Leah Milner

3 days ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Roger Baird |Leah Milner

Hodge has eased affordability stress rate calculations, which will allow it to grant loans that are almost 20% larger for average customers. The lender points out that the move applies to its residential, residential retirement and retirement interest-only products. It gives an example of joint applicants with a household income of £45,000, which can now borrow just over £38,000 more, a 17% increase. Customers with an income of £75,000 could benefit from almost 20% more borrowing capacity.

1 week ago | thesun.co.uk | Leah Milner

POUNDLAND is a fan favourite among bargain hunters, but not everything on sale at the discount store is a good buy. Social media is packed with reels of shoppers gleefully sharing their Poundland hauls. Yet if you really want to save money you need to be careful what you put in your basket. We spoke to bargain shopping expert Katie Watkins to help you sort the best buys from the duds.

1 week ago | thesun.co.uk | Leah Milner

WITH three months to go until the summer holidays, there’s still time to save up some serious cash to help pay for your plans. For families, the long school break can be a huge financial stretch, with the soaring price of childcare, entertainment, food and travel. While for singles and couples, trips abroad, staycations and festivals all add up, too. But follow our seven easy tricks and you could save a pot of £2,712 by the start of August to help fund all your fun in the sunshine this summer.

2 weeks ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | David Burrows |Leah Milner |Becky Bellamy

Having recently announced sub-4% rates earlier in April on selected products, Barclays has introduced an additional six products under 4%, including for existing mortgage customers. The biggest single rate cut will be 33bps, on a remortgage two-year fixed 75%, with a £999 product fee. Other product rate decreases include, for residential purchase only, 3.98% Premier two-year fixed with £899 product fee, 60% LTV, Min loan £5k, Max loan £2m, will decrease to 3.91%.

2 weeks ago | mortgagestrategy.co.uk | Leah Milner |Becky Bellamy

First-time buyers (FTBs) face an extra stretch to get onto the housing ladder following the cut to stamp duty relief at the start of this month. Raising a deposit is one of the toughest challenges for would-be buyers, who are typically trying to save at the same time as paying rent. With real wage growth failing to keep pace with rising costs, it is a daunting task that has been made harder now that the nil-rate stamp duty band for FTBs has dropped from £425,000 to £300,000.