Remortgaging
Fixed mortgages offer lowest rate in two years
24th April 2012
Borrowers in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are currently offered five-year fixed mortgages at their lowest average rate since April 2010. Two years ago, the average rate for... Read more
Interest rates to stay frozen for years
23rd April 2012
Financial experts and economists are saying that interest rates could remain frozen at their current rate of 0.5 per cent into 2014 and beyond. A member of the Bank of England... Read more
UK interest rates to stay at record low
12th January 2012
As expected, the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee has announced that interest rates are to continue at their record low of 0.5% - originally set in March 2009. There is... Read more
Over half of UK homeowners have never remortgaged
7th November 2011
Research carried out by Barclays has revealed that 58% of homeowners in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK have never changed their mortgage outside of a house-move, and... Read more
NI mortgage debt up by 1801 per cent
13th October 2011
New figures released from the Citizens advice bureau (CAB) show the extent of the increase in mortgage arrears in Northern Ireland over the last few years. The CAB figures show... Read more
Mortgage lending bounces back in August
20th September 2011
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has confirmed that mortgage lending across the UK increased by 6% in August compared to the previous month. July had been a surprisingly poor... Read more
Mortgage arrears fall back to 2008 levels
15th September 2011
New figures released by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) show that mortgage borrowers are winning the fight against arrears and repossession, as the number of people falling into difficulties with... Read more
No change to UK interest rates
8th September 2011
As expected, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has today announced that there will no be change to the current record 0.5% rate of interest. The decision to continue... Read more
No sign of increase in mortgage lending
18th August 2011
New figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) show that mortgage lending fell slightly in July, down 1% compared to the previous month, and 6% down on July 2010. A... Read more
Lender tolerance of arrears creating fools paradise
16th August 2011
Director of Obligo.co.uk says that the record low interest rates and "remarkable forbearance" by lenders have together "created a fool's paradise, where people's mortgage payments are comparatively low and lenders... Read more
Low interest rates keep repossessions down
11th August 2011
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) says that the number of cases of mortgage arrears and repossessions have been kept in check by the continuing record low interest rates. Figures show... Read more
Nearly a million householders in negative equity
8th August 2011
New figures produced by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) in respect of the first quarter of this year suggest that nearly a million householders in Northern Ireland and the... Read more
Mortgage lending down in April
25th May 2011
Figures released by the British Bankers' Association (BBA) show a drop in mortgage approvals for house buyers and existing home-owners wanting to change to a different mortgage product. The extended bank... Read more
Remortgages up due to interest rate increase fears
13th May 2011
There was a 16% increase in remortgage loans in March according to the Council Of Mortgage Lenders (CML), and it believes that a fear of an iminent increase to the... Read more
No change to UK interest rates
5th May 2011
The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has again voted to maintain interest rates at their record low of 0.5%, in a move which was widely predicted by economists... Read more
No change to MPC member votes on interest rate rise
20th April 2011
Every month the minutes of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting are anticipated with as much interest as the actual decision announcement on interest rates at the start of the... Read more
First time buyers pay 558% more than parents did
14th April 2011
A study conducted by SHIP has revealed that the current crop of first-time buyers will have to pay 558% more than their parents paid for their first house in order... Read more
Rush to remortgage over interest rate fears
31st March 2011
Bank of England figures for February show an increase of 5% in mortgage approvals for existing home owners, taking the remortgage rate to a 26-month high, and 35% higher than... Read more
Inflation revives interest rate hike speculation
22nd March 2011
News that inflation rose to a 28-month high of 4.4% in February immediately rekindled speculation that the Bank of England will have to increase interest rates. The economy has been... Read more
Cost of fixed mortgage deals on the increase
17th February 2011
Mortgage brokers are warning that the cost of fixed-rate mortgage deals are on the increase amid growing speculation that there will soon be a hike in interest rates. It is... Read more
Homeowners trusting in low base rate
27th January 2011
Nearly half of all homeowners (48%) have not reviewed their mortgage since the base rate was first dropped to 0.5% in March 2009. The research by unbiased.co.uk suggests that the... Read more
Rising support for rates increase among policymakers
26th January 2011
That the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee chose to hold interest rates at their current level in their last meeting came as no surprise to commentators throughout Northern Ireland... Read more
Interest rates stay at 0.5 per cent
13th January 2011
As expected, interest rates in the UK have been kept at 0.5% for another month by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee. There was also no announcements of plans... Read more
UK interest rates held at 0.5% by Bank of England
9th December 2010
As expected, the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has announced that there will be no change to the current 0.5% interest rates, and that there are currently no... Read more
