Residential Property Review –September 2026
Residential Market Survey – the housing market is stabilising further with buyer demand and agreed sales showing improvement Mortgage rates – In July, mortgage approvals were 16% below the 2017-19 average and the lowest level since December 2023 Rental market – In Q1 2026, the average UK landlord portfolio generated £88,454 in gross rental income, […]
Commercial Property Review – September 2026
Commercial property update – London captured the largest regional share of investment by the end of August Industrial and logistics sector – Demand in the sector still being driven by ecommerce growth and supply chain resilience Scottish market – French investors are particularly active in Aberdeen, according to research from Knight Frank Commercial property market […]
Enjoying your happy and healthy retirement
As people are living longer, retirement planning increasingly spans multiple decades, giving a large window to prepare As priorities, health and spending needs change, review plans regularly to keep the right balance Retirement planning is about much more than money. A well-planned retirement should support your broader life goals With a clear sense of purpose, […]
A new shape to homeownership
First-time buyers are now entering the market later than previous generations, around age 33 on average Longer mortgage terms and later entry naturally lead to borrowing extended well into later life Refinancing is now popular for older borrowers. Many are remortgaging to secure better rates or release equity The traditional journey of buying a home, […]
Why is life insurance back in focus?
Pension tax efficiency needs to be considered as it will start to fall within IHT from April 2027 Life insurance can play a valuable role by providing a lump sum on death to help cover the tax bill Acting early can help ensure that any cover is affordable and increase your options Changes to Inheritance […]
Retirement planning for the self-employed
Three in five self-employed workers could be missing out on crucial peace of mind and tax benefits Making regular contributions can be more achievable and build a bigger retirement pot than waiting for ‘surplus’ income Retirement saving can be more complex for self-employed workers. It’s never too late to improve retirement readiness Around 40% of […]
Remortgaging on the rise
Remortgage applications have risen sharply as pandemic-era fixed deals come to an end Shorter-term mortgage fixes are gaining popularity in uncertain interest rate conditions Landlords are increasingly refinancing to improve returns and release equity Remortgaging is firmly back in focus. Recent analysis1 shows applications surged by around 45% in Q1 2026, driving overall mortgage activity […]
Positive momentum in protection – but gaps remain
Data shows that around £21.9m is paid out daily in protection claims – a 10% increase in individual claim value There are also encouraging signs among younger consumers. Many are locking in lower premiums early While the trend is positive, protection should be part of a wider plan with the right level of cover in […]
Economic Review – August 2026
Recent data shows the UK second-quarter growth was more resilient than anticipated – 0.4% growth The latest Labour Market Overview published by ONS in August painted a muted picture of the UK jobs market According to ONS, consumer spending slowed as the volume of goods sold fell by 0.5% over the month UK second-quarter growth […]
Keep your cool in the housing market
Organisation and preparation are key to helping reduce stress throughout the homebuying journey Realistic budgeting and taking account of all costs helps avoid affordability issues and unexpected expenses Future planning can prevent the need for repeating the whole process again too soon and resulting in an unexpected move Few people imagine buying a house to […]
