We remain open for business. However, like everyone else, we are taking account of the health and safety of our clients and of the SWLaw team. The aim is to make necessary changes in practice but to keep them as seamless as possible. We are...
Mortgage Blog
Equity Release Are you over 55 and looking for additional income in retirement or perhaps looking to make home improvements or take your dream holiday? A simple option may be to unlock the value in your home by way of Lifetime Mortgage, aka Equity Release....
Remortgaging… A known problem or inconvenience is approaching – the in-laws perhaps -, you consider, is the problem avoidable? Can I ignore it, ostrich style? Or do I meet it head on? This internal battle plays-out throughout...
THE LIFETIME ISA George Osbourne’s March budget unveiled the proposed Lifetime ISA (LISA) to be rolled out in April 2017. “…25% bonus contribution from the UK Government…” Much like the Help-to-Buy ISA currently on...
The 2015 budget saw the launch of this initiative to help first time buyers. Savings of up to £200pm will be topped up by the government by 25% with a cap of £3000. Further information is available on the Gov.UK website : Help to Buy: ISA...
A major reform of Stamp Duty Land Tax was announced in the Autumn statement. As a result 98% of residential property buyers will see a welcome saving whilst only those paying over £937,000 will see an increase in SDLT. Each rate will be paid only on...
From 17 th March 2014 the Land Registry fees will be reduced by 50% for certain applications delivered by electronic means, these include: the fee payable by the purchaser on registering a transfer of the whole of a registered title; the fee on...
Help To Buy – Phase 1 – New Build Phase 1 of the government’s Help to Buy scheme is the “Equity Loan” which is available for new build properties only. In effect it is a shared ownership mortgage. The...
Help To Buy – Phase 2 – The Mortgage Guarantee One of the biggest obstacles to owning your own home is that of raising the deposit and not everyone can rely on family to help! Things will be a bit easier from today as the second phase of...
Mortgage Shortfall Fears The new Financial Conduct Authority has suggested that approximately 2.6 million people will not have saved enough money by the time their interest only mortgages mature to repay them with the average shortfall being in the region...
… should be aware of changes to the registration of charges at Companies House. New regulations came into effect, on 6th April 2013, governing the registration at Companies House of security given by Companies and by Limited Liability Partnerships....
The term ‘capital rich, income poor’ describes the position of many people in their later years. There is value locked up in the home but there is little income and little in the way of savings.For many people their most valuable asset is...
It is being widely reported that consideration is being given to the controversial step of forcing pensionsers to remortgage their homes to pay for personal care. The Dilnot Commission reported in July this year – see news item on ‘Long...
At the FSA public meeting on 23rd June Hector Sants, the Chief Executive, announced the delay of the Mortgage Market Review (‘MMR’): “… the principal issue that MMR is looking to address is the generally agreed failing in the...
