Abode Mortgages Limited

13/01/2026

https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/696519fb42c4ad20e4c3e86a

John is a seasoned professional in the mortgage arena. He knows the market extremely well and i ...

02/12/2025

Did you know millions of UK homeowners are choosing to renovate their existing home instead of moving?

Read more here:

Millions of UK homeowners are choosing to renovate their existing home instead of moving. In England and Wales, about 1.7 million homes (one in 15 properties) have undergone significant renovation work. These homes are marked with ‘official improvement indicators’, showing that they have had maj...

20/11/2025

Broker John Carter explains why he limits case volume, avoids targets, and sees CeMAP as part of the problem

16/09/2025

Help to Buy repayments on the rise
By 2030, more than 104,000 Help to Buy accounts will reach the end of their interest-free period.

The Help to Buy scheme ran for ten years, between 2013 and 2023. Buyers of new builds were lent up to 20% (or up to 40% in London) of the property’s value as an equity loan. The loan is interest-free for five years and is repayable when the home is sold.

According to a Freedom of Information request, there are already 101,000 Help to Buy accounts that have become interest-bearing. The average monthly interest payment on a Help to Buy loan is approximately £107.

If you’re faced with higher monthly repayments, you don’t have to go through it alone. Professional advice can help you take control of your finances, call me, John Carter on 01206 252025 and I will be pleased to talk you through your options.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Sources:
https://www.yourmoney.com/mortgages/first-time-buyer/exclusive-over-104000-help-to-buy-accounts-set-to-come-to-end-of-interest-free-period-by-2030/

Over 104,000 Help to Buy accounts will become interest-bearing by 2030, with brokers reporting that some are facing remortgaging problems.

10/09/2025

How is the housing market faring so far in 2025?

House prices update

House price growth slowed to 2.1% in June, down 0.8% month-on-month. Performance varies significantly depending on the region, with Northern Ireland seeing the strongest growth of 9.7%. East Anglia was the weakest area, where house prices only increased by 1.1% annually.

House prices are increasing at the fastest rate in areas with the most affordable properties. In regions where the average home is below £200,000, annual house price growth is 2.7%. On the other hand, prices are falling by 0.2% in areas where the average property is above £500,000.

A buyer’s market

The rise in supply of homes seems to have contributed to the slowdown in house price growth. Buyers have greater choice, with 14% more homes for sale than this time last year. In regions where supply has increased the most (London, the South East and South West), house prices have risen annually by no more than 0.5%. However, in the North of England, the West Midlands and Scotland, where supply has only marginally increased, prices have gone up by 2-3%.

As the current market favours buyers, sellers have been encouraged to be realistic when pricing their properties. Richard Donnell at Zoopla said, “Keep in mind that you may have to wait longer to achieve your desired price if it’s not in line with your local market.”

It’s not all bad for sellers, though. Despite high supply, sales are being agreed at the quickest rate in four years, with Rightmove suggesting that ‘spoiled-for-choice buyers are still being tempted by the right property at the right price’.

How long to sell?

The average home takes 45 days to find a buyer, roughly the same as last year. Time taken to sell varies by the region, with the North East the quickest at 35 days. Meanwhile, it takes at least 50 days in all southern regions of England, where there is a greater supply of homes. Regardless of location, once a home is taken off the market it can then take up to 4-5 months to complete a purchase.

What’s to come?

Many lenders have eased their affordability criteria, so mortgage holders can afford to borrow 20% more than they could at the start of 2025. This should boost transactions in the second half of the year and into 2026. Plus, the total number of sales is expected to increase by 5% over the course of 2025. Annual house price growth is expected to remain modest at 1-2%.

Robert Gardner, chief economist at Nationwide, commented, “we still expect activity to pick up as the summer progresses, despite ongoing economic uncertainties in the global economy, since underlying conditions for potential homebuyers in the UK remain supportive.”

To discuss your mortgage requirements, call me, John Carter on 01206 252025

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.



Sources:
https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/house-price-growth-slows-to-2-1-in-june-nationwide/
https://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/buyers-gain-ground-as-wider-choice-slows-house-price-growth-zoopla.html
https://www.mortgagestrategy.co.uk/news/what-lies-ahead-for-house-prices/
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/property-news/house-price-index/
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/news/articles/property-news/house-prices-hit-record-may-2025/

The average asking price of a home in Great Britain has hit a record high for the second consecutive month, rising by 0.6% to £379,517.

