http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/?service=Rss 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 http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/new-home-buyers-push-up-mortgage-lending-1805787.html http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/new-home-buyers-push-up-mortgage-lending-1805787.html <p> Strong demand from people buying a new home helped mortgage lending edge up by 2 per cent during September, figures showed today. </p> Property Tue, 20 Oct 2009 12:54:57 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/a-million-frozen-out-of-mortgage-market-1805609.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/a-million-frozen-out-of-mortgage-market-1805609.html ]]> <p>More than a million people could find themselves unable to buy a home after Britain's financial watchdog said it planned to ban lenders from offering mortgages to people who cannot prove their income. </p> Mortgages Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/home-buyers-face-much-tougher-risk-tests-1805393.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/home-buyers-face-much-tougher-risk-tests-1805393.html ]]> <p> Borrowers will face mortgage affordability tests under plans for "more intrusive" regulation of the sector proposed by the City watchdog today. </p> Mortgages Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:30:33 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/cautious-welcome-for-tougher-mortgage-rules-1805454.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/cautious-welcome-for-tougher-mortgage-rules-1805454.html <p> The City watchdog's proposals for the mortgage market received a cautious welcome from the industry today. </p> Mortgages Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:31:42 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/will-mortgage-reforms-kill-off-the-recovery-1804610.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/will-mortgage-reforms-kill-off-the-recovery-1804610.html <p> During the property boom earlier this decade, the British mortgage market was infected by fraud and poor lending practices. Brokers and borrowers were exaggerating earnings, while lenders often neglected to make sufficient checks as to whether the person taking the loan could repay it. </p> Mortgages Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:11 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rbs-executives-set-for-record-pound4bn-bonus-bonanza-1804867.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rbs-executives-set-for-record-pound4bn-bonus-bonanza-1804867.html <p> Bonuses and salaries totalling nearly £4bn are to be handed out to employees of the state-owned Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) this year, it emerged last night. </p> UK Politics Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/beginners-guide-to-mortgages-for-firsttime-buyers-1804193.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/beginners-guide-to-mortgages-for-firsttime-buyers-1804193.html <p>Many would-be homeowners want to take advantage of the depressed housing market to snatch up a bargain. Of course, one reason for low house prices is that it's become difficult to get a mortgage – so it is a tough time to buy your first home.</p> Mortgages Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/rents-lower-than-mortgage-payments-ndash-except-in-london-1800802.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/rents-lower-than-mortgage-payments-ndash-except-in-london-1800802.html <p>First-time buyers would be better off buying a property than continuing to rent, according to new research from Abbey Mortgages.</p> Mortgages Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/back-to-reality-for-tracker-rate-borrowers-1800808.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/back-to-reality-for-tracker-rate-borrowers-1800808.html ]]> <p> The days of the 0 per cent mortgage are coming to an end. Borrowers who took out sub-base-rate tracker deals in the final throes of the bull market have been enjoying paying little or no interest. </p> Mortgages Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:00:01 +0100 http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-rates-static-in-uncompetitive-market-1800179.html http://www.independent.co.uk/money/mortgages/mortgage-rates-static-in-uncompetitive-market-1800179.html <p> Mortgage rates remained broadly unchanged during September as the market continued to suffer from a lack of competition, figures showed today. </p> Mortgages Fri, 09 Oct 2009 11:53:35 +0100