Share Sounds related to Property & Mortgages - Best Deals

A mortgage stress test designed to stop borrowers overstretching themselves will be scrapped, it was revealed this week. The mortgage industry has long bemoaned this supposedly unrealistic test that makes lenders check if borrowers can afford their repayments at a level higher than the fix or tracker deal they may be taking, their lender's standard variable rate plus 3%. Yet, isn't a bit of an odd time to finally get rid of this, just as interest rates are finally rising and the base rate has jumped from 0.1% to 1.25% in six months? What's more, it's forecast by some to keep rising and go as high as 3% by the end of the year: meaning almost that entire 3% rise which the stress test uses. Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce discuss why the Bank of England is doing this and whether it is the right move, or could lead to risky lending and even higher house prices? Also, the team discuss inflation and how to (at least) try to do something to combat it with your savings - and also, why investors are finding it so hard to buy the dip and be greedy when others are fearful in the inflation storm. The renewed fervour for offering bumper deals on current accounts also goes under the microscope, but is a bung to join, an interest rate on your balance, or the ability to categorise your spending the best readon to switch? And finally, you live in an end of terrace house, someone wants to build next door using your wall and making your home a mid-terrace: surely that couldn't be allowed? Or would it? Listen to the end to find out.

Adam Cox is joined by health and wellbeing advocate, Katie Piper, and the CPO of Unilever, Sara Alsen, to discuss new research from Blueair that shows Brits' concerns around indoor air pollution. Katie discusses why this is a topic close to her heart, whilst Sara talks through the research and why this is such an issue. www.blueair.com

Adam Cox is joined by Jonas Holst, from Blueair, to discuss new research which reveals parents' reluctance to send children back to school in light of the pandemic, and how air purifiers could be used to alleviate some of their concerns. They look what the ways schools can improve air quality in the classroom, and what Blueair does to help. https://www.blueair.com/

Adam Cox is joined by Patrick Folkes, from Graphenstone UK, to discuss the Nobel-Prize winning material Graphene, and how it is being used in paint to absorb CO2 from the air. They discuss some of the issues with traditional paints, and how this Graphene based paint may be the future of paint. https://graphenstone.co.uk/

Life is tough for first-time buyers. House prices were already expensive before the coronavirus lockdowns and defying all logic a mini-boom has sent the average house price up £20,000 further over the past year. At the same time mortgage lenders have indulged in a flight to safety, canning the vast majority of 95% loan-to-value mortgages and bumping up the gap between rates on 90 per cent mortgages and those for borrowers with more equity. 'Once more into the breach' has stepped the Government, with taxpayer aid for banks and building societies to offer more 5% deposit mortgages. But is this a wise move? Should we stop meddling in the mortgage and property market, as short-term assistance ends up meaning long-term pain as more credit is extended and house prices climb ever higher? And could it be that while the 95% mortgage push is the wrong move at the national economic level, on a personal level taking one might prove a good move for some, who could end up paying less than they do in rent? Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Simon Lambert discuss the 95% mortgages, the rise in house prices and whether buy-to-let is still a good investment. Also this week, the lowdown on the Barclaycard customer service meltdown as long-standing customers see their credit limits slashed. And finally, you want a shed-office (aka a shoffice) to work in down the bottom of the garden, but can you power it with solar panels?

Adam Cox is joined by Christian Armstrong from rental property pioneers Get Living, to discuss how Brits’ attitudes towards renting have changed over the last few years, and why build-to-rent properties have become so popular. They look at the benefits of build-to-rent schemes and how the pandemic has changed the needs and demands of the renter market.

Britain is in the grip of a mysterious property mini-boom. Talk of a property market more buoyant than it’s been in years, of viewings and offers flooding in and family homes in hot demand, doesn’t seem to just be the usual estate agent puff. Evidence from mortgage reports, surveyors and data on estate agent activity, appears to bear this out. The stamp duty holiday and lockdown itchy feet have combine to make parts of the market a sellers’ one, so as a buyer what can you do to get a decent offer accepted and avoid overpaying? On this week’s podcast, Simon Lambert, Georgie Frost and Lee Boyce talk buying homes. They discuss what’s going on, whether all parts of the market are flying (not quite), why some homes go to above asking price offers but others linger, and how as a buyer you can get a good deal, while as a seller you can also try to go under offer swiftly at a decent price. Also, on this week’s show, the team discuss the rise of the lockdown trader and why more people – and younger ones at that – are buying shares. They look at inflation and how many savings account beat it. And finally, why has the Royal Mint said it probably won’t need to make anymore 2p pieces or £2 coins for a very long time?

Adam Cox speaks to Wayne Bennet from Home Reach, discussing the affordability of housing and how shared ownership is increasing in popularity to enable millennials to get on the property ladder. Wayne shares a few tips about how to get a new home, and why savings that may have been dipped into to deal with the Coronavirus doesn’t mean that dreams of buying a house are out of reach.

As of 13th May 2020 in England, Government guidelines have enabled the housing market to re-open for business. In this episode of Inside Property, Richard Blanco is joined by broker Jay Rooney; Lawrence Bowles from Savills Research; and Arla Propertymark board member, Rachel Hanniquet-Brooking. They look at how agents and customers are coping with the new procedures and discuss the ongoing mortgage holiday, rent holiday challenge facing many landlords and tenants. How is the mortgage landscape evolving, and what are the prospects for house prices and sales and lettings activity moving forward?

Architect Richard Ganeshmoorthy and expert landlord developers MaryAnn Richmond-Coggan and Karen Gregory join Richard Blanco to discuss the joys and challenges of refurbishment. From finding the perfect wreck to managing your tradespeople, pushing through the difficult bit in the middle and charming your way through the snagging, we share our best tips and anecdotes.