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Homeowners face higher mortgage bills as interest rate doubles to 0.5%
Here’s what today’s interest rate hike by the Bank of England means for homeowners.
How we cut monthly bills by £500 and took 50 minutes off our commute
This couple moved east for their first home together, cheaper monthly bills and shorter commutes.
‘My mortgage and bills cost the same as renting in a house share’
Fed up with living in a shared flat, sonographer Karen decided to see what she could afford to buy. The move is working out perfectly, she says
Buying an ex-council house in London: the pros, cons and what to avoid
Everything you need to know about buying an ex-local authority home.
Top 10 London postcodes for 2022 homebuyers, revealed
These in-demand London postcodes have been tipped as future property hotspots.
The dos and don’ts of house hunting online in 2022
Experts predict another Boxing Day boom in house searches. Here’s how to cut through the jargon of estate agents’ online listings.
Homeowners and buyers should act now following Bank interest rate rise
How to plan ahead with your mortgage as Bank of England puts interest rates up from 0.1% to 0.25%.
Interest rates rise sees millions hit by higher mortgage bills
Today’s interest rate increase is the first for more than three years.
Commuter belt hit by price spike with first homes now 7.2x earnings
The cost of a first-time buyer home in London is now nine times earnings on average, down from a peak of 10.2 times in 2016.
Asking prices set to rise 3% in 2022 as ‘late-bird buyers’ make moves
Early birds bought homes after the first lockdown while the cautious waited for greater certainty on their work-life balancy and frequency of commute.
‘We lived at opposite ends of London to save up for our first home’
Shivani Gandhi and Arun Chopra lived apart while they saved for their first flat – and then headed further out to get more for their money.
‘How I bought a house by myself after 20 years of renting in London’
After two decades of shuttling between rented flats, Natalie Watts decided she’d had enough — and took action to save for a home of her own.
What is the difference between exchange and completion?
The first-time buyer questions you’re too embarrassed to ask — answered
‘Intense saving and a long mortgage term made our home dream possible’
Here’s why one first-time buyer couple are still saving hard a month after buying their first house with a 15 per cent deposit.
‘Nosy London neighbours are confounded by rise in private home sales’
Snoopers’ dismay at rise in unlisted homes sales
‘Swapping rent for a mortgage cut my monthly bills by almost half’
Buying a flat made sense when Lauren Foy discovered she wouldn’t be able to afford to rent on her own. Here’s how she did it.
Can I borrow the stamp duty payment and add it to my mortgage?
Your first-time buyer questions, answered
Will you be able to afford your mortgage when interest rates rise?
The Governor of the Bank of England said interest rates may rise next year, so what does that mean for your mortgage?
Five of the cheapest London areas with upcoming new homes launches
If you want to find an affordable home in the capital, check out the city’s outer boroughs to see you quids in.
‘How I cleared debts then bought my first home in London aged 48’
Clearing debts was the priority, but intense saving meant Kat Holmes has now been able to buy a home of her own.
What we know about Government-backed 95% mortgages
The Chancellor’s new low-deposit mortgage guarantee scheme is available to lenders from today. Here’s how it works.
Property jargon translated: a handy guide for first-time buyers
Do you know your AIP from your MPPI, and your ERC from your LTV?
How to get your finances in shape and win over mortgage lenders
It’s one thing to want to buy your first home, quite another to afford it. Here’s how to get your financial ducks in a row...
‘I’m assistant head and needed Help to Buy to afford my Barking home’
Moving in with her parents gave this teacher the chance to buy her and her son a home of their own
Top 16 London areas for first-time buyers revealed
House-hunters are looking further afield for that sweet spot of price and lifestyle.
How I saved to buy my own home while renting in a London houseshare
To find her own flat, this real estate sales manager learned patience — and the art of compromise.
60% of London homes for sale last year were ‘down-valued’ by lenders
The agreed prices of more than half of London homes were disputed by mortgage lenders amid the pandemic property price surge.
The best-value London areas to buy a flat or house by Tube travel zone
Start your search for a London home in a good-value pocket where prices are currently below the average for the Tube zone.
The schemes promising to bridge gaps between renting and owning
A key category in our New Homes Awards this year, shared ownership homes are helping to keep young Londoners’ property-owning dreams alive, writes David Spittles
We swapped a tiny London rental for our own home and a faster commute
Trading London for High Wycombe meant this couple could upsize while still cutting their monthly costs.
How I saved for and bought a flat in east London aged 25
Clever banking, and intense saving, helped Bolutife Sofoluwe buy her first home in Barking.
Could you set up a housing cooperative to get a more affordable home?
Housing collectives provide a way for housemates to band together and take control of their destiny
‘Living with parents — and turning landlord — helped me afford a flat’
Digital marketer Elliot Kemp moved back in with his parents during lockdowns to save for a flat of his own