The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 4.25%, citing economic uncertainty and softening in labour data UK inflation remains stable, though food prices, especially chocolate, continue rising faster than other goods Numbers of interest-only mortgages drop sharply, suggesting improved lending standards and lower exposure to risky loans “The world is highly unpredictable” Last week, […]
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Residential Property Review – June 2025
May 2025 saw the busiest agreed home sales since 2022, led by post-Stamp Duty change recovery Prime Central London prices fall 2.2% annually as tax changes hit international demand Government pledges £39bn over 10 years for affordable housing in largest investment in 50 years. May sales hit post-2022 high as housing market regains momentum Rightmove […]
Commercial Property Market Review – June 2025
City of London investment triples year-on-year, led by State Street’s £382m office acquisition The retail sector rebounded strongly in April, but inflation and falling confidence weigh on outlook The Scottish property market is steady, with largest average deal sizes seen in nearly three years City investment rebounds with biggest deal in over a year as […]
News in Review
The Spending Review included: NHS to receive £29bn a year extra and £39bn over 10 years for social housing GDP dropped by 0.3% in April, highlighting ongoing economic fragility and the biggest drop since October 2023 President Trump signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on UK cars being shipped to the US “We are […]
Four in five clients see financial advice as ‘value for money’
82% of advised investors believe they get good value from financial advice, up 10% from last year 96% of advised clients value their adviser’s accessibility, especially during market volatility Long-term market confidence is higher among advised investors, showing the benefits of expert financial guidance People with a financial adviser are more optimistic about their financial […]
Home Finance – In the news
Older borrowers are increasingly taking out ultra-long mortgages, with a 156% rise in the last five years Half of UK homes saw price increases in 2024, there’s a clear north-south divide in property values Rent costs for tenants under 45 hit a record £56.2bn due to rising mortgage rates Retiring with a mortgage With a […]
Why life insurance matters
50% of salaried employees and 33% of non-salaried workers lack life insurance Life insurance covers expenses like mortgages, bills and education costs should the worse happen Policies can start as low as a few pounds a month, offering affordable protection and peace of mind Taking out life insurance is a crucial step in protecting what […]
News in Review
Global economic growth is slowing, with major economies facing tight financial conditions and rising trade barriers Basic retirement costs have decreased due to lower energy bills, though comfortable living standards are higher than last year New pension reforms aim to improve returns, merge small pots and support stronger retirement outcomes for savers ‘The global outlook […]
HNWIs face gaps in retirement and succession planning
Research shows a third of European HNWIs are yet to make a financial plan for retirement 80% of survey respondents plan to pass wealth to their children, but only 34% have a plan in place Over half of respondents are focused on growing their wealth through investing in equities and/or real estate Many high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) […]
Flooding puts 6.3 million homes at risk
6.3 million homes face flooding threats, but the dangers are expected to rise significantly due to climate change 4.6 million properties are at risk of surface water flooding, a 43% increase since 2018 Taking proactive steps, including insurance, is key to protecting against flood damage A recent report from the Environment Agency has revealed that […]
