Blue Q Mortgage

‘Mortgage prisoners’ are people who are unable to switch mortgages to a better deal, despite being up-to-date with their mortgage payments.

Where does the name come from?

As the name suggests it is a situation where homeowners are ‘trapped’ in their existing mortgage, unable to switch to a deal with better terms, or rates. The term ‘mortgage prisoner’ surfaced during the financial crisis of 2008.

How does someone become a mortgage prisoner?
Mortgage prisoners often arise due to a combination of factors such as changes in economic downturns, lending practices, and regulatory constraints.

Below are a couple of scenarios which could lead to a borrower becoming a mortgage prisoner:

1. High Loan-to-Value (LTV) Ratio: if you have taken out a mortgage with high LTV ratios, which means you borrowed a large portion of the property’s value. If the value of the property declines, or if your financial situation deteriorates, you may find yourself in a position where you owe more on your mortgage that the property is actually worth. This can make it difficult to refinance or switch lenders.
2. Tightened Lending Criteria: following the financial crisis, lenders have implemented stricter lending criteria, making it more difficult for borrowers to secure new mortgages. This means, some existing homeowners who were previously able to get a mortgage do not meet the new criteria when trying to switch to a new lender or negotiate terms.

Unfortunately, mortgage prisoners may be stuck with higher interest rates and unable to benefit from any lower interest rates on the market. There are regulations and policies in place which provide initiatives to provide relief and potential solutions for those affected and facing financial hardship.

Out team will be happy to talk further about Mortgage Prisoners with you. Our friendly team of professionals are on hand to answer any of your concerns, so please do not hesitate to get in touch: 01245 218018 or team@blueqmortgage.com.

Are you moving into a new home soon? Despite being very exciting, it can also be an incredibly stressful time trying to pack all your belongings, book moving vans, and tie up any loose paperwork such as bills and change of address. Check out our list of tips to get you ready for the big day.

Start packing early

Quite often the thought is worse than the deed! If you break it down into smaller tasks, such as focusing on a room at a time or packing away items you definitely won’t be needing, it can feel a lot less daunting. Alternatively, you can always pay someone to pack up your house for you!

Disassemble furniture in advance

Disassembling anything that may not fit through the door in advance, will save you a lot of time and stress on moving day.

Have a clear-out in advance

You’ll have enough to take with you so you don’t want to be taking anything you don’t want to keep. It can be quite satisfying to clear unwanted belongings and donating them to charity – of throwing anything that is no good!

Who will be helping you move

Depending on your budget and how much you need to move, you’ll need to figure out which service you require – do you have friends or family to help you, or will you be relying solely on a man and a van? It is always good to book vans in advance and shop about for the best quote offering the best service to suit your needs.

Boxes and labels

Large zipped laundry bags are inexpensive and great for moving linens, shoes, and clothes. Labelling boxes may sound very obvious but clearly marking boxes will make life so much easier when you come to unpack them.

Which room?

Create an inventory of furniture and mark which room it will be going in – this makes it easier for those moving heavy, bulky items. It will also determine whether your furniture will fit through the doors!

Essentials box

Packing the kettle, tea, coffee, and loo roll last will mean you will unpack this first – these are likely to be a necessity when you arrive! It’s worth keeping remote controls, phone chargers, and anything you may need to find quickly in the same box. Be sure to keep jewellery and valuables in a safe place.

Make your bed

Knowing where your linen is and making your bed early on, will mean you can crash at the end of the day without having a further job to do before you can relax! You have made it to your new home, you can now relax and take time to unpack the rest of the boxes!

When you’re looking to buy a home, and you own a car, you ideally want to know you’re going to be able to park your car either on your own driveway or at least close enough so that you don’t have to walk two miles carrying a week’s food shopping!

Parking rules can be confusing, even for the most experienced of drivers! This is why we have written this blog to help you and prevent any nuisance parking.

On-street parking

Be sure to look for signs and information on your local authority’s website as this will indicate whether you are in a Controlled Parking Zone, a Restricted Parking Zone, or you have the freedom to park there.

Permit holder only

Some streets only have parking for residents who hold a permit, or a temporary visitor permit. These rules may be 24 hours a day, or they may be for set periods during the day. There will be signs nearby to establish whether you can park there or not.

Can you park on a dropped kerb?

Dropped kerbs are there for a reason – to improve access for:

• Pedestrians – particularly those using wheelchairs or mobility issues, as well as people with limited sight
• Vehicles – for those entering or exiting a driveway

The Highway Code states that you must not park where the kerb has been lowered.