Pensioners avoid inheritance tax by keeping mortgages
19th November 2010
According to Lewis Hymanson Small, there is a growing trend among wealthy pensioners of deliberately maintaining a mortgage in order to avoid paying inheritance tax. A mortgage counts as debt... Read more
Homebuyers consider remortgage option
10th November 2010
The latest John Charcol Mortgage Index suggests that homeowners are beginning to consider remortgaging their homes again after what has been a significant lull in the housing refinancing market. The... Read more
Fears spending cuts will increase repossessions
29th October 2010
The announcement by the government that Income Support for Mortgage Interest (ISMI) is to be slashed has many industry experts predicting an increase in the number of repossessions that will... Read more
Homeowners shun spending to increase home equity
1st October 2010
Statistics from the Bank of England have shown that home owners' equity rose by £6.2billion in the second quarter of this year. From July 1998 to March 2008 home owners... Read more
August Mortgage lending at ten year low
20th September 2010
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has confirmed that total mortgage lending in the UK fell again for the second consecutive month in August. Lending fell by 14% from £13.3billion... Read more
Interest rates remain at record low
9th September 2010
The Bank of England has opted to hold the UK interest rates at 0.5% for the 18th month in a row. The move was expected but each month the record... Read more
Mortgage market dip predicted by Lenders
19th August 2010
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) is predicting a drop in the mortgage market for the remainder of 2010 with activity in the market described as "subdued" compared to the... Read more
Most homeowners unaware of effect of interest rate increases
7th July 2010
The newly formed Consumer Financial Education Body (CFEB) has released results of a survey showing that 74% of homeowners do not know how a 1% rise in the Bank of... Read more
Bank of England keeps interest rates at 0.5%
10th June 2010
It seems along time ago since house owners and first time buyers eagerly awaited the interest rates announcement from the Bank of England. These days it is accepted as a... Read more
Mortgage overpayments doubled in 2009
19th May 2010
Twice as many mortgage borrowers opted to overpay on their mortgage in 2009, as more and more people take advantage of the low interest rate to shorten their mortgage term. Borrowers... Read more
Interest rates kept at record low of 0.5%
10th May 2010
The Bank of England has kept the interest rates in the UK at its record low of 0.5%; now the rate since March 2009. Analysts were not surprised to hear the... Read more
Mortgage borrowing in January hit by Stamp Duty rise
18th February 2010
Gross lending for home loans fell by 32% to £9.1bn in January compared with December according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders. They went on to suggest that the drop... Read more
'Fewer landlords' opted for buy-to-let remortgaging in Q4 2009
11th February 2010
Fewer landlords opted for buy-to-let remortgaging during the closing three months of last year, according to new figures. Only 30 per cent of landlords chose to remortgage their buy-to-let properties... Read more
Good news for first time buyers as 90% mortgages start to return
9th February 2010
January saw mortgage rates on tracker deals reach a record low according to figures released from the Bank of England. The lower rates are however offered to those with larger... Read more
Interest rates remain frozen for 11th consecutive month
4th February 2010
The Bank of England has voted to maintain the base rate at the record low of 0.5% for the 11th month in a row. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) cited... Read more
'Considerable' house price rises seen in last decade
28th January 2010
The houses prices seen across the UK in the past decade grew by a substantial amount, new research has shown.Between the final three months of 1999 and the same period... Read more
More protection promised for borrowers in arrears
27th January 2010
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced that it will offer greater protection for borrowers who have fallen into difficulties keeping up their monthly mortgage payments. The financial watchdog has... Read more
Rise in use of credit cards to pay mortgages
11th January 2010
A survey conducted by housing charity 'Shelter' has found that approximately 6% of UK households, equating to around 1 million families, have used credit cards to pay their mortgage or... Read more
Rics event to address Northern Ireland housing sector
8th January 2010
The housing sector in Northern Ireland will be the subject of a forthcoming event in Belfast which is to be launched by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics).Set to... Read more
Large deposits 'still having an impact' on first-time buyers
5th January 2010
A number of potential first-time buyers in the UK may be struggling to gain access to the property ladder because of the large deposits that they are expected to provide,... Read more
Lenders get ready to push up mortgages rates
4th January 2010
Lenders operating across Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK are expected to follow the path of Marsden Building Society, a small lender operating in the North-West of England,... Read more
Mortgage borrowers focus on increasing equity by overpaying
30th December 2009
Quarterly estimates from the Bank of England show that between July and September mortgage borrowers reduced their home loans by £4.9 billion. For the sixth successive quarter borrowers repaid more... Read more
UK mortgage regulation 'should not harm housing market'
22nd December 2009
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) should ensure that it does not harm the UK's housing market if it decides to introduce any further mortgage regulations in the near future, it... Read more
Renting 'may be a better option' for some first-time buyers
18th December 2009