08/09/2025

Sales agreed on the rise

The housing market seems to be regaining momentum, as sales are being agreed at the fastest rate in four years.

The number of sales agreed was up 6% annually in June, which coincided with the stock of new property listings going up by 14%. This indicates that buyers are regaining confidence, with demand rising by 7%.

Executive Director at Zoopla, Richard Donnell, commented, “The number of buyers and sellers agreeing home sales continues to increase year-on-year, demonstrating a continued desire of more households to move home in 2025.”

Hoping to move by the end of year? Whether you’re upsizing, downsizing, or getting on the property ladder for the first time, at Abode Mortgages Limited we’re here to help with all your mortgage needs. Call today on 01206 252025

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.



Sources:

The number of house sales being agreed are at their highest in four years as the number of homes available rises and price growth slows.

05/09/2025

MORTGAGE MYTHS – Part 3

In this third post dispelling some of the many myths surrounding the mortgage market, we will take
a look at one of my favourites from the past 31 years…
I can’t get a mortgage because I am self employed!

Absolute rubbish! Of course you can!

OK, it may be just a bit more complex and you will need to pester your accountant for a few documents, but whilst the paperwork may be slightly different, a good mortgage broker can guide you through the process and help you on the path to home ownership avoiding any of the possible pitfalls.

The proof of income the lender will require sight of will be in the form of your Tax Year Overviews and Tax Year Calculations which can be obtained from your HMRC portal once you or your
accountant have submitted your tax return. Lenders will usually require sight of these documents for the last 3 years. If you are trading as a Limited Company then your business bank statements will of course be required as well as those from your personal accounts.

Yes, the process is slightly different, but definitely not impossible! If you would like to discuss your
situation, please give me John Carter of Abode Mortgages Limited a call on 01206 252025.
You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you re-mortgage
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

29/08/2025

MORTGAGE MYTHS – Part 2
This is part 2 of a series of posts where I am trying to use some of my 31 years of industry experience
to dispel a few of the myths that surround the mortgage industry! Today we are going to consider if
Mortgage Brokers are expensive!
Now this is one I often here from new clients, but strangely I have many returning clients who think
otherwise! Yes, the majority of Mortgage Brokers do charge a fee, there are of course some who
offer a fee free model and of course you can go to your bank and there will be no broker fee to pay.
So just what do you get when you pay a broker fee?
Obviously, I cannot speak for other brokers, but when you use Abode Mortgages Limited we offer a
service where we will metaphorically hold your hand from the first meeting right through to you
taking ownership of your home. We will source the most competitive deal for you from the whole
market, NOT just from the one provider or from a restricted panel, we will look at ALL the options
available to you through the intermediary channel (we do not offer Direct deals from the lender),
and will advise on the most suited option. Once we have agreed a product, we will gather all the
relevant documentation and will complete and submit an application on your behalf. We will liaise
with the underwriters should any additional information be required and will ensure that the Offer
Letter when produced meets your requirements. We ensure that the solicitor has received the Offer
Letter and will then stay in touch with the Solicitor, usually reporting back to you every two weeks
throughout the process. If you are uncertain whether you need a survey on your property, we can
introduce you to firms of Chartered Surveyors who can advise. If you don’t have a Solicitor or would
like a recommendation, again we can introduce you to local or national firms who can quote you for
the work needed.
In short, we do our best to relieve you of the headaches arranging a mortgage can bring!
If you would like an informal chat, please give me John Carter, a call on 01206 252025.
You may have to pay an early repayment charge to your existing lender if you re-mortgage
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

26/08/2025

🏉🔥 First Game of the Season – And It’s at HOME! 🔥🏉

The wait is nearly over – the 2025/26 season kicks off in two weeks and we’re starting in front of our own crowd at Brightlingsea RFC! 🎉

📍 Location: Stranger Corner Playing Fields, Church Road, Brightlingsea, Essex, CO7 0QU

🗓 Date: 06/09/2025

⏰ Kick-off: 1500

⚔️ Fixture: Brightlingsea RFC 🆚 Aldeburgh Rugby Club

Come down, bring your friends and family, and get behind the lads as we start the season strong. Your support makes all the difference – let’s make some noise at home! ❤️🖤

Let’s kick off the season in style – see you there!