I’ve taken a while to put pen to paper to write about mortgages in this “Post Brexit World,” because…. well I was waiting for something to happen!!
So far, nothing, nada, nix, nil, niente, rien. Everything appears to be business as usual.
Following the credit crunch in 2008, the government reformed the UK banks beyond all recognition and today they remain in pretty good shape with plenty of reserve funds and money to lend.
Sure Mark Carney, the Bank of England’s Governor has hinted that fresh stimulus could be on the way in the form of a cut in the Bank of England base rate, but will this really be passed on to borrowers?
If you have an existing “Tracker Mortgage, “ this would be great news as your lender will have no choice than to bring your mortgage rate down in line with the bank rate. But for bank and building societies to pass any rate cut on to other borrowers, this would mean cutting their savers rates for depositors. Savers have of course suffered the most during the 7 years of historically low interest rates.
One of the silver linings of Brexit — for now — is that mortgage rates remain very competitive. My advice on what to do now is to Remortgage to an excellent deal without delay, in case these deals are replaced or withdrawn.
Home movers seem to be holding off in case house prices fall, but even before the Brexit vote, the London market was slowing, with prices for the most expensive central London homes down by 8% since mid-2014, according to estate agent Savills.
In other areas the current uncertainty may reduce the level of demand for housing, but only in the short term. Family housing always remains in high demand. There are unlikely to be many sellers in a position where they are forced to sell at a heavily reduced price and neither is the market likely to be swamped with cheap “repossessed houses” as the repossession rate is currently the lowest on record according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.
There are winners and losers in everything, and Brexit seems to have given buyers a bit more buying power and borrowers cheaper mortgages for at least the time being!
Recent posts
Data shows landlords could miss out on green mortgages due to expired energy performance certificates.
Buying a house is a big deal, and where you are planning to buy will make a difference financially. In this short blog, we look at the most affordable and most expensive areas and how much you need to be earning to buy in there.
Pros and Cons of Equity Release
11 days ago
Equity release is a type of mortgage that allows homeowners 55 and over to access money from their property's equity without having to leave their home. This is done by securing a loan against the house which is usually repaid by selling the property when the borrower passes away or has to move into long-term care.
Your House Viewing Checklist
12 days ago
It’s important to ask questions about the property you are interested in before taking that step to make an offer. A little probing can make all the difference between buying your dream house or something that requires a lot of work.
Half of over 60s predicted to benefit from accessing housing wealth through Equity Release
15 days ago
There are millions of homeowners over the age of 60 who are likely to release money from their homes to pay for their lifestyle during retirement giving those who are 'asset rich but cash poor' a way to live out their retirement the way they wish.
Average Age of the First Time Buyer in the UK
22 days ago
The average age of a first-time buyer in the UK is two years older than 10 years ago. This is understandable with managing the cost-of-living and challenges within the economy such as high interest rates making it difficult to get onto the property ladder.
Delayed Start Mortgage from Skipton
24 days ago
Skipton Building Society launches ‘Delayed Start’ mortgage meaning first time buyers won’t be required to make repayments for the first three months.
According to a survey by Skipton, first time buyers who bought their home in the last five years found that in the first three months of living there, they were spending upwards of £30,000.
Gardening Tips for Beginners
2 May 2025
If you have recently moved into a property with a garden that requires a little TLC, or you’d like to get on top of your current green space, check out our tips.
More information
Trusted by