Some prospective first-time buyers in the UK might find renting a more cost-effective option, an expert has claimed.Lucian Cook, director of residential research at the real estate firm Savills, believes... Read more
Homeowners continue to stay clear of fixed rate mortgages
17th December 2009
November saw the number of homeowners choosing a fixed-rate mortgage fall to its smallest market share for just over 12 months despite Lenders cutting their rates over the last few... Read more
Property ownership 'proving less important' to Britons
15th December 2009
British people may currently be less interested in the concept of acquiring their own property, compared to the attitudes of previous years, new research has suggested.When it comes to the... Read more
End of Stamp Duty holiday 'may affect UK housing market'
11th December 2009
The UK's housing market has displayed recent signs that it may be recovering steadily, according to one expert.Peter Bolton King, who acts as the National Association of Estate Agents' chief... Read more
UK's first-time buyers 'able to access more borrowing products'
8th December 2009
The UK's housing market may see further signs of improvement if first-time property buyers are given more opportunities to borrow money, it has been suggested.There has been an 18.3 per... Read more
People 'often looking to move' because of neighbours
7th December 2009
A number of people have recently looked to move to a new property because they find their neighbours to be annoying, new research suggests.In the past two-year period, figures published... Read more
Pre-Budget Report 'should support' first-time buyers
1st December 2009
The government should offer more support to first-time buyers in its forthcoming Pre-Budget Report, one organisation believes.According to the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI), the report should ensure that Shared... Read more
Research shows property price increase for fourth month in a row
1st December 2009
Housing Intelligence group Hometrack has said that house prices rose by 0.2% in November 2009 across England and Wales. The group were careful however to temper the results of their... Read more
October Mortgage approvals doubled compared to last year
24th November 2009
Mortgage approvals in October rose by 98% against the same month last year according to the British Bankers' Association (BBA). It should be remembered that this time last year approvals... Read more
Buy-to-let investors 'should carefully research properties'
20th November 2009
People considering entering the UK's buy-to-let market should conduct thorough research before opting to invest in any properties, it has been claimed.Following recent figures published by moneyfacts.co.uk, which suggested that... Read more
CML reduces UK repossession predictions
13th November 2009
The number of repossessions in the UK this year will not be as high as originally predicted, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).It now expects to see 48,000... Read more
Q3 sees 'confidence grow' among many UK landlords
3rd November 2009
A number of UK landlords are feeling more confident about their prospects for the future, according to third-quarter statistics released by Paragon Mortgages.The firm's PRS Trends report for the latest... Read more
Amateur landlords 'often forced to leave' UK rental market
26th October 2009
A number of amateur landlords have had to leave the UK's rental market in recent months due to falling property values, an expert suggests.Survey results published by the Association of... Read more
Future mortgage borrowers set for 'affordability tests'
20th October 2009
People looking to take out home loans may face affordability tests in the future as part of new mortgage reforms proposed by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The organisation, which... Read more
CML: UK house purchase lending more stable
13th October 2009
UK house purchase lending has shown recent signs of improvement, according to one industry body.The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) suggests that the number of house purchase loans seen in... Read more
BPF: Buy-to-let mortgages need more regulation
6th October 2009
Buy-to-let mortgages should be better regulated in the UK in order to offer more support to the housing market, it has been suggested.According to the British Property Federation (BPF), the... Read more
NI house prices 'saw third quarter improvement'
5th October 2009
House prices in Northern Ireland saw a large increase during the third quarter of 2009, new figures suggest.Research published by Nationwide shows that all UK regions witnessed a rise in... Read more
UK gross mortgage lending 'hit by seasonal decrease'
22nd September 2009
Gross mortgage lending in the UK was affected by a seasonal decrease in demand in August, an industry body suggests.Figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) reveal that... Read more
Research reveals 'weak' remortgaging figures
15th September 2009
Levels of remortgaging in the UK were "unsurprisingly weak" during July, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). New figures from the body have revealed that the number of... Read more
Northern Ireland sees small signs of housing recovery
18th August 2009
The Northern Irish property market is showing signs of a tentative upturn, according to new figures.A study conducted at the University of Ulster highlighted that house sales rose between April... Read more
Consumers 'making a bet by remortgaging'
31st July 2009
The decision of many property owners in the UK and Northern Ireland to consider remortgaging has been described by an expert as "a bit of a bet". Figures from the... Read more
Mortgage approvals edge up but lending capacity could hamper growth
3rd June 2009
Mortgage approvals for house purchases in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK continued to rise last month, according to data from the Bank of England, which showed the... Read more
Overvaluation of property can cause problems when remortgaging
