For many people who are coming to the end of their fixed or tracker rate periods the mortgage landscape may seem to have changed beyond all recognition since the original loan was first taken out. For a good number, this will indeed be the case.
The recently announced new pension rules, effectivefrom 6 April 2011, are, onthe whole, an encouraginglypositive move from the Coalition Government who have broughtsome much needed simplicity topension investors of all ages. A number of planning opportunities arise for both contributions to and drawing benefits from pensions to compliment those that are already well known.
Coming into the May general election, the press was awash with talk of a coalition government, but I’m not sure many believed it would happen. The last was Churchill’s War Ministry during the Second World War, a time which required the nation to pull together. Perhaps voters felt the current economic situation warranted a...
The latest report from a leading economic think-tank says Bank Base will stay at 0.5% until 2014, whilst the Governments own Office for Budgetary Responsibility suggests rates may rise next year. Meanwhile, one member of the Monetary Policy Committee says rates need to rise now! Welcome to the wonderful world of economic forecasting.
With only a day left before one of the most contentiously fought General Elections in living memory, we review the manifestos of the three main parties and identify their key pledges and how they might affect the UK property market.
It has been an interesting start to the new decade, frustrated by the “Big Freeze” that meant a slower start to the year, but ultimately, in mortgage circles at least a satisfying one as there have been more than a few signs that competition between mortgage lenders seems to have made a welcome return.
