Blog
Check out our latest thoughts and insights on a variety of financial topics
Ongoing financial help from the Government, supporting Business Owners through Covid-19
Coronavirus has caused disruption to all industries across the UK and non must be suffering more sleepless nights than business owners, large or small. However, the government has launched a range of temporary measures to help ease your concerns and support your business throughout this uncertain time. Ensuring you are getting the right financial support and taking full advantage of any funding or assistance on offer could really help businesses get through this unprecedented time.
What is the stamp duty holiday and how can you capitalise on it?
With Chancellor Rishi Sunak announcing a stamp duty holiday to rebuild the economy, we explore the impact it’ll have on those looking to take their first or next step on the property ladder.
It’s fair to say the past few months haven’t exactly been a great time to search for your next home sweet home.
However, Rishi Sunak’s announcement regarding a stamp duty holiday last week should be enough to start planning your next move and schedule in your next Ikea trip. Here’s why…
What is the stamp duty holiday?
The new stamp duty holiday measures mean that homebuyers will pay no stamp duty on property purchases of up to £500,000 until March 2021.
Lenders return to 90% lending
Welcome to your latest update in what is a fast moving fast changing mortgage market.
Let’s take a breath first and remember what happened about 10 weeks ago.
HM Government pulled the shutters down on UK PLC which effectively closed the country and confined us to our homes in an effort to slow down the spread of the Coronavirus.
Lenders responded by pulling up the lending drawbridge and many stopped lending all together, with some still not back in the lending arena as of last week.
6 steps to successful budgeting!
As it’s National Conversation Week #NATCONVWEEK - today we want to share with you a personal budget action plan…
Step 1 - grab your bank statements for the last month
Step 2 - write down all your regular bills (date, who to, how much, what is it and what do you get)
Step 3 - shop around and see if you can reduce the cost or improve of each individual item or improve the “what you get” for the same money (Key areas to target are utilities, phone/broadband bills, insurance (buildings/contents/life), TV packages.)
If you spend 10 hours on this and can save yourself £10 per month, that will equate to saving you £1200 over the next ten years OR much more if you divert the saving methods to overpaying on your mortgage! We are talking THOUSANDS of pounds of savings year on year!
Your Help to Buy Equity Loan is up and running – what happens after 5 years?
The following is based on our current understanding of ‘Help to Buy’ criteria which may change prior to publication of this article on 21.04.2020
Hands up those of you who remember when HM Government showed up with a much-needed shot in the arm for the housing market then?
Help to Buy Equity Loans from HM Government had arrived in 2013 and this enabled house buyers with modest deposits to get financial assistance when looking at buying a property. For the purpose of speed (and to make it easier for me) I am shortening the name of these loans to HTB throughout this blog.
7 ways to help your children understand the value of money!
As it’s ‘National teach your children how to save day’ 2020 – it makes sense that we share with you some tips of things you can do…
What is your solicitor doing about your property purchase?
Like everything, the process of conveyancing (which is the process of legally sorting out the purchase of a property for you) has been affected.
The Conveyancing Association (CA) have advised where possible for electronic contracts to be used to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus. They have also warned their members to prepare for sales not going through because of obvious reasons.
Below are some points that will keep you well informed and hopefully help you in your discussions with your solicitor/ conveyancer:
You wouldn’t jump out of a plane without a parachute…
Written by Malcolm Clarke
Well let's first start by saying here at Simpson FS we don’t sell parachutes, but in a way we do.
Let me explain.
I personally use this analogy when explaining protection insurance to my clients.
8 reasons why you should set up a Trustee Bank Account
Whether you’ve been considering setting up a Trustee Bank Account for a while, or it’s completely new to you, we’ve put together 8 reasons why you should set one up.
Hopefully this will help you understand the benefits of setting one up.
Halifax, Santander and NatWest suspend physical valuations
Halifax, Santander and NatWest made the decision to suspend sending their surveyors to value properties that are being considered for the security of a mortgage with them.
This will influence the overall time it takes to complete the house buying process.
Some valuations are being re booked for x3 weeks’ time but event these may be pushed back if the situation has not improved and the Government lockdown is still in force.
However, this gives the banks the opportunity to explore alternative methods of valuing the properties being offered for security for a mortgage by using what is known as Desk Top Valuation or DTV.
6 holiday destinations where your pound will go the furthest
Although Spring is coming, you wouldn’t think it with all this cold and wet weather we are having here in the UK.
No doubt you’re starting to plan your holidays for the year to escape for a week or two. Maybe you’re after a long weekend to soak up some sunshine? Whatever your reason for ‘getting away’, we have put together this blog to help you choose your holiday destinations wisely.
Top First Time Buyer Tips from a Top Independent Mortgage Broker
Over the last 14 years we’ve helped a lot of people purchase their first property and they have always thanked us not only as their independent mortgage broker but for also guiding them through the complex property buying process facing many first time buyers.
To help first time buyers we have asked one of our own mortgage brokers, Kamal Mattu, for some practical guidance on buying your first home.
“As a first-time buyer what do you need to know about the process of buying your first home? For instance, when do you make an offer to buy a property and at what stage do you actually apply for a mortgage. But before you even consider these steps how about these points:
Mortgage and Protection Advice Specialist of the Year Finalist
We are delighted to confirm that one of our Directors, Natasha Palmer, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Personal Finance Society’s Mortgage and Protection Advice Specialist of the Year 2017.