21st May 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to advise their clients to ensure that their properties are properly valued following the publication of new figures showing many homeowners do not know... Read more
Repossessions in Northern Ireland rising
15th May 2009
Repossessions in Northern Ireland have jumped by 35 per cent in the first three months of this year, plunging more people in the province into misery, according to figures from... Read more
Homeowners urged not to fall for 'headline-grabbing rates'
29th April 2009
People interested in buying residential property in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK have been advised not to fall for "headline-grabbing" mortgage rates.This is because such rates appear... Read more
New HMS scheme to help homeowners avoid repossession
22nd April 2009
Ulster Bank in Northern Ireland is among lenders that are supporting a new government initiative designed to ensure homeowners keep their residences even if they lose their source of income.The... Read more
CML data shows shift from remortgaging
14th April 2009
Remortgaging companies in Northern Ireland are likely to feel the pinch as as new figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) indicate that remortgaging declined in February.The CML data... Read more
Mortgage backed securities should be given guarantees
11th March 2009
The government has been urged to provide guarantees for mortgage backed securities dealing with residential mortgages in a bid to help first-time buyers in Northern Ireland and the rest of... Read more
Mortgage Intermediaries urge government to act on lending
18th February 2009
The Intermediary Mortgages Lenders Association (IMLA) has called on the government to "put its money where its mouth is" if it expects to see any positive news on the home... Read more
Mortgage landscape 'reshaped' in 2008
12th February 2009
Remortgaging firms in Northern Ireland and others across the UK have seen a sharp decline in mortgage lending activity in the past year, which has reshaped the mortgage landscape.This has... Read more
Rate cuts unlikely, public thinks
4th February 2009
There is widespread speculation among experts that the Bank of England is due to drop interest rates further but many Brits are of the opinion that this is unlikely, solicitors... Read more
First-time buyers struggle with mortgage jargon
28th January 2009
First-time buyers may find it in their interest to buy property with the help of a solicitor following revelations that many budding investors find it difficult to master mortgage-related jargon.In... Read more
Homeowners urged to consider mortgage overpayment
27th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be interested to know that homeowners can protect the equity of their investments in the short term by opting for overpayment of mortgages.This is the... Read more
Homeowners urged to consider mortgage overpayment
27th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may be interested to know that homeowners can protect the equity of their investments in the short term by opting for overpayment of mortgages.This is the... Read more
It pays to shop around, investors advised
20th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to advise their clients to survey the market and shop around for the best mortgage deals, which can throw up a pleasant surprice, it... Read more
It pays to shop around, investors advised
20th January 2009
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to advise their clients to survey the market and shop around for the best mortgage deals, which can throw up a pleasant surprice, it... Read more
Rate cut a 'double edged sword'
9th January 2009
The flow of mortgages may be negatively affected by the Bank of England's decision to drop interest rates to 1.5 per cent, the lowest in its 300 year history, an... Read more
Rate cut a 'double edged sword'
9th January 2009
The flow of mortgages may be negatively affected by the Bank of England's decision to drop interest rates to 1.5 per cent, the lowest in its 300 year history, an... Read more
Lenders 'not unwilling' to provide products
8th January 2009
Mortgage lenders in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK are not facing mortgage scarcity due to unwillingness by lenders to provide products, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CLM)... Read more
Lenders 'not unwilling' to provide products
8th January 2009
Mortgage lenders in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK are not facing mortgage scarcity due to unwillingness by lenders to provide products, the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CLM)... Read more
Mortgage lending increases marginally in November
2nd January 2009
New data shows that net mortgage lending by building societies registered a marginal £9 million increase from October's £413 million but still fell way below the 2007 figure.According to the... Read more
Market recovery: Lenders and consumers hold key
30th December 2008
The next 12 months could make or break the UK housing market and mortgage lenders and consumers hold the key to recovery, solicitors in Belfast may want to know.According to... Read more
'Challenging' mortgage market expected in 2009
18th December 2008
People in Northern Ireland who remain in employment next year stand to benefit from lower mortgage rates, which are likely to be available, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders... Read more
Mortgage brokers accessing better deals
16th December 2008
New data indicates that the number of mortgage brokers unable to assist clients because of lenders offering better deals directly has decreased, solicitors in Northern Ireland may want to know.According... Read more
Lenders harming market by holding back, expert says
11th December 2008
Mortgage lenders are harming the residential and commercial property market by being cautious despite government efforts to ensure there is money in mortgage markets, it has been claimed.Solicitors in Belfast... Read more
Repossessions and arrears continue to build up
21st November 2008
Buy-to-let property investors in Northern Ireland may be facing a bigger problem with arrears and repossessions, according to new data from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Solicitors in Belfast... Read more
