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Could falling fixed rates help prospective buyers?

Could falling fixed rates help prospective buyers?

In July, both two and five-year fixed-rate deals dropped by 0.02% for the first time since May. Although the forecast for further changes is uncertain, the initial drop in rates is
promising and could lead to a more favourable environment for prospective buyers if rates
continue to fall in 2023.

How does this impact me? 

Despite a small fall in rates, it’s a promising sign for the future with further rates potentially falling. With reduced borrowing costs, the barriers to homeownership diminish, allowing aspiring buyers to afford a home loan and lock in lower monthly mortgage payments. Falling rates can also be advantageous for existing homeowners looking to upgrade to a more desirable property. Current homeowners are able to sell their homes more easily, as potential buyers look to enter the market with affordable financing.

The main benefit of lower rates is the opportunity to refinance existing mortgages. If you’re on a fixed-rate mortgage, you may choose to refinance your loan and secure a cheaper rate to reduce monthly payments or shorten the term. Despite the current rates falling by only a small amount, the results can be significant with an increase to long-term savings and financial flexibility. However, it is important to speak with your adviser before making any decision, as it may be that to exit your current fixed rate product incurs Early Repayment Charges (ERCs) which would make switching not worth it.

Approach with caution 

Being cautious around interest rates, even if they come down further, is crucial. If interest rates are on a downward trend they can shoot back up again without warning, especially during a period of economic instability. Homeowners could continue to face higher monthly repayments until we see a significant decline in interest rates, continuing to limit the ability to save or invest in other areas.

Fluctuations in rates could lead to uncertainty for. both current and potential mortgage holders. To navigate the complexities of the mortgage market, you should remain cautious, seeking professional financial advice. A thorough understanding of how the interest rates impact mortgages will allow you to make informed decisions during changing economic conditions.

For more information, contact your adviser who can support you and discuss the options available to you.

If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact us today.

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100% Mortgages: How can they help me?

100% Mortgages: How can they help me?

A 100% mortgage, also known as a zero-deposit mortgage, is a loan that allows first-time buyers to borrow the full purchase price of a property without having a deposit.

What does this mean?

For first-time buyers, a 100% mortgage can be an appealing option as it allows you to step onto the property ladder sooner, without having to build up a large deposit. It can help individuals or couples who may be struggling to save a sizeable amount for a down payment, while also covering other expenses linked with buying a home, such as legal fees and moving costs.

What about my finance?
With a 100% mortgage, first time buyers could face higher interest rates compared to mortgages with a deposit. Lenders view these loans as higher risk as there is no initial equity, and as a result, they may charge a higher interest rate to balance this risk.

Furthermore, as a first time buyer, it is important to consider the long-term affordability of a 100% mortgage. Without a deposit, the loan amount will be larger, resulting in higher monthly repayments. It is essential to carefully assess your personal finances, taking into account ongoing mortgage payments, other living expenses, and potential interest rate changes.

Government-backed schemes
In recent years, some initiatives and government-backed schemes, such as Help to Buy, have been introduced to support first-time buyers. These programs aim to assist buyers by providing equity loans or shared ownership options, reducing the burden of a large deposit or enabling buyers to purchase a portion of the property.

Help to Buy closed to new applicants towards the end of 2022, although there could be a chance of it making a return with Wales extending the scheme to 2025. It is uncertain if the Help to Buy scheme will return, but there are still plenty of options available to first time buyers. It is essential for prospective buyers to carefully consider the long-term financial implications, including higher interest rates and monthly repayments, before opting for this type of mortgage. Exploring other government schemes and saving for a deposit may still be a wise approach to secure the best financial outcome when purchasing a home. 

For more information, contact your adviser who can support you and discuss the options available to you.

If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact us today.

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Life Cover: Always plan for the future

Life Cover: Always plan for the future

Life is unpredictable, but preparing for the unexpected can provide peace of mind and
financial security for you and your loved ones. Whether you are considering life cover or re-evaluating your finances, it’s always important to plan for the future.

Cost-of-living pressure With inflation remaining high, and continuing to affect household budgets, dealing with price rises could be difficult especially for those on fixed incomes. While not all types of insurance are indispensable, it’s important to think carefully and consider your future financial security.