Can you park opposite a dropped kerb?

As long as it is safe to do so and vehicles can get in and out of their driveways easily you are allowed to park opposite a dropped kerb.

 Can you park in front of a driveway?

Parking in front of a driveway is sure to upset the neighbours! Often there will be dropped kerb in front of the driveway to enable vehicles to access them, which as we have already read is a no-go. Even if a driveway doesn’t have a dropped kerb, you should still avoid blocking it, again for visitors who have mobility issues or young children, unless you have permission from the occupiers.

Can you park on someone else’s drive?

It is a civil offence of trespassing on private property if you opt to park on someone else’s driveway unless you have been given permission to park there. Although it is not a crime (civil matters are enforced in different types of courts), so the police aren’t likely to get involved. Also, if your vehicle is taxed and insured you won’t be classed as an ‘abandoned vehicle’ so the council may not help either. But technically you get sued and most definitely ruffle some feathers!

Of course, it’s always good to refer to the Highway Code (rule 239) for any confusion on parking, but a lot of the time sensible parking comes down to common sense!

We are often asked if it’s good advice to consolidate “unsecured” debt (credit cards and loans etc) into your mortgage, the answer is, sometimes.

As long as you have sufficient equity built up in your property, you can borrow additional funds to pay off any of the following:

• Loans
• Credit cards
• Hire purchase agreements
• Overdrafts
• Student finance

This would typically be by either re-mortgaging to a new lender and increasing your loan amount or taking a further advance from your existing lender. If neither of these are possible you may be able to arrange a second charge loan from another lender

It is true that paying off credit and adding it to your mortgage will reduce your monthly income initially. However, before you go ahead it is very important to go through each item of credit with your Mortgage Adviser and ask them to calculate how much it will cost you overall if you consolidate it into the mortgage vs how much it will cost if you leave it as an unsecured debt. This will help you to decide what to consolidate and what to leave as it is.

As a rule of thumb, any credit with a balance under £1,000 or where there are less than 12 months remaining on the term should not be considered, as this is not good advice!

The main benefit of taking this course of action is clearly that it will reduce your monthly outgoings. As well as this, the interest rates on secured borrowing are typically much lower than on unsecured borrowing and you will only have one payment to manage.

On the downside, additional secured borrowing puts your home at greater risk if you become unable to make the repayments and you will likely be making repayments for longer as you are spreading the costs over a longer-term

I want to re-mortgage, what do I do next?

If you feel that debt consolidation into a mortgage is for you, you’ll want to compare a range of lenders. The best way to find the most suitable deal for your personal circumstances is to seek help from a mortgage broker. This is where we can step in and guide you through the process. Our friendly team of professionals are on hand to answer any of your concerns, so please do not hesitate to get in touch: 01245 218018 or team@blueqmortgage.com.

Over the years, properties have become more and more expensive. If you speak to your parents or grandparents, they likely paid a fraction of what house prices are nowadays when they first purchased their own home. This has made it much more difficult for people to get on the property ladder and houses are less affordable than they were a decade or two ago. 

Although house prices are rising, purchasing a property is still cheaper in the long run than renting and it’s always worthwhile trying to get on the housing ladder. If you’re in the process of looking for your first home and you’re concerned about the rising house prices, below our team of mortgage advisers have put together some information you may find useful. 

What’s happening to the property market?

According to the latest Rightmove House Price Index, the average price of property has risen by 0.9% (+£3,398) in October to a new record of £371,158. For many first-time buyers, this average house price is simply unaffordable and first-time buyer demand is down by 21% when compared to this time last year. 

Experts expect house prices to drop in November and December, as they usually do each year, and there is a chance that first-time buyers may be able to find properties within their budget as we head towards 2023. The uncertain economy is still a concern for many though and it is making it difficult to predict what next year has in store for house prices. The repercussions of the Government’s mini-budget are still to unravel too and there may be more changes to come to the housing market in the near future. 

How to get a mortgage when house prices are rising 

Not only are house prices rising, but interest rates are rising too and getting a competitive mortgage has become more difficult, particularly in the last month. Unfortunately, when applying for a mortgage now, you would have to borrow more to purchase the property you’re interested in and due to higher interest rates, you would pay back more over time as well. That being said, there are a few things that can help first-time buyers get a mortgage even though house prices are rising. 

Speak to a mortgage adviser 

It’s highly recommended that all first-time buyers speak to a mortgage adviser before searching the property market for a new home. A mortgage specialist can give you an indication of how much you’re able to borrow in the current financial climate and this is incredibly helpful when you’re searching the property market. 