NI borrowers still out in the cold on mortgages
20th November 2008
Borrowers in Northern Ireland are yet to benefit from moves by the Bank of England to kick start the economy by slashing the base rate in recent weeks, according to... Read more
Data shows increasing 'mortgage gap'
19th November 2008
In news that may be of interest to solicitors in Northern Ireland, research has revealed the existence of a "worrying mortgage gap" arising from millions of interest-only mortgages.Some 45 per... Read more
Equity may be necessary for competitive mortgages
12th November 2008
Northern Ireland homeowners about to end their current mortgage deals may find themselves having to consider equity introduction in order to secure a competitive rate, it has emerged.Despite recent government... Read more
Interest only payments could help struggling homeowners
27th October 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland should advise their clients to talk to their lender "sooner rather than later" about interest only payments, if they are having any difficulty with their payments.Homeowners... Read more
Number of people taking out mortgages drops
15th October 2008
Recent figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) have shown that lending for home purchases has dropped by 63 per cent over the past year.In August of this year,... Read more
New law hopes to end 'studentification' of towns
26th September 2008
A new law which is to be proposed could end the so-called "studentification" of some towns, in news that may be of interest to solicitors.The new plans are designed to... Read more
Properties drop in price in Northern Ireland
18th August 2008
Property prices are falling rapidly in Northern Ireland, according to the Financial Times.Since 1998, average house prices in Northern Ireland have risen by 240 per cent, but since 2006 the... Read more
Lack of Hips 'breaking law'
5th August 2008
A number of estate agents are breaking the law by failing to provide home information packs (Hips) to buyers, it has been claimed.The Law Society believes potential buyers are often... Read more
Remortgaging sector 'bouyant'
13th June 2008
The director general of the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) Michael Coogan has claimed that the British remortgaging market remains "buoyant".Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Coogan described... Read more
Buyers on look out for environmental homes in Northern Ireland
9th June 2008
Potential homebuyers in Northern Ireland are on the look-out for environmentally-friendly homes in the province.The Carvill Group's green homes will make up Northern Ireland's first eco-village which is to be... Read more
Supply and affordability "challenges" for borrowers in Northern Ireland
6th June 2008
The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has said that the greatest challenge facing borrowers in Northern Ireland remains the affordability and supply of housing in the province.Solicitors are unable to... Read more
House prices fall by 2.4% in a month
5th June 2008
UK house prices fell by 2.4 per cent in May and now stand 3.8 per cent lower than they were this time last year, according to the Halifax House Price... Read more
Plan to help Northern Ireland homeowners in danger of repossession
3rd June 2008
The social development minister Margaret Richie is due to announce a rescue plan for homeowners in Northern Ireland facing repossession.Over the past six years, repossessions through the courts have risen... Read more
A quarter 'trapped' in their current homes
3rd June 2008
Some 25 per cent of homeowners in the UK say they feel trapped in their current home by their financial situation.Research from Gocompare.com has revealed that the credit crunch has... Read more
Mortgage approvals at record low
2nd June 2008
Figures from the Bank of England have revealed that mortgage approvals in the UK have dropped to their lowest levels for 15 years.The total worth of the 58,000 mortgages issued... Read more
House prices falling at 1990s levels
30th May 2008
The prices of houses in the UK are falling at their fastest rate since the early 1990s, new research has revealed.Nationwide Building Society's survey of the housing market showed that... Read more
Northern Ireland houses to need energy certificate
22nd May 2008
Houses being sold by solicitors in Northern Ireland will need to have an energy performance certificate by July.The scheme is based on similar initiatives in England and Wales, the BBC... Read more
Weak housing market benefiting buy-to-let
22nd May 2008
Buyers being forced back into the rental market by the reduced availability of mortgages and a downturn in property sales are making buy-to-let investment more profitable, a survey has found.The... Read more
Increased demand for five-year fixed-rate mortgage
21st May 2008
There is increased consumer demand for five-year mortgage products in the UK, including in Northern Ireland, according to new research. A report produced by Abbey found that up to 30... Read more
Mortgage lending dealt with by Northern Ireland solicitors on the up
21st May 2008
Solicitors in Northern Ireland are seeing an increased demand for lending services as the gross mortgage lending increased in April, it has been claimed.The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) has... Read more
Endowment mortgage shortfall expected
19th May 2008
Some 86 per cent of homeowners holding endowment mortgages have been warned to expect a shortfall in their policies, solicitors and independent financial advisors have warned.People in Northern Ireland who... Read more
Personal bankruptcies 'could rocket'
16th May 2008
There could be a huge rise in the number of personal bankruptcies, an academic has warned.Professor Nick Wilson, from Leeds University Business School, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that... Read more
Interest rates decision 'disappointing' for homeowners
9th May 2008
The Bank of England's (BoE's) decision to hold interest rates at five per cent was "disappointing", according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML). Michael Coogan, CML director general, said... Read more
