The Abbey National has just released figures showing that, for the first half of the year, they had over a quarter of the UK new mortgage market.
A performance at this level means that the Abbey National could take the title of biggest UK mortgage lender depending on the results posted by its closest competitor next week. With an increase of 17 percent compared with the same time last year the improvement is quite remarkable, especially in the current economic climate. In fact a spokesman from the Abbey was pleased to say that they had taken a risk-averse approach to lending, making the huge increase even more noteworthy.
The successful approach taken by the Abbey National has been to look at lower loan to value business, with borrowers basically needing a bigger deposit. Against this growth it will be interesting to see how the main protagonists in the mortgage market plan to win back market share.
With all the different DIY and property shows on television it is perhaps no surprise that they have inspired the nation to get their hands dirty and get into DIY. This is what the Alliance and Leicester found.
Decorating is top of the list for improving the appearance of the home, closely followed by installing a new bathroom and changing the flooring. The Alliance and Leicester though suggested loft conversions or fitting a new kitchen would be the best options for increasing the value of the home. In the past these have often been funded through the mortgage though this may not be as accessible now.
At the end of the day it comes down to the balance between enjoying living in a property and making it more valuable and desirable when it comes to selling. This is the dilemma every property owner faces say the Alliance and Leicester, but at the end of the day a home should be just that.
An Alliance and Leicester mortgage quote can be sorted quickly and easily through Moneygossip.co.uk.
The Natwest Bank has announced a reduction to its tracker and fixed rate mortgage rates with cuts of up to 0.3 percent.
Most of the Natwest Bank mortgages have seen rate reductions of 0.1 percent, though a small number have had the full 0.3 percent taken off them, something anyone looking for a mortgage will appreciate. The bank has also introduced a three year tracker that steps down on its rate each year.
A spokesman discussing the rate cuts stated that the Natwest Bank was committed to doing what it could for borrowers in what are difficult times. They are pleased to be able to help both first time buyers and those moving on, feeling that both parts of the housing market need to be helped in order for growth to be seen.
