of losing their homes. Where do they turn? </p> Mortgages Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/simon-read-lenders-fine-wont-help-its-victims-1812416.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/simon-read-lenders-fine-wont-help-its-victims-1812416.html <p> A former top 10 lender was fined a massive £2.8m by the Financial Services Authority this week and is being forced to hand back £7.7m plus interest that it overcharged customers. The fine was for failing to treat 46,000 of its customers fairly. The lender? GMAC-RFC. If you haven't heard of them, that's hardly surprising as they heavily targeted the sub-prime and self-certified market. But the fine wasn't for encouraging struggling families to take on debts they couldn't afford, as you may have presumed. No, GMAC's crime was far worse. </p> Mortgages Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-borrowing-increases-1811392.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-borrowing-increases-1811392.html <p> Homeowners' mortgage borrowing increased in September while the number of loans approved for house purchase also grew, figures showed today. </p> Mortgages Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:05:25 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-firm-gmac-fined-pound28m-over-unfair-charges-1811389.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-firm-gmac-fined-pound28m-over-unfair-charges-1811389.html <p> Mortgage provider GMAC was today fined £2.8m and told to repay more than £8m following the unfair treatment of customers in arrears. </p> Mortgages Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:54:27 +0000 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/julian-knight-these-hiked-up-mortgage-fees-ndash-what-a-fix-1808846.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/julian-knight-these-hiked-up-mortgage-fees-ndash-what-a-fix-1808846.html <p>Buried in the Bank of England's most recent report into lending trends – yes, I do need to get out much more – is both good and bad news. Let's have the supposed good news first; the Bank reckons the mortgage market is about to get more competitive and interest rates will fall. However, the Bank states that its discussions with lenders have highlighted "increased mortgage fees in the coming months, suggesting that, in aggregate, any reduction in spreads could be associated with higher fees". </p> Mortgages Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/spotlight-woolwich-80-twoyear-mortgage-1808311.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/spotlight-woolwich-80-twoyear-mortgage-1808311.html <p> There's been more activity in the mortgage market. Woolwich, Barclays' lending arm, has cut its fixed rates by up to 0.6 percentage points. </p> Mortgages Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100