‘Flip the context’ to protect your savings
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has revealed that over £2m was lost to pension scammers in the first five months of 2021. The average amount lost so far in 2021 is £50,949, compared to £23,689 in 2020. The FCA research shows that pension holders were nine times more likely to accept ‘advice’ from someone online […]
Best ways to add value to your home
Several months of double-digit house price growth has benefited homeowners looking to sell. However, if you want to boost the asking price of your home even further, it’s important to understand which projects will add the most value once you’ve factored in the cost of the job itself. The most valuable projects Loft conversions can […]
Inflation debunks ‘cash is king’ mantra
A modest level of price inflation is generally seen as acceptable and even as a sign of a healthy economy. For some years, the Bank of England’s target for annual Consumer Prices Index (CPI) growth has been 2%; not a steady 2%, as short-term fluctuations are inevitable, but an average of about 2% over several […]
Young adults struggle to understand the mortgage process
It is hardly a secret that young people face significant barriers on their way to purchasing their first home. Quite apart from prohibitive house prices and stringent affordability criteria, a lack of understanding of how the mortgage process works is also holding them back. According to a survey1, 52% of adults aged 18–34 say they […]
UK investors plan to continue lockdown habits
During the pandemic, many people have been able to significantly increase their investment contributions, as spending on travel, leisure and hospitality plummeted. Now, a poll1 has revealed that, far from reducing their investment contributions as restrictions loosen, 76% of UK investors intend to keep up their lockdown habits, with half planning on reducing everyday spending […]
Lockdown savings? Should you overpay on your mortgage?
Some families have found it easier to save more than normal during the pandemic, due to reduced outgoings on things like commuting, holidays and entertainment. If you have a mortgage, overpaying is one option worth considering. Benefits of overpaying In a low-rate environment, savings rates are likely to be lower than your mortgage rate, so […]
In the news – Home Finance
Interest in equity release More than half (57%) of homeowners have expressed interest in releasing equity from their property, according to the Equity Release Council. Across all ages, the most popular reason is to boost pension income and savings, followed by paying for care support at home. The total housing equity available to retirees and […]
Money – In the news
A third are indebted as they enter retirement Retirement. That much-awaited time when, after paying off your mortgage and accumulating a pension pot, you stop work and sail off into the sunset to enjoy your twilight years. Unfortunately, not every retiree’s story matches this ideal. Indeed, far from having everything paid off, it has been […]
National Insurance and dividend tax rises
A new health and social care tax will be introduced across the UK from April 2022. The tax will initially begin as a 1.25 percentage point increase in National Insurance, paid by both workers and employers. From April 2023, it will become a separate tax on earned income, calculated in the same way as National […]
Strongest seller’s market in ten years
Nearly seven in ten properties up for sale (68%) across the UK found a buyer in the year to June 2021, according to Rightmove data1 – the highest percentage in a decade. This is significantly higher than the average 53% of homes that found a buyer between 2012 and early 2020. Scotland leads the way […]