Interest rates kept at 5%
9th May 2008
Interest rates are to be held at five per cent, the Bank of England has announced.The hold is thought to be due to inflationary pressures which have been amplified by... Read more
UK market may slow but 'recession unlikely'
1st May 2008
Mortgage lenders believe the economy will continue to slow but will avoid a full-scale recession, according to a survey by the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).Eight out ten lenders said... Read more
House prices in Northern Ireland 'set for big drop'
1st May 2008
The average price of a house in Northern Ireland is set for a steep reduction, according to a local economist.Richard Ramsey from the Ulster Bank told the BBC that the... Read more
House repossession 'can happen sooner than expected'
3rd April 2008
Repossession of houses by lenders can happen within as little as three months after the first warning, according to the Repossessions Advice Centre (RAC).Solicitors in Northern Ireland can help people... Read more
Northern Irish towns head property hotspot list
31st March 2008
House prices in Lisburn, Craigavon and Ballymena have risen faster than almost anywhere else in the UK in the last five years. Recently published official figures put the rate of... Read more
Further interest rate cuts 'needed'
27th March 2008
Further interest rate cuts are needed if the UK is to alleviate some of its economic difficulties, according to one expert.Katie Tucker from the mortgage brokerage John Charcol is convinced... Read more
Green mortgage demand 'will stagnate'
14th March 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland seem unlikely to see demand for advice on green mortgages climb significantly in the coming months as the effect of the credit crunch takes... Read more
Longer mortgage deals forecast in Budget speech
12th March 2008
First time buyers in Belfast and Northern Ireland could be given longer mortgage deals in future, thanks to proposals expected to be announced in the chancellor of the exchequer's first... Read more
Buy to let still booming
10th March 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are likely to witness a steady stream of buy to let investors seeking advice in the coming months as new figures show the sector... Read more
Mortgage holders feel 'out-of-control'
4th March 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could be forced to pursue more mortgage holders for debt this year, as many admit that they feel out-of-control of their repayments.According to the... Read more
'No relief' for mortgage holders
29th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are unlikely to see an increase in people buying property as most experts think the Bank of England monetary policy committee (MPC) will leave... Read more
Northern Rock 'should have been a clue'
29th February 2008
Despite the credit crunch, solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland have still seen buy-to-let investors taking out mortgages, but one expert says perhaps they have been unwise.Solicitors will remember the... Read more
Portfolios 'help with future purchases'
28th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are likely to see landlords who already have a portfolio of properties finding it easier to get a mortgage than new landlords.While solicitors are... Read more
Surge in tracker mortgages
27th February 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see more people taking out tracker mortgages after this type of deal is growing in popularity.Although only around a quarter of homebuyers in... Read more
Younger buyers stumble on property ladder
25th February 2008
There is every likelihood that solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will see fewer young buyers embarking on the property ladder after mortgage providers are withdrawing deals.Solicitors in Belfast and... Read more
NI homes are 'equity goldmine'
14th February 2008
People in the Northern Ireland could capitalise on the increased value of their homes using equity release, according to research Norwich Union.Figures from the firm revealed that the average house... Read more
Professionals offered more in a mortgage
6th February 2008
While solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will see many clients struggling to get onto the property ladder due to high house prices and tighter lending, solicitors themselves are favoured... Read more
Lenders 'still supporting' new buyers
5th February 2008
After the global credit crunch has seen mortgage lenders withdrawing some of their products, experts say it may not be the case that solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will... Read more
Older homeowners strike gold
31st January 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see older people prepared to sell up their family home in order to release a massive amount of cash.People in their 60s could... Read more
NI property to 'thrive' in 2008
11th January 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland may have worried that - given the high property prices in the province - people would stop buying homes, but experts predict a good... Read more
Mortgage payments rise by 20%
9th January 2008
Clients of solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland will have seen an extra £135 on their monthly mortgage repayments, as borrowing has been shown to cost 20 per cent more... Read more
£60k saving for remortgaging
8th January 2008
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see more of their clients looking to remortgage after a lender has claimed that this could cut as much as £60,000 off their... Read more
Joint mortgages offer a helping hand
28th December 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland could see more people splitting their mortgage between two or more parties, as experts say this may be the only way for first-time buyers to get... Read more
Let-to-buy mortgages 'suit slowing market'
28th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could see more people taking out let-to-buy mortgages, as industry experts have claimed they are useful when the housing market is slow.As property prices... Read more
