Steve McKernan

30/04/2026

Mandy Hubbard and Debbie Davies deciding if they stay in or go out to the local pub 🤦‍♂️

29/04/2026

Mandy Hubbard who does this remind me of ??

29/04/2026

Ready to trade the "Standard Let" for a "Holiday Let"? 🏖️

Before you dive into the world of staycations and short-term bookings, the mortgage landscape has changed fast in 2026. Here are 5 things most landlords are missing right now:

1️⃣ The "Low Season" Reality Check 📉
Lenders don’t just care about your peak summer income. They average your Low, Mid, and High season projections. A quiet winter can tank your borrowing power, even if you’re fully booked in August.

2️⃣ The 90-Day Rule 🚫
Dreaming of spending the whole summer in your coastal cottage? Most holiday let mortgages cap your personal use at 90 days per year. Stay longer, and you could be in breach of your mortgage contract.

3️⃣ Section 24 Has Arrived 💸
The "golden era" of full tax relief is over. Since the 2025 FHL tax changes, you now only get a 20% tax credit on mortgage interest—just like a standard BTL. If you’re a higher-rate taxpayer, run those numbers again!

4️⃣ No Registration = No Mortgage 📝
With the National Registration Scheme now in full swing, lenders are demanding your registration number before they'll even think about releasing funds. No compliance, no cash.

5️⃣ The "Green" Interest Gap 🔋
While an EPC C isn't a legal requirement yet (the minimum is still E!), lenders are now rewarding efficient properties. If your cottage is drafty, you might find yourself stuck with higher interest rates compared to "Green Mortgage" deals for A-C rated homes.

The bottom line: The holiday let market is still a great opportunity, but the "business" side is more professional than ever.

Thinking of making the jump? Drop a "YES" below and let’s talk yields! 👇

⚠️ Please Note: Most Buy-to-Let and Holiday Let mortgages are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Ensure you seek independent professional advice before making any financial commitments.

28/04/2026

There’s got to be worse places to work from home. Oh well I’ll just have to grin and bear it.

28/04/2026

Time off work happens more than we think

MetLife’s Everyday Risk Report shows that everyday injuries like fractures, muscle tears, back strain and concussion are far more common than most people realise, and these are exactly the types of events that often stop people working.
Real life = real risks.

Curious what this kind of cover would look like for you? Contact me to review your protection package.

28/04/2026

🤕 Play Hard, Stay Protected: Is Your Team Covered?

We all love the weekend warrior life, but let's be real: amateur sports come with more than just bragging rights—they come with risks. Whether it's a mistimed tackle or a slick pitch, injuries are part of the game.

Did you know the probability of a fracture increases significantly in contact sports? Here’s the breakdown:

• Football Players: It’s not just about the goals. Between slide tackles and awkward landings, metatarsal and ankle fractures are incredibly common.

• Rugby Players: With high-impact collisions, the risk of broken collarbones (clavicles) or ribs is a constant reality every time you hit the ruck.

• Hockey Players: Between the flying pucks and the sticks, hand and wrist fractures are a frequent hazard of the turf.

When an injury happens, the last thing you want to worry about is how you’re going to pay the bills while you're off work.

🛡️ Why a MetLife Plan is a Game Changer

A MetLife Multi-Protect plan provides a financial safety net designed specifically for active people. It pays out a tax-free lump sum for a wide range of injuries, including broken bones, ensuring you can focus on recovery rather than lost earnings.
Key Benefits:

• Fracture Cover: Pay outs for multiple types of broken bones (even if you've had the injury before).
• Hospitalisation Benefit: Cash back for every 24 hours you spend in a hospital bed.
• No Medical Underwriting: No long forms or blood tests—just straightforward protection.
• 24/7 Wellbeing Support: Access to professional mental health and physical recovery resources.

Important Note: You cannot purchase this plan directly from MetLife. It is only available through authorised specialist partners to ensure you get the right advice and the correct level of cover for your specific sport.

