Green mortgages – a mystery A recent survey1 has revealed that four out of five (83%) people have no understanding of green mortgages. Each lender’s criteria will differ, but typically they may offer a discounted rate, or cashback, if a property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of A or B. The government has […]
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Money – In the news
Child Trust Fund – on your radar? His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reminded teenagers and people in their twenties to claim their matured Child Trust Fund (CTF) savings. CTFs are long-term savings accounts set up for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011. The government provided an initial deposit […]
Wealth – In the news
Women hold their nerve Recent research1 reveals women are more likely to hold their nerve and avoid crystallising a loss when the market dips. Almost half of men (48%) have sold investments at a loss when they’ve dropped in value, in an attempt to stem their losses, while just 38% of women have done the […]
News in Review
“Our economy is more resilient than many feared… However, we are not out the woods yet” The UK has narrowly avoided entering a recession by the slimmest of margins, as figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the economy had zero growth in the last three months of 2022. The official figures for […]
Economic Review – January 2023
UK growth beats expectations The latest gross domestic product (GDP) statistics show the economy unexpectedly grew in November easing fears that the UK has already slipped into recession. Data released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that the UK economy expanded by 0.1% in November. This figure was higher than any forecast submitted […]
Take control now to beat the tax chill
Following his controversial ‘stealth tax’ Statement in November, the Chancellor made a raft of key personal taxation and pension announcements. The government pledged its commitment to the pensions Triple Lock, which will increase the State Pension in line with September’s Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of 10.1%. This means that the value of the basic […]
Plan now to buy in 2023
Even in times of economic uncertainty, the fundamentals of house buying remain mostly the same. For those looking to make a purchase in 2023, it’s never too early to start planning. Why buy now? House prices have stayed high over the past year thanks to sustained buyer demand and restricted supply. Trying to predict future […]
News in Review
“There is an encouraging downward path of inflation in our central projection” Last week, the Bank of England’s (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted by a majority of seven to two, to increase Bank Rate by 0.5 percentage points to 4%, its highest level for 14 years. The two committee members who opposed the half-point […]
News in Review
“The UK is poised to play a leading role in Europe and across the world in the growth sectors which will define this century” Last Friday, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt outlined his long-term vision for how to boost UK economic growth. This plan is based on four pillars which Mr Hunt said are “essential for any […]
Commercial Property Market Review – January 2023
Commercial property deals at ten-year low Commercial property deals have collapsed to their lowest level in more than a decade, with just £7bn transacted in the final three months of 2022, according to CoStar. Investors have faced a series of shocks in the past year, including higher interest rates, the September ‘mini-budget’ and the prospect […]