Consumers to be hit by repossessions
21st December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could be pursuing record numbers of people for debt in the New Year after experts predict that repossessions will be on the rise.Belfast solicitors... Read more
Christmas could see increase in NI debt
19th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland could be forced to pursue more people for debt in the New Year after financial advisors have claimed that Christmas spending could push consumers... Read more
Property price inflation still holding in Northern Ireland
14th December 2007
Northern Ireland has continued to see some positive property price inflation, according to a new report, although it is down significantly on past growth.Figures from the Chesterton meta-index have suggested... Read more
Double-edged sword for homebuyers
10th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland will see both costs and benefits for new buyers next year as experts predict a 'double-edged sword' in property in the province.According to... Read more
First timers going for a fix
10th December 2007
Solicitors in Belfast and Northern Ireland are more likely to see clients taking out longer-term fixed rate mortgages as these deals have proved "increasingly" popular in recent years.According to Mortgage... Read more
Rate cut could boost NI property
7th December 2007
The monetary policy committee's (MPC) decision to cut interest rates by a quarter point could mean that solicitors in Northern Ireland see more clients making property purchases.If experts are to... Read more
Credit crunch squeezes lending market
23rd November 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see fewer clients who are taking out adverse credit mortgages, after lenders have tightened their lending criteria or withdrawn mortgages for those with an impaired... Read more
New bathrooms boost house prices
23rd November 2007
Solicitors carrying out conveyancing work in Northern Ireland may see a lot of new bathrooms being added to properties in the province of late, as the National Home Improvement Council... Read more
Experts urge mortgage-payers to shop around
15th November 2007
Financial advisors have urged people in Britain and Northern Ireland to consider switching their mortgage provider, after a survey revealed that many borrowers had never reviewed their deal.A poll by... Read more
First-time buyers enjoy gap in housing market
13th November 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see a rush of first-time buyers squeezing onto the property ladder, as estate agents claim that the market is prime for new buyers in the... Read more
NI housing market sees battles
13th November 2007
The chaotic situation in the province's property market means that Northern Ireland's solicitors will witness an increasing number of people turning to underhand methods to secure the best deals.While during... Read more
NI economic growth means property still popular
1st November 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may see more clients than they had expected buying property in the province in spite of the market slowdown, it has been suggested.The recent dropping off... Read more
Affordable mortgage most important for buyers
30th October 2007
The most savvy property buyers that solicitors in Northern Ireland will see will have chosen a mortgage that they can afford, as financial advisers Key Financial Consultants has said this... Read more
Self-cert borrowers 'should seek advice'
17th October 2007
Self-employed people in Northern Ireland who want to take out a mortgage but have no proof of fixed income could benefit from a self-cert mortgage, but should always visit solicitors... Read more
NI sees 'negative' house price growth
12th October 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland may finally see more first time buyers trying to get onto the property ladder as most house prices are remaining static or have dropped in the... Read more
NI mortgage lending tails off
11th October 2007
The number of new mortgages being taken out in Northern Ireland has dropped quite dramatically the BBC reports, which points to the final cooling of the housing market. According to... Read more
Life changes fuel endowment sales
9th October 2007
New research has shown that the most common reasons for selling an endowment policy in Northern Ireland are those which involve solicitors.According to aap, the endowment policy company, divorce settlements... Read more
Estate agents see tough times ahead
8th October 2007
Estate agents are predicting continued difficulties in the property market in Britain and Northern Ireland, according to new research.Figures from a number of analysts have shown that property price rises... Read more
Debt likely to escalate
24th September 2007
After the latest interest rate hike and another predicted to be on the way, mortgage-payers in Britain and Northern Ireland could face more debt judgements.Following the spate of interest rate... Read more
Lending fell by 6% in August
20th September 2007
Solicitors may have recently seen less people who were prepared to take out a mortgage, as gross mortgage lending fell by six per cent in Britain and Northern Ireland during... Read more
Buy-to-let mortgages safe as houses
20th September 2007
Commercial investors in buy-to-let property in Britain and Northern Ireland should not be affected by a drop in tenant numbers, despite the housing market continuing to cool, experts have said.According... Read more
Lending fell by 6% in August
20th September 2007
Solicitors may have recently seen less people who were prepared to take out a mortgage, as gross mortgage lending fell by six per cent in Britain and Northern Ireland during... Read more
Buy-to-let mortgages safe as houses
20th September 2007
Commercial investors in buy-to-let property in Britain and Northern Ireland should not be affected by a drop in tenant numbers, despite the housing market continuing to cool, experts have said.According... Read more
NI housing market still healthy
6th September 2007
