March was always going to be a hectic month for advisers and brokers across the country, whether they were working towards tax-year end, waiting on the Chancellor’s Spring Budget or dealing with a further surge in mortgage applications and approvals.
Whilst mortgage approvals continued to rise for a fourth consecutive month, Chancellor Hunt’s spring budget left more questions than answers for mortgage advisers, with the main question being has he forgotten something?
Potential changes to stamp duty tax, and the possible launch of a 99% mortgage scheme had been rumoured but whilst the Chancellor made some announcements concerning the housing market, they were changes that are likely to make very little impact.
Despite the anticlimactic nature of 2024’s Spring Budget, this month’s issue of Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine focuses on the value that brokers can add to first time buyers, the state of new-builds and the latest on buy-to-let rates.
This month’s issue…
In March’s edition of Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine, Coventry Building Society’s Jonathan Stinton Kicks us off with some analysis on the relationship between first time buyers and brokers. Jonathan highlights some practical ways in which mortgage brokers can ensure that they aren’t missing a trick when it comes to supporting first time buyers.
Up next, Atom Bank’s Richard Harrison discusses how new-build sales have held strong despite the closure of the Help to Buy scheme.
Finally, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk’s latest analysis shows that the buy-to-let sector has seen fixed rates fall to their lowest point since September 2022.
IFA Talk Mortgage & Property Special
The latest episode of IFA Talk: Mortgage & Property Special was released this month, with a focus on conveyancing and more specifically ‘National Conveyancing Week’.
NWC organisers David Opie, Managing Director of Today’s Media and Rob Hailstone, CEO and Founder of Bold Legal Group discussed the upcoming event and highlighted how and why brokers should get involved.
Tell your story
Finally, as we move into spring and eventually summer, our attention at Mortgage & Property Investment Magazine will be turning to our readers.
As part of a new push to hear the stories of those who read our magazine, we will be running a series of short profile interviews with brokers and advisers who have an interesting tale to tell.
If you would like to take part, or just want to find out
more about what would be involved, please contact Brandon.russell@ifamagazine.com.
Alex Sullivan
Managing Partner,
Mortgage and Property Investment Magazine