Northern Rock moves up best buy mortgage tables
October 30, 2009
Earlier this week, the government owned Northern Rock bank reduced interest rates on several of its mortgage deals, the largest reduction being 0.64 per cent.
As a result, the bank had three mortgage products in the best buy tables.
In fixed rate deals, the bank has a Read more
Barclays buys Standard Life – what now for mortgages?
October 27, 2009
Barclays Bank is all set to buy Standard Life as the media reported earlier today. That’s good news for some, but what does it mean for the mortgages market?
Only today, Standard Life announced the decision to sell Standard Life Bank for a sum of £226 million to Barclays Bank.
According to Ray Boulger of John Charcol, Standard Life Bank has been a good mortgage lender for years and he believes if Barclays removes the brand and changes its ethics when the sale completes in 2010 then this is Read more
Do I need to prepare before attending the training courses?
October 24, 2009
A number of people ask this question before they book our CeMAP, CeRER or CeFA courses, possibly because they have been looking around at training companies in this area and many have different requirements.
Many training companies for CeMAP, CeFA or even CeRER training Read more
Post Office launches new mortgage range
October 21, 2009
This week, the Post Office has revamped its mortgages range and entered the best buy league. It has launched a new base rate tracker as well as fixed rate mortgages over two and three years plus a five year mortgage deal that saw it into the best buy tables.
The new five year mortgage deal is a fixed rate at 5.09 per cent however, it is only for a Read more
Are mock exams included in the courses?
October 18, 2009
Within our short articles, we try to address the most common and frequently asked questions by those interested in our CeMAP, CeRER or CeFA courses in a little more detail than perhaps we can on our FAQs page, and one that is often asked is whether or not mock exams are included in the price of our training courses.
As a responsible training course company, we feel it would not be right to not include mock exams within the courses. People are understandably asking because, having spoken to several of them, they have seen or heard of irresponsible Read more
The end of the self certification mortgage is nigh
October 15, 2009
Next week, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) is expected to produce its mortgage market review and experts predict this will include the end of the self certification mortgage as all borrowers will be required to provide proof of income.
This would spell the end for self certification mortgages; these are mortgages that allowed Read more
Tips for taking the CeMAP / CeFA / CeRER exams
October 12, 2009
For those who have been researching and considering taking CeMAP, CeFA or CeRER courses, there is a wealth of courses out there and most reputable providers will give plenty of information on their courses and should answer any questions you might have, but there’s not as much information about the actual exams, perhaps because course providers don’t make money from that!
In a future article, we’ll cover exactly what happens in the exams, but for now here are a few tips for when it comes to your big day and time to take the CeMAP / CeRER / CeFA exam that stands between you and future work in the finance or mortgage industry: Read more
Tesco launches bank
October 9, 2009
Talk of Tesco opening its own bank started with rumours of Virgin and Tesco to open banks last year, and this week, the supermarket giant finally did it. In fact, we debated earlier this year what mortgages from Tesco might mean for the industry, but for those who have been waiting with bated breath, they will have to wait a little longer because Tesco Bank has said it won’t be doing either current accounts or mortgages till 2011.
The Tesco Personal Finance Read more
Lending experts criticise buy to let regulation proposal
October 6, 2009
A leading lending expert has criticised the proposal that all buy to let mortgages should come under the Financial Services Authority (FSA) for regulation.
The proposal came about recently from the British Property Federation whereby they claimed regulation of the buy to let mortgage market by the FSA would help bring reckless Read more
Fifth month rise for house prices, what does this mean for mortgages?
October 3, 2009
Figures from the Nationwide’s monthly house price index shows that house prices have risen for the fifth month in a row, making the average house price £160,159 – the same level as it was twelve months ago in 2008.
In the third quarter of 2009, the UK’s house prices rose by 3.7 percent in total. The strongest increase for England was in the South West rising by 4.9 percent, whereas the strongest rise for the UK as a whole was seen in Northern Ireland with 9.7 percent. On an annual basis, compared to last year Scotland came out on top as the strongest performing region of the UK.
This fifth consecutive increase continues the trend for small increases we reported earlier this year and tentatively predicted would continue.
Comments in the media Read more