Some mortgage providers removed mortgage products from the market immediately after the mini-budget was announced, but they are gradually starting to release new mortgage products for buyers. When you speak to mortgage advisers, they can review the mortgage market for you and help you to find the best mortgage offers. They can also tell you more about the different help-to-buy options available that could help you to get on the property ladder. 

Check your credit score 

All mortgage lenders have their own mortgage affordability tests, also known as stress tests, and they would undertake checks before offering you a mortgage. These tests are designed to ensure borrowers would still be able to meet their monthly mortgage repayments, even if their circumstances change or interest rates rise again over the period of the loan.

Several factors impact the outcome of mortgage affordability tests, one of which is your credit score. Having a good credit score could help you to get the mortgage you need and it’s key to check your credit score before applying for a mortgage. There are a few things you could do to improve your credit score too and it’s worth looking into these in more detail.  

Consider a lower LTV 

Loan to Value (LTV) refers to the ratio between the loan amount and the value of the property. Most mortgage lenders have a minimum LTV of 95% and you would be required to put down a deposit of 5%. However, you are often considered ‘high-risk’ to lend to when you have a high LTV and ultimately, it would cost you more to borrow the money you need. 

Whilst this isn’t an option for everyone, if you have some additional savings that you could put towards your house purchase, this could be advantageous. Having a higher deposit would lower your LTV and this could help you to get a more competitive mortgage. You may have more mortgage options to choose from when you have a lower LTV too. 

Getting a new mortgage 

When you’re trying to get a new mortgage deal, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Mortgage Require for some assistance. We can make the process of getting a mortgage completely hassle-free and we offer whole of market, friendly mortgage advice to customers on all aspects of the mortgage market. Regardless of what type of mortgage you need or what your specific requirements are, we will do all we can to assist you.

If your current mortgage deal is no longer competitive and you think you could save money by taking out a new mortgage product, you will have two options to consider; switching mortgage deals or switching mortgage lenders. 

It is actually really common for homeowners to remortgage with a new mortgage provider and this could be a great way to save a considerable amount of money every month. Searching the whole mortgage market for a new mortgage product is always a good idea, even if you’ve been with the same mortgage provider for many years, and switching your mortgage could be beneficial for several reasons. If you’re keen to switch mortgage providers but you’re not sure where to start, below we have put together some useful tips to help with the process. 

Get some assistance from a mortgage advisor

Whilst switching mortgage providers isn’t necessarily a complex process, it is highly recommended that you get some mortgage advice before doing so. Speaking to an experienced mortgage advisor can help you to ensure you’re making the right decision about your mortgage and that nothing important is being overlooked. 

A mortgage advisor can help you to better understand the options available on the mortgage market too. Terms and conditions vary considerably from one lender to another and your mortgage is often the biggest loan you’ll take out, so it’s best to seek some expert advice. 

Double-check how much switching providers would cost 

If your existing fixed rate deal hasn’t yet come to the end of its term and you’re planning to switch mortgage providers, it is likely that you would have to pay an Early Redemption Charge and exit fee. These fees differ depending on a number of factors, but it’s crucial to find out how much you’ll have to pay before you start the switching process. Don’t forget to inquire about other costs involved such as; arrangement fees and legal fees as well.

Often, if you’re switching mortgage lenders to save money, switching and incurring the costs would still be cost-effective in the long run, yet you need to learn more about the fees you’ll have to pay in order to ensure this is the case. 

Speak to your existing provider about their other offers

Whenever you’re considering switching mortgage lenders, it is worthwhile looking into simply switching mortgage deals too. Your current provider may have other deals available that meet all of your needs and sometimes, sticking with your existing provider is the best option. If you choose to switch deals, you might not have to pay as many fees and it would usually be a quicker process too. A mortgage advisor can help you to compare the mortgage products you’re being offered if you’re unsure whether they’re the right choice for you. 

Get your paperwork in order for the new mortgage application 

During the switching process, you need to apply for the mortgage product you’re interested in with a new lender and you have to complete an application. To make doing so as hassle-free as possible, organise all of the required documents in advance. Generally speaking, switching mortgage providers takes a few weeks and you can prevent the process from dragging on by being prepared and efficient with your application. 

Consider reducing your LTV ratio

Before you start looking at the different products on the mortgage market, it’s worth considering whether you’re able to reduce your Loan To Value (LTV) ratio. Reducing the amount you need to borrow from a lender could help you to get a more competitive mortgage with lower interest rates and it could make a big difference to the mortgage deals you’re offered. 