Why is life insurance important?
If you were to have no life insurance in place what position could this leave your family in, should the unthinkable happen? It’s more important than ever to have protection. The policy pay out can cover expenses such as funeral costs, outstanding debts and can provide ongoing financial support for dependants, after the loss of a primary income earner.  

Always plan for the future
Planning for the future goes beyond life cover. It requires long-term goals and taking the right steps to achieve them. By taking steps to prepare for the unexpected you can provide financial security for you and your loved ones, giving peace of mind knowing those closest to you will be taken care of if you’re not there to provide for them. Although it may be challenging to afford insurance, with the uncertainties of life, it’s always important to plan ahead and provide a safety net. It’s essential to act now, if you are able to, as you could face higher premiums when starting a life policy at a later date. Advisers are there to provide guidance on the most suitable protection plans for you. Updating your life cover to reflect changes in circumstances will also give you the most appropriate level of cover. For more information, contact your adviser who can support you and discuss the options available to you.

If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact us today.

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Why you should always be covered amid a cost-of-living crisis

Why you should always be covered amid a cost-of-living crisis

Protection insurance is severely undervalued by thousands of people across the UK. Often  seen as an unnecessary expense – there are a vast number of people living in this country  who are yet to take out a protection plan and therefore remain unprepared should they lose  their income or worse – their life. With a cost-of-living crisis currently causing panic for many,  it’s so important to stay covered even when you’re looking to cut costs elsewhere. Despite  common misconceptions surrounding how often providers pay out, tougher times make  protecting your family should anything happen to you even more vital 

The necessity of protecting  your income in particular has  never been more apparent.  The pandemic offered millions  of people a scary insight into  just how quickly circumstances  can change for anyone by  forcing a huge proportion of  the population out of work.  Now, imagine how dire that  would have been without the  safety net that the furlough  scheme provided for so many  households nationwide. Illness  can stop you working at any  time and without warning and  being in the midst of a cost-ofliving crisis, protecting yourself  against such an outcome has  never been more valuable.  Well, that is the harsh reality that faces those who are yet  to take out a protection policy.  Despite the evidence, there are  still some common myths that  dissuade people from turning to  protection.  

Do providers actually pay out?  So, do providers actually pay  out – or is it all too good to be  true? Well, contrary to what  some sceptics might say, 98.3%  of all claims made in 2019  on protection policies were  accepted. This figure is enough  on its own to display just how  common a successful claim is –  and how unlikely it is that a claim  is rejected. There are of course  a few occasions when providers  don’t pay out – most commonly due to underlying issues not  being disclosed when the policy  is initially taken out.  

Can everyone get cover?  Another common  misconception surrounding  the protection industry is that  more complicated cases get  turned down. There are plenty  of insurance providers that  specialise in the more complex  of cases – and the figures  suggest that the vast majority  of those cases pay out too. The  Exeter reported that 93% of  claims were paid in 2021 with a  total pay-out of over £10 million.  Out of the 1,318 claims made  throughout 2021, only 92 were  turned down.  

It’s so important for everyone  to protect their income, and if  the past couple of years have  taught us anything, it is that no  one can predict what the future  holds. Being protected against  any eventuality is a safety net that  could prove to be invaluable to  any of us. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact an adviser today

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How to improve your mortgage affordability

How to improve your mortgage affordability

With affordability tests being revised in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis currently  happening in the UK, many prospective buyers are looking for ways to improve their chances  at securing the best possible mortgage for them. With house prices still at a high, improving  your affordability can be a great way of increasing your chances of securing a mortgage –  especially for first time buyers looking to raise a deposit for their first home. In this article, we  take a look at the most effective ways you can improve your affordability. 

 The affordability test that comes  with a mortgage application is  designed to protect consumers  against being sold loans that they  are unable to pay – obviously  something that is an essential  part of the process, but also an  added obstacle for some that  are perhaps right on the cusp of  affording the home they want.  With the criteria now set to be  tightened, it may well be time  to look at improving your own  affordability wherever you can.  

Cutting costs

One of the more obvious  solutions is to cut unnecessary  costs. The lower your monthly  outgoings, the more you’ll be  able to afford. Although this  may appear to be stating the  obvious, the impact that making  cutbacks can have may be more  significant than you’d think.  Reducing your outgoings by  just £100 a month by cutting  down on eating out and the  odd takeaway could add up  to £10,000 to your maximum  loan. Obviously cutting down  on monthly outgoings isn’t  a possibility for everyone –  but if you are in a position to  make some sacrifices, it could  really help to improve your  affordability. For those who  may find cutting costs a little  harder, perhaps trying to switch  providers for various services  such as TV packages could result  in you being offered special deals  that can help you save.  

Prepare in advance

Different lenders may require  different types of evidence when  calculating affordability. Some  could ask to see three months’  worth of statements whereas  others could ask for six or more.  It’s a good idea to prepare for the  longer period before applying to  make sure each statement you  provide will be beneficial to your  affordability.  

Reduce your debts

 If you are someone with  outstanding loans, not repaying  them before applying for a  mortgage could affect your  affordability. It may be advisable  to reduce debts where you can  before any mortgage application  in order to have a better chance  at passing an affordability test.  Student loans are often treated  differently by lenders, and you  may not have to worry about  reducing them before getting on  the ladder.  

If you are worried about how  changes to affordability criteria  could affect your mortgage  application, it’s important to  speak to your adviser so they can  help to put your mind at ease. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today. 

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Bank of England Base rate: all you need to know

Bank of England Base rate: all you need to know

You have more than likely heard the term ‘base rate’ banded around in the news over the last  few months, but what does it actually mean? Why does one rate have such an impact on so  many mortgage products nationwide and why has the base rate risen? We take a look at all  you need to know about the base rate and how it can affect you.

 The Bank of England base rate is  the interest rate set by the UK’s  central bank, meaning that it is  the interest rate that high street  banks and other lenders are  charged to borrow money. This  subsequently has a direct impact  on how much consumers and  businesses pay for taking out  loans or receive for depositing  cash into savings accounts. 

 The bank base rate is often  determined by the state of the  economy. The Bank of England’s  Monetary Policy Committee  (MPC) meets on a regular basis  to agree on what rate to set  roughly every 6 weeks. The  MPC decide on the base rate in  order to help maintain affordable  prices, keep companies afloat  and maintain a good level of job  retention. Following the pandemic, many  industries have experienced  shortages in materials and goods.  This causes businesses to raise  their prices – meaning everyday  items increase in price. This is  called inflation – and the MPC’s  job is to try and keep inflation  at around 2%. With the current  rate of inflation above 5%, the  base rate is now being risen in a  bid to slow inflation as it offers  more benefits when it comes  to saving money and therefore  discourages consumers to  spend as much – slowly helping  to remedy supply issues by  reducing demand.  

How does it impact you?

The base rate is the main factor  behind what high street lenders  charge their customers for most  loans such as credit cards and  mortgages, so you can expect  any non-fixed repayments to  rise with the base rate. However,  nearly three quarters of the  UK’s population have fixed rate  mortgages – so repayments  will remain the same until the  end of the current term. It does  however mean that you can  expect to receive better interest  rates on your savings and  everyday items could start to  come down in price.  After more than a decade of  low interest rates, it’s hard to  say exactly how an increased  base rate will impact people  specifically – especially given all  the uncertainty surrounding the  situation in Ukraine. The rise in  the base rate is to try and combat  the increased supply issue of  oil given the sanctions against  Russia as well as an attempt to  ease the cost-of-living crisis we  were already facing. With the  base rate still currently below  1%, it may be advisable to assess  your mortgage situation soon –  before it potentially rises further. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today. 

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Smoking and Vaping: how can it impact your insurance?

Smoking and Vaping: how can it impact your insurance?

New research conducted by Royal London has revealed that smokers can save up to £16,000  on life insurance premiums by quitting. According to the insurer, non-smokers could be  entitled to lower rate premiums if they have avoided tobacco, or nicotine replacement  products such as e-cigarettes, for at least a year. So, how much of an impact on your life  insurance can stopping smoking have? 

 According to new research, a smoker aged 50 would pay almost three times the amount that a non-smoker of the same age would pay every month for the same sum assured. Obviously, this is down to the health risks associated with smoking – and the savings made  by not smoking can be up to a total of £16,005 over a 25-year  term. 

 Chief underwriter at Royal  London, Craig Paterson, spoke  on No Smoking Day about the  savings that are there to be made  by quitting smoking: “there’s a  huge potential for savings on  premiums, and that’s on top of  not buying cigarettes as well as  the benefits to your health. While  the new year is a popular time  for many to give up smoking,  No Smoking Day is a perfect  opportunity for those who didn’t  quite manage to kick the habit.  Committing to making a positive  change to your health can also  lead to a positive change to  your wallet – and realising that  may help people stick to their  decisions.” 

Am I a smoker? 

With a long list of alternative  nicotine products available on  the market now, it can be hard  to tell whether you fall into  the ‘smoker’ category or not.  Most life insurance providers  do class vaping and the use  of e-cigarettes the same as  smoking. Although Public Health  England found vaping to be  95% less harmful than smoking  in 2015, there have been more  recent studies that suggest there  may be some longer-term health  issues that the use of e-cigarettes  could cause. 

 From an insurance provider’s  perspective, any nicotine  products are more often than  not considered to be within  the same bracket. There are  sometimes exceptions, and the  use of 0% nicotine e-cigarettes  can be viewed differently – but  as a general rule most insurance  providers will need you to be  nicotine free for a year before  being classed as a non-smoker.

 So, although the alternatives  to smoking do not come with  as many adverse effects, the  inclusion of nicotine is enough to  make you fall under the ‘smoker’  bracket in the eyes of an insurer.  Therefore, there really isn’t much  difference between the two  when it comes to protection. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today. 

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Rising Inflation: How does it affect you?

Rising Inflation: How does it affect you?

As reports of rising inflation in the UK flood the news, we thought the time was right to take  a closer look at how it could impact you. With inflation hitting a 30 year high in recent  weeks, it’s bound to have an effect, so we thought it best to look into what could happen  and how best to deal with the situation.

What is inflation?

Inflation is a measure of the  relative value of a currency. It  measures how much prices rise  and fall and is tracked by several  indices – mainly the consumer  price index (CPI). The CPI records  the average cost of 700 items  including everyday items such  as food and fuel and a figure is  referred to as the headline rate is  determined based on how much  those prices have gone up over  a year.  

Why is the rate so high?  

The rate of inflation has been  rising recently and is currently  at a 30 year high, but why is  that? Well, one of the biggest  contributors to the recent  rise has been the increase in  the price of petrol. The price  of petrol rose by 5.1% month  on month in 2021 to reach a record high – with a 7.2p per litre increase between October and November being the biggest  increase since the ONS (Office for National Statistics) began  keeping records of the price in  1990. Other average prices have  also risen recently, with second-hand cars becoming more  expensive as issues with supply  chains have consistently held up  vast numbers of new cars going  to market.  

What does this mean for you?

In a nutshell, what this rise in  inflation could mean for you is  that your cash might not stretch  as far as it previously had. If you  are on fixed pay, then you may  feel the effects slightly more  as the prices of everyday items  increase around you. If you are saving, higher levels of  inflation can cause problems. It  may not make a huge difference  in the grand scheme of things,  but if you are looking to stretch  your savings, moving to higher  risk investments can sometimes  reap more rewards – although  there is an obvious increase to  risk in this method.  

What happens to your  mortgage?  

If you have a variable rate  mortgage, the recent rise in  the base rate will mean a slight  increase in your repayments.  However, many homeowners  across the country have opted  for fixed-rate mortgages, and  monthly repayments will not  increase for the duration of their  fixed term.  In more general terms, a  significant rise in inflation can  have a negative effect on how  far your income can stretch. The  good news is there are  measures in place to counter it  such as the base rate increase  and the proposed 6.6% living  wage increase set for April 2022. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today .

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Critical illness cover – what you need to know

Critical illness cover – what you need to know

Critical illness cover (or CIC) is a type of insurance that is often sold alongside life insurance.  It is designed to provide you and your family with financial stability if one of you were to fall  seriously ill. It’s of course not a nice thing to think about but preparing for the worst is  always a good way to ensure you have a safety net to fall back on if a critical illness were to  prevent you from going to work. 

