House prices hit record high in January ahead of stamp duty deadline February 7, 2025 According to new data, the average UK house price hit a record high of £299,138 in January ahead of the loss of first-time buyer stamp duty relief in April. House prices rose 0.7 per month on month and three per cent year on year, with London retaining the highest average house price in the UK [...]
What the Bank of England interest rate cut means for your money February 6, 2025 Consumers need “careful financial planning in the months ahead” after the Bank of England cut interest rates on Thursday, wealth manager Quilter has warned. Financial planner at Quilter Holly Tomlinson said the 25 basis point cut will be “good news” for borrowers, whilst savers will be stung by lower returns on deposits. Tomlinson said: “Banks [...]
Barclays the latest to harden line on office attendance rules January 30, 2025 Barclays has become the latest blue chip firm to tighten its office attendance policy, asking staff to attend the office a minimum of three days a week. The British-headquartered lender unveiled a more stringent approach to hybrid working in a memo to staff earlier this week, which cut the minimum number of days staff can [...]
More borrowers will be paying off mortgage debt into their 70s January 21, 2025 In the first nine months of 2024, 22,103 mortgages with a term of at least 35 years were approved to people aged over 36.
Natwest share price rockets to 10-year high January 21, 2025 The Natwest share price hit its highest level since February 2015 in early deals this morning as investors backed the bank for growth in 2025. The UK bank’s stock price is already up 95 per cent over the last year, making it one of the best performing stocks on the FTSE 100, and it shows [...]
Rachel Reeves or Liz Truss: Who really ‘crashed the economy’? January 10, 2025 Amid UK bond market turmoil, how does Reeves' budget compare to Truss' - and who is really responsible for 'crashing the economy'?
Property analysts forecast strong spring as stamp duty deadline looms January 10, 2025 Activity in the UK’s property market closely followed government policies on tax last year, something set to continue as the reality of the stamp duty deadline sinks in for first-time buyers. Real estate experts have predicted a burst of activity in early spring ahead of the end of stamp duty relief for first homes, which [...]
Mortgage rates to rise on back of bond market turmoil January 10, 2025 Gilt yields influence the mortgage market through swap rates, the main benchmark for mortgage lending in the UK.
Buying a house? Pay in cash for a £28k discount January 7, 2025 Buying a house is the largest purchase most of us will make in a lifetime – but it may be cheaper for some than others. Cash buyers now pay £28,000 less on average for a home than those relying on a mortgage, and the ‘cash discount’ has risen by 12.4 per cent in just two [...]
London rents rise again as house prices hold: ‘It is nothing short of brutal’ December 18, 2024 Rents in London have continued to show double-digits rises despite a stablisation in the housing market and lower mortgage rates. Average UK private rents increased by 9.1 per cent in the 12 months to November 2024, with rents in London up 11.6 per cent, according to the latest ONS figures. Propertymark chief Nathan Emerson called [...]