There are a few ways you could reduce your LTV ratio, for example; you could carry out some home improvements to increase your property’s value or you could use some of your savings to contribute towards the existing amount of equity you have. 

Looking for local mortgage advisors?

Should you be interested in switching mortgage providers, contact our team here at Blue Q today. Regardless of what your reasons may be for wanting to get a new mortgage deal, our expert team will do all they can to help. We pride ourselves on providing professional and sound mortgage advice to customers, and we can help you to ensure you’re not wasting money on an uncompetitive deal. We also offer whole of market advice and we are dedicated to making the process of finding a new mortgage product as stress-free as possible. 

When they require quick access to funds, most people will consider taking out a loan. Loans can be useful for a number of reasons and there are lots of different ways you can borrow money these days. Typically loans will fall into one of two categories; secured loans and unsecured loans, and whilst each of these options have advantages, secured loans are often the first choice for homeowners when they need to borrow a considerable amount of money. 

Simply put, secured loans are loans that are secured on your property and they will essentially be a second mortgage. You may also hear secured loans referred to as second charges and this type of lending may be beneficial for several reasons. Below we have explored some of the reasons why people take out secured loans in more detail. 

Why do homeowners take out secured loans?

Usually, homeowners wishing to borrow further funds against their homes would either take a further advance from their existing lender or remortgage to a new lender who would offer more money. If for whatever reason this option is not available, or if they require funds quickly, they may be advised to go down the second charge route. 

Common reasons for 2nd charges include:

• To carry out home improvement projects, such as an extension 
• To purchase additional buy-to-let or holiday-let properties 
• To pay for a big life event, like a wedding
• To consolidate lots of other debt 

Generally speaking, homeowners take out secured loans when they require more than around £25,000. An unsecured loan would probably suffice for anything less. When you take out a secured loan, because this is a charge on your property just like your existing mortgage, the lender has the right to take possession of your property if you don’t make all required payments. 

What are the benefits of secured loans?

When compared to the other options available for people who require quick access to funds, secured loans are a very popular choice. Some of the biggest benefits of this particular type of loan include; 

Borrow more money 

It isn’t uncommon for the amount you can borrow with an unsecured loan to be quite low and you might not be able to get as much as you need through remortgaging with a mortgage lender. However, depending on the circumstances, the amount of money you can borrow with a secured loan is usually much greater. Generally, interest rates are more competitive than unsecured loans, reducing the amount you have to pay back to the lender. 

Longer loan period 

Due to the fact that the loan is secured on your property, lenders won’t be as apprehensive about offering you a longer loan period. Often, secured loans can be for a period of up to 30 years, or more in some cases, and you won’t have to worry about paying the amount you borrow back in a couple of years. This means your monthly repayments would be much less too, making this type of loan more affordable. 

Avoid early repayment charges 

You usually have to pay a significant early redemption fee to your existing lender if you choose to remortgage. A secured loan is a way of raising capital whilst avoiding those fees. You may still incur other costs, such as arrangement fees and legal fees, that you wouldn’t have to pay if you opted for an unsecured loan, but the benefits of taking out a second charge on a property often outweigh these additional costs. 

Taking out a secured loan 

If you’re looking for a way to raise funds and you would like to speak to someone about secured loans in more detail, get in touch with our team at Blue Q today. We are a local team of dedicated, independent mortgage experts and we will be happy to provide you with the advice and guidance you need. We pride ourselves on delivering first-class customer service and we can help you find the right mortgage lender and mortgage product, regardless of what your circumstances or needs may be. With experience in all aspects of the mortgage market, you can trust that we are the best team to turn to. 

The last 18 months or more have been a strange experience for many of us. Those that have continued to work have had to adjust, in many cases, to a new way of working. This has meant the home being more crowded than usual, especially when the kids aren’t at school and when lockdown was at its strictest.

Perhaps an unexpected by-product of this is that many people have changed their priorities when it comes to ‘must-haves’ and ‘nice-to-haves’ in their dream new home. So, what do buyers want?

Whereas short and easy commutes by road or rail and being close to local amenities were once highly prized, research suggests that this is now a priority for between 14% and 17% of people. Working from home and fast home delivery have, it seems, changed the needs of home buyers.

Additional space for a ‘proper’ home office is also high on the new buyer’s agenda as is a decent outside space or garden. If a nice garden is not available then proximity to green space is desirable. More space seems a common theme. Gardens have greater value now, and many people are will to pay a premium on a larger than average garden.