Experts on the property market in Northern Ireland say they are still confident in "healthy" growth in house prices and have dismissed fears that recent acceleration in prices will lead... Read more
NI housing market still healthy
6th September 2007
Experts on the property market in Northern Ireland say they are still confident in "healthy" growth in house prices and have dismissed fears that recent acceleration in prices will lead... Read more
Rate rises push up repossessions
3rd September 2007
The number of repossessions in Britain and Northern Ireland has increased by 32 per cent since April, according to a new report.The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has revealed... Read more
Rate rises push up repossessions
3rd September 2007
The number of repossessions in Britain and Northern Ireland has increased by 32 per cent since April, according to a new report.The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) has revealed... Read more
NI property market hardly cooling
30th August 2007
Despite the fact that analysts have predicted a cooling of the property market in Northern Ireland, solicitors will know that clients are still being squeezed, and new research has now... Read more
FTBs spaced out
24th August 2007
There is an increasing trend towards first-time buyers (FTBs) purchasing smaller properties in an attempt to get onto the property ladder, research from GE Money Home Lending and the Future... Read more
University cities bolster property prices
17th August 2007
Property prices in university towns cities are leading the increase in inflation of Northern Ireland's housing market, with Belfast topping the table for fastest rising prices.With Belfast offering two campuses,... Read more
NI property prices break records again
14th August 2007
House prices in Northern Ireland have again gone through the roof, with increases in the cost of buying a home in the province breaking new records.According to a housing survey... Read more
NI sees less mortgage debt
13th August 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland will be seeing fewer debt recovery cases that relate to mortgage repayments, as repossessions have dropped despite over-inflated house prices in the province.According to 4NI, figures... Read more
Mortgage misery as MPC hikes rate
5th July 2007
Thousands of mortgage holders across Britain and Northern Ireland will be facing higher repayments after the Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) announced that the interest rate would rise... Read more
Rocketing property prices cripple NI incomes
5th July 2007
With the housing boom being felt most in Northern Ireland above all other countries in Great Britain, people in the province are feeling the effects on their wallets more than... Read more
New laws allow access all areas
12th June 2007
Prospective landlords with a commercial property in Britain or Northern Ireland will be forced to build ramps and lifts to accommodate disabled tenants under new legislation.Both new and existing landlords... Read more
NI homebuyers offered fewer mortgages
30th May 2007
Despite the thriving housing market in Northern Ireland, where prices are still rocketing and demand is high, people in Northern Ireland have less choice when it comes to mortgages, research... Read more
Repossessions drop in spite of spiralling prices
14th May 2007
Repossessions as a result of people defaulting on their mortgage payments have dropped in Northern Ireland during the first quarter of 2007.Although people are taking out larger value mortgages due... Read more
Mortgage approvals expected to fall
11th May 2007
Experts have begun predicting an end to the rapid property price inflation that has been seen in several parts of the UK in recent months, including Northern Ireland.Property prices have... Read more
Bank predicts NI's high house price inflation to continue
26th March 2007
Economic experts at the Bank of Ireland have confirmed that they expect the property market in Northern Ireland to remain strong for 2007, after prices showed a 37 per cent... Read more
Seek advice before embarking on buy-to-let
23rd March 2007
New terms on buy-to-let mortgages could catch first-time borrowers out unless sage advice is sought from solicitors, warn experts.Borrowers taking up new buy-to-let loans on properties in Britain and Northern... Read more
Further interest rate rise concerns
21st March 2007
Mortgage repayments could suffer in the near future as it has been suggested a further rates rise could be on the cards.New figures have revealed that inflation once again surged... Read more
House prices 'show signs of cooling'
14th March 2007
New figures have suggested that property prices in Britain and Northern Ireland are beginning to cool.Despite recent data revealing that Northern Ireland's property market continues to grow at a fast... Read more
NI property prices risen most in the last decade
9th March 2007
Prices of properties in Northern Ireland have grown more than any another region in the UK, bar London, over the past ten years, according to a new report.Halifax estate agents'... Read more
Interest rates frozen
8th March 2007
It has been announced that interest rates will be locked at 5.25 per cent for the second consecutive month.The decision had been widely anticipated by economists, although experts have warned... Read more
Further rate rises possible
2nd March 2007
It has been suggested that the UK could see further increases in interest rates before the property market begins to cool.Solicitors in Northern Ireland have seen a major jump in... Read more
Mortgage exit fees to be paid back
1st March 2007
Mortgage holders are set to receive a collective £200 million from lenders across the UK for charging consumers unfair fees.The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has announced that many people have... Read more
Northern Ireland house prices rocket
28th February 2007
Solicitors in Northern Ireland have seen massive rises in property prices over the past 12 months, according to new figures.Research carried out by the University of Ulster found that house... Read more
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