🤝 Attention Club Secretaries: Support Your Players & Your Club!
We want to help local clubs thrive while keeping players protected. We are offering a special partnership for local teams:

For every club member who takes out a MetLife policy through us, we will donate £10 directly back to your club funds! ⚽🏉🏒

It’s a win-win: your players get the elite protection they deserve, and the club gets an extra boost for kit, equipment, or pitch fees.

Want to protect your squad and raise funds?

DM us today or drop a comment below to get an info pack for your members! 📩

27/04/2026

Why are self-employed people still treated as “high risk” by mortgage lenders? 🤔

It’s a question that doesn’t get asked loudly enough.

Across the UK, thousands of self-employed professionals — from tradespeople and consultants to business owners — are being told they can’t borrow what they can clearly afford. Not because they’re irresponsible with money, but because the system they’re being measured against doesn’t reflect how they actually earn.

Here’s the contradiction:

Statistics consistently show that many self-employed individuals are highly resilient earners. They adapt quickly, diversify income streams, and often maintain strong financial discipline just to keep their businesses running. In many cases, they build up savings buffers that employed applicants simply don’t have.

Yet when it comes to mortgages, the rules can feel stacked against them.

Lenders often:

Average income over multiple years (even if income is rising)
Discount legitimate business expenses in ways that reduce affordability

Hesitate over “irregular” income — even when total annual earnings are strong and consistent

Meanwhile, someone in a salaried role with less financial flexibility can be seen as a safer bet purely because their income fits neatly into a monthly box.

So what’s really going on?

Is it outdated risk models?

A lack of understanding of modern working patterns?
Or simply a system that hasn’t caught up with the reality that self-employment is no longer the exception — it’s the norm for millions?

If affordability is truly about the ability to repay, shouldn’t the focus be on real financial behaviour rather than rigid income structures?

It’s time for a more balanced conversation.

If you’re self-employed and struggling to get the borrowing you know you can afford, it may be worth speaking to someone who understands how to present your income properly to lenders.

📞 Call Steve McKernan on 0785 4095734 to discuss your options.

👇 We’d really like to hear from you:

If you’re self-employed, what has your experience been when applying for a mortgage — either now or in the past?

Were you offered less than expected? Asked for excessive documentation? Declined despite strong earnings? Or did you find a lender who understood your situation?

Share your story in the comments — your experience could help others in the same position.

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

01/04/2026

To buy or not to Buy ?

🛑 The Ultimate Question: Buy a Home Now OR Wait? 🛑

Everybody seems to have a different opinion right now. Some say it’s a disaster, others say it’s a massive opportunity!

📈 Arguments to BUY NOW: You have less competition, sellers are actually negotiating, and you can lock in a home now and simply remortgage later if rates drop.

⏳ Arguments to WAIT: Mortgage rates are just way too high, making monthly payments painful. It might be better to wait and see if prices cool down even more.

Where do you stand? We genuinely want to know what you’re thinking!

Cast your vote below! 👇

A) BUY NOW! You can’t time the market and you need a home.

😎 WAIT! The market is still too shaky/expensive.

Sound off in the comments! What’s the main factor deciding it for you? Is it the mortgage rate, the price, or just finding the perfect location?

Let’s talk about it.

30/03/2026

Wayne Hillyer this is what I was talking about 👍

The next Coventry pin meeting will be on Thursday 9th April 2026
We are pleased to announce that we have some fantastic expert speakers joining us for the evening:
Property Alchemy – ‘turning vendors lead into your property gold!’ - Paul Collyer
This will be a night you do not want to miss!
You can book your place by clicking the Learn more button on our page
We look forward to seeing you there!
Regards,
Anthony and Alison

17/03/2026

The Tale of Two Homeowners

Alex and the "Two-Year Sprint"

Alex is a bit of an optimist. He’s the type who watches the news and thinks, "The economy is a rollercoaster, and I want to be ready to jump off if things get better."

Alex chooses a 2