One can imagine that fast, reliable broadband that enables multi-user streaming services will quickly become a necessity for many, especially if a large part of the workforce continue to work from home at least for part of their work-week.

The Budget of 2021 saw the UK Treasury announcing another state-funded scheme aimed at helping to keep the UK housing market fluid. Known as The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme, the newly announced initiative launched officially in April 2021.

The scheme offers lenders to both first-time buyers and those that have previously owned a home a government-backed guarantee, meaning that should the home reduce in value and need to be sold, the lenders are effectively insured for any loss. This scheme has resulted in the increased availability of 95% Loan to Value mortgages coming back in the first two quarters of 2021.

This is good news for borrowers with only small deposits. It means that even if you only have a 5% deposit, you may be able to obtain a mortgage on the remaining 95% of the purchase price, up to £600,000.

Several major mortgage lenders are already offering mortgages on this basis, but more are now expected to join the market.

The government plan is to close the scheme in December 2022, so interested parties should get their skates on if they wish to take advantage!

Yes. Probably.

Equity release is simply a way to realise some of the value in your existing home by increasing and/or extending the existing loan on your existing home and using that loan capital raised for other purposes. This can be used for a variety of reasons and the purchase of a second home is one.

If you increase the loan on your primary home, the mortgage lender will want you to be able to prove that you can afford the larger loan. Your personal circumstances will dictate whether you stay with your existing lender or decide to remortgage the property with another. Remember that this may involve additional costs including valuation and arrangement fees, early redemption fees and legal fees.

The more money you release by way of a remortgage, the more likely that the costs of borrowing will increase. Certainly, over say 60% LTV (Loan to Value) you can expect the new loan to be priced higher to reflect the risk the lender is perceived to be taking.

The next thing to consider, is what sort of property are you buying? If it’s a holiday home the affordability question will be asked again and unless you are buying it entirely from cash, any lender is going to need to see that your personal circumstances are such that you can afford both loans. In most cases, lenders will expect a LTV on your primary residence of 80% or less.

If the property is for investment purposes and you expect to buy to let, then the mortgage lender on the second home will want to know that the rent will cover the mortgage payments in the right ratio. You will also need to declare to the lender that this is a buy to let investment and the terms for lending are likely to be less favourable.

It’s also worth remembering that when buying a second property you will be accruing additional costs such as legal fees, loan arrangement fees and enhanced stamp duty charges. Allow for these costs when making your decisions about how much equity you need to release from your primary home.

First of all, what is remortgaging? Well, it’s when someone that already owns a home with a mortgage, decides that they want to take advantage of more favourable terms, such as a lower interest rate or to borrow more money. They would find the best deal and a solicitor will draw down the new mortgage and repay the outstanding one.

The mortgage that you secured when buying your property may not be the best deal after a few years, especially if your home has gone up in value, which reduces your percentage loan. This might enable you to negotiate a lower interest rate with your new or even existing lender.

Alternatively, you might have been on a lower fixed rate that is about to come to an end. When this happens, the interest rate you are charged usually changes to the lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) although sometimes the new rate might be directly linked to other variable datums such as LIBOR or the Bank of England’s Base Lending Rate.

You can remortgage at any time but you may incur penalties if your initial mortgage agreement stipulates fees in certain circumstances. Early repayment may well incur a penalty. There may also be costs such as legal, valuation fees and arrangement fees, (although sometimes lenders pay these for you). So it’s important to allow for these costs when evaluating the benefits of remortgaging.

Many people remortgage so that they can extend their property or otherwise improve it, perhaps by installing a new kitchen. Others want to raise some cash for a child’s education or to give them for the deposit on their new home. It is also possible to remortgage so as to consolidate loans, although in such circumstances you really should talk to your mortgage adviser before doing this. A mortgage may be cheaper on the face of it, but a mortgage over 25 years will likely cost you more than an unsecured loan over say 5 years. The legal ramifications of non-payment also differ between secured and unsecured loans.

It’s important to be aware that all the usual information will be required when remortgaging as when you took your original mortgage. Affordability and stress testing will also be undertaken, so make sure that you plan ahead, perhaps 3 or 4 months before you need to remortgage. This will give you time to get all your information together and search the market for the best deal available. This, of course, is where employing a specialist such as Mortgage Required can pay dividends. We can advise you on the best options and make the process smooth and painless.

Contact our remortgage experts today or book a free online appointment.