Following the trend in the market Northern Rock has announced a cut in its fixed rate mortgages, dropping them down to 6.43 percent from 7 percent.
Anyone looking at getting a fixed rate mortgage will appreciate the reduction but should bear in mind there is an arrangement fee on the Northern Rock products of GBP1,495. As stated other mortgage providers have also been reducing their rates so it is sensible to check the new offers available to find the one best suited to specific circumstances.
Potential home buyers still need a big deposit, this situation unlikely to change for some time yet say Northern Rock. The average deposit needed is around 20 percent currently, meaning first time buyers especially are finding it very difficult to get onto the property ladder.
As part of the Mortgage Club Legal and General has added a conveyancing service for customers, something they feel is an essential part of the whole mortgage process.
The view of the Legal and General mortgage spokesman is that effective and efficient conveyancing can make or break the house moving process. If the conveyancing is not done at a good pace then there is a greater likelihood that the deal can fall through, meaning the whole process of finding a property has to begin again.
Legal and General are using the skills and knowledge of intermediaries to manage the conveyancing process, since these financial advisors and legal experts have the experience and knowledge to get all the work done to customers satisfaction.
A study carried out by the Lloyds TSB mortgage department has found that the days of the removal man may be numbered as people take a do it themselves approach.
The bank surveyed their mortgage customers and found that over half of them were planning to move into their new home under their own steam, without employing professionals to move their goods. Lloyds TSB also found that the estate agent was being cut out of 10 percent of home sales as vendors sold privately.
A Lloyds TSB mortgage department advisor commenting on the results suggested that the economic climate could be driving these changes. The average cost of employing a professional removal company is over GBP7,000 so being able to save a lot of that makes good sense.
