Category: Re-Mortgage
Eight steps to a successful mortgage application
Applying for a mortgage can be one of the most stressful parts of buying a home. We take a look at how to maximise the chances of your chosen lender saying yes. Obtaining a mortgage in principle before you make an offer on a property is a good way of showing the seller that you...
Less than one fifth of people can identify UK’s most invasive plant
A study commissioned by invasive plant specialists Environet and conducted by market research company YouGov has found that only 19% of people who say they are aware of Japanese knotweed can correctly identify it. The Environment Agency describes the plant as ‘indisputably the UK’s most aggressive, destructive and invasive plant’. YouGov asked respondents to pick...
Home buying: what to look for at a second property viewing
A first viewing is when you gain a general impression of whether a property is somewhere you can see yourself living. It is when people fall in love with a home. But at the second viewing you should take a more practical approach and conduct a thorough examination to see exactly what you will be...
Tips on how to deal with gazumping when buying a property
With the market for buyers difficult due to a shortage of available properties and a large number of people wishing to move, tales of gazumping are rife. We take a look at how to minimise the risk of being gazumped and what to do if it happens to you. Gazumping happens when you have had...
How a good garden can increase the value of your home
Recent research by tool store MyToolShed has found that looking after your garden can add a substantial amount to the value of an average property. This is particularly the case in cities such as London. A well-kept garden can add as much as 20% to the value of a home, meaning the average UK house...
The remortgage process
As mortgage deals become available with interest rates of below 1 per cent, remortgaging has the potential to save money for those currently paying much higher rates. For the first time ever, interest rates on a five-year fixed rate deal have fallen below 1 per cent as lenders compete for business. This is believed to...
Finding the perfect home in a house buying boom
The housing market is difficult for buyers at present, with limited properties available for sale and numerous buyers anxious to make a move. But this doesn’t mean that buyers should settle for a property that isn’t right for them. By asking the right questions and being patient you can ensure that you still end up...
Budget tips for DIY property renovation
For those looking to renovate their home without spending a fortune, these budget tips will give your home a thrifty makeover. Lending experts Ocean Finance consulted with property and interiors experts for advice on budget DIY home renovations, reducing the average professional cost from £14,500 to £2,940. Kitchen – saving £7,000 Parminder Mew, Construction Director...
Buying a home in a retirement village
Life in a retirement village can seem ideal, with a wide range of facilities and on-site care catered to the older generation. But it is important to understand exactly what you are entitled to and how much you will be paying so that you can make the right decision for your future. Retirement villages increasingly...