 If you are diagnosed with a  critical illness, it can obviously  impact your ability to work and  therefore dramatically impact  your annual income. People  are so quick to insure their  belongings like phones and  laptops but often overlook their  income – a fact that makes  little sense given the just how  important your income can be.  Critical Illness Insurance is designed to help you. If  you do fall critically ill, this type of  insurance will pay out as a lump  sum as long as the illness you  are diagnosed with is covered by  your policy. 

How does it work? 

When it comes to taking out  critical illness cover, how much  cover you need and how long  you need the policy to be active for are two of the main considerations to make. For example, you may decide that you want to be covered for the next 30 years for a £100,000 pay out – two factors that will play a big part in determining the cost of your policy. It is always a good idea to take some time to properly work out what you’ll need from your policy to ensure you get the perfect policy for you and your family 

 Most people buying critical illness cover aim to use the lump some  to pay off their mortgage. With all  the stress that comes with having  a critical illness, the last thing you  and your family would need in that situation is the obligation of monthly mortgage payments. However, this doesn’t mean the lump sum can’t be used for other things, such as treatment or tuition fees for children. It is also worth setting aside the equivalent of a few years salary in order to live comfortably while being unable to work. You can also choose if you want the cover to increase over time to keep up with inflation or decrease if  you only intend to pay off the  mortgage. 

When does it pay out?

This will often depend on your provider, but it is usually a matter of weeks for a successful claim to be processed. It’s good practice to contact your insurer as soon after your diagnosis as possible to make sure you don’t encounter any financial issues before your lump sum is paid. The good news is the pay-out is not classed as income and therefore isn’t taxable. If you’d like to learn more about critical illness cover and perhaps take out a policy yourself, our advisers are on hand to answer any questions you may have. 

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today 

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Should you be in on the remortgage boom?

Should you be in on the remortgage boom?

Recent analysis has unearthed that remortgages have risen by more than a quarter between  the months of March and April. This is largely down to the multiple base rate rises announced  by The Bank of England throughout 2022 and the response from lenders to raise rates  accordingly. Many consumers are now looking to ‘lock-in’ the current available rates in a  long-term fixed mortgage ahead of any more potential rate increases – but is this the right  thing to do? We look at how base rate rises and the cost-of-living crisis could persuade you to  follow suit. 

 The number of remortgages have increased by more than a  quarter between March and  April. Over 50% of borrowers  took out a five-year fixed rate  product. With rates on the rise, it’s essential you take the time to review your current mortgage. If you’re currently on a variable rate plan or your fixed rate term is coming to an end in the next year or two, now could be the perfect time for you to lock in a new long term fixed rate mortgage before rates potentially get significantly higher in the coming months. As the economy tries to recover from the pandemic and combat inflation, rates are predicted to rise further – so acting quickly could save you money on your monthly repayments. 

 Remortgaging has other positives at this moment in time as well.  Along with locking in your repayment rate, remortgaging now offers a unique opportunity for those worried about making money stretch amid the cost-of-living crisis that the UK currently faces. Releasing equity in your property can be the perfect solution to being a little more comfortable as energy prices and inflation both continue to rise.  So, if you find yourself struggling to cover the cost of your bills over the coming weeks and months, perhaps remortgaging is worth looking at – it could save you thousands. 

 There are some, of course,  who won’t need to worry  about a higher cost of living  and are in a slightly more  comfortable position financially.  Well, remortgaging can still  offer benefits to you too! As  summer approaches, maybe  you’re considering some home  improvements? A conservatory?  Maybe a home office? Whatever  you may be considering,  home improvements can be  expensive – but not to worry.  Remortgaging can make lump  sums available to you to finance  such projects so that you don’t  have to save and could get the  work done while the summer  weather is (hopefully) warm and  dry. 

 Remortgaging isn’t for everyone,  but it does currently offer unique  opportunities to take advantage  of. If you just want to secure  lower mortgage rates for the  coming years, want some spare  cash to help you through the  cost-of-living crisis or maybe  you want to add value to your  property by doing some home  improvements – whatever the  reason, remortgaging could be  the answer.  Contact us to find out the best remortgage deals.

 If you’d like to discuss the options available to you, contact your adviser today. 

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