Blog

In August, the Bank of England (BoE) cut Bank Rate for the first time since March 2020.  But what does this much awaited reduction mean for the housing and mortgage markets?   Bank Rate Bank Rate is the interest rate that the BoE pays to commercial banks who hold money with them. This directly affects…

Nearly two-thirds of UK consumers could have accidentally invalidated their home insurance*, according to a survey. Many people with home insurance said they have gone against common policy terms in the past. 11% have left their home unsecured, even though they are required to take reasonable measures to mitigate the chances of a break-in. Other…

Following Labour’s landslide election win, much of the nation is waiting to find out what is in store for the UK housing market.  Many major policy changes will be announced in the Autumn Budget on 30 October, but Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has already announced the new draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF),…

Before the election, property experts Rightmove carried out a survey to ascertain what this new government’s priorities should be when it comes to housing. Here is a roundup of what the nation is hoping for.   Speed up housebuilding One of the top recommendations was making improvements to the housebuilding process1. Buyer demand has increased…

Getting onto the property ladder has always been a challenge, but perhaps even more so at the moment. A report has found that it is currently the most expensive time to be a first-time buyer (FTB) in over 70 years1.   Managing monthly payments Higher mortgage repayments are a particular barrier to homeowning; between March…

On Saturday 11th of May, we held our first Home Financial Charity Football Tournament at Runcorn Linnets Football Club in aid of Halton Haven Hospice. It was a scorcher of a day and was great to see the players, their families, and friends enjoying the day’s events.  The competition was fierce among the 12 teams…

Home Financial has achieved the ESTAS ‘Standard of Excellence’ to make the ESTAS – the biggest award scheme in the UK residential property industry, shortlist for the 5th consecutive year.  In addition, they have been recognised for delivering outstanding customer service to their clients by winning a Best in Postcode Award. The ESTAS ‘Standard of…

It was a disappointing Spring Budget for anyone looking to get onto the housing ladder. There was a distinct lack of announcements concerning Lifetime ISAs (contrary to expectations), no replacement for Help to Buy and no changes to Stamp Duty thresholds, a disappointment for many.   Just a few days ahead of the key fiscal…

The Bank of England (BoE) kept Bank Rate at 5.25% following the latest meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in February.   Bank Rate unchanged Having risen to 5.25% in August 2023, the MPC voted to freeze Bank Rate for a fourth consecutive meeting in February, with a majority of six to three keeping…

We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected as a finalist for the second year running the Halton Business Awards 2024. This year we have been selected as finalists for 2 awards ‘Outstanding Customer Service Award’ and ‘Best Small Family Business Award’. To be recognised as a finalist is an achievement that we…

Congratulations to all who completed the Warrington Town FC ‘Ultra Walk’, on Friday 1st March 2024, raising funds for the ground improvements required at the club. Home Financial was proud to be one of the t-shirt sponsors for the event. Our director, Ross Jones, and other Warrington Town FC supporters, set off on a 40-mile…

As 2024 begins in earnest, what can homeowners, sellers and prospective buyers expect in the new year? Falling house prices and uncertainty around mortgage rates made for a