NI house prices hit five-year high as pent-up demand fuels sales

Northern Ireland house prices are seeing the highest growth of any UK region with buyers competing more fiercely than ever for homes with gardens, according to a major survey today. The report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Ulster Bank said prices were hitting a five-year high – accelerating fears that a new home could become out … Read More

Co Ownership Belfast – Housing body sees threefold rise in demand

A housing association that helps people buy homes through shared ownership has received an almost threefold increase in applications over the past seven weeks. Co Ownership Belfast usually deals with an average of 50 applications per week. However, since the beginning of July, it has processed about 1,000. Its director of customer services told BBC News NI the demographic of … Read More

House sales at ‘highest ever’ level says Rightmove

Property portal says number of sales this month 60% up on last August  Agreed house sales have hit their highest level for at least a decade in the last month, with sales 60% above the figure recorded last August, according to the latest numbers from property portal Rightmove. The online listings firm said it had seen the highest number of … Read More

Stamp Duty Changes Northern Ireland

Stamp duty can add £10,000s to a homebuyer’s costs, but temporary changes mean many WON’T have to pay it. Until April 2021, in England and Northern Ireland you won’t pay any stamp duty on a main residence up to £500,000, while in Scotland and Wales the threshold’s rising to £250,000. This guide’s got all you need to know about how … Read More

Think Twice Before Cancelling Your Protection Policies

Mortgage-Insurance-Belfast

Life Insurance: It’s not for you, it’s for them! Life insurance is for your loved ones to make sure there is a roof over their heads and food on their table. It’s to ensure that they can continue to do the things in life you’d want them to, if the worst happened and you weren’t around. You would want to be … Read More

How might Coronavirus impact the property market?

Coronavirus Property Impact

The economy in Northern Ireland is entering its most uncertain time since the “credit crunch” of 2007/08 and many home buyers and sellers, as well as landlords are worried about what will happen to the property market. Jordan Buchanan, Chief Economist at PropertyPal writes: The housing market context since 2007/08 House prices suffered their biggest contraction on record following the 2007 … Read More

Coronavirus: what it means for our mortgage customers

Coronavirus Mortgages

The government and some of the UK’s biggest banks have announced a range of measures to help customers who face financial difficulties if they’re affected by the coronavirus outbreak. For example, homeowners can apply for payment holidays on their mortgages, renters have been offered protection against eviction and some banks are allowing borrowers to increase credit card limits and access … Read More

Mortgage Availability during the Coronavirus

mortgage coronavirus belfast

Whilst there is no doubt that many lenders are struggling to manage the operational implications caused by the Coronavirus, the availability of mortgages has to date not been impacted significantly. As such, if you are looking for a new mortgage or will require a re-mortgage in the next 6 months then please do get in touch.  In particular, if you … Read More

THREE-MONTH MORTGAGE “PAYMENT HOLIDAYS” OFFERED BY ALL LENDERS

Mortgage Break Belfast

Government announces three-month mortgage holiday in Covid-19 package You may be aware that on March 17, Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed that anyone struggling financially as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak will be able to take a three-month mortgage repayment holiday. A number of lenders had already announced repayment holidays for those affected by Covid-19, but the Government’s announcement means ALL lenders … Read More