The hidden cost of retirement properties
In the glossy brochures often used to promote them, retirement complexes can look very attractive. With rising life expectancy meaning that many more of us are likely to live well into our 90s and beyond, they can be an appealing proposition, especially for those who don’t have immediate family to look after them. THE ADVANTAGES […]
Borrowing age elevated by extra-long mortgages
The traditional 25-year mortgage may soon be a thing of the past as many firsttime buyers are choosing loan terms of 30, 35 or even 40 years. Data from estate agents Countrywide1, shows more than one third of mortgages taken out in 2017 are unlikely to be repaid until after the borrower has turned 65. […]
A game of endurance as disposable incomes hit six year low
The average household in Britain is currently enduring the lengthiest dip in disposable income for six years. Cash-strapped consumers are struggling with the combination of lacklustre growth in their wages, which is providing modest support to disposable incomes, and inflation, which is taking its toll on the pound in their pocket as the cost of […]
How to add value with a home renovation
The continuing rise in property prices has also fuelled a sharp increase in homeowners extending their properties with a view to adding value. In the year to June 2017, 197,000 people in England obtained planning permission to improve their homes, with a further 23,700 adding extensions under permitted development rights1. The figures suggest that, on […]
Addressing your personal finance weak spots
No matter what age you are it’s likely you have a financial weak spot. In fact, it’s pretty much inevitable, no one’s financial armour is infallible. What steps can you take to shore up your defences? MONEY’S TOO TIGHT TO MENTION Younger people are often struggling to save, let alone contribute towards a pension, whilst […]
Protecting your family’s future
When making their Wills, many parents appoint relations and close friends who would act as the guardians of their children in the event of their deaths. Although anyone nominated to fulfil this important role would be gratified to be thought of as worthy of carrying it out, it’s important to remember that there could be […]
Do we need targets to help us save more for retirement
The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association (PLSA) has come up with a suggestion to help people keep their pension plans on track. It has called for savings targets to be put in place to help individuals save enough for a good pension for their retirement years. According to their research1, 13 million people haven’t made […]
Don’t leave your loved ones facing financial ruin
Many people take out a life policy, perhaps when they take out a mortgage, put it away in a drawer and don’t think any more about it. This can be a mistake, as the level of cover you took out a few years back may now not be enough to cover your current situation, and […]
Winter Home Checklist
This time of the year, it’s worth doing a few simple checks around your property to make sure it’s prepared for what winter might bring, so that any period of prolonged bad weather doesn’t take its toll. EXTERNAL CHECKS Winter wind and rain can cause severe damage, so check that your roof is in good […]
Where will you live in retirement?
Later-life housing is a growing market, with around 60% of projected growth in households over the next two decades set to be among those aged 65 and over1. Moving home at any age is almost always a stressful and emotionally-challenging time, and arguably the longer you leave it, say in your late 70s or 80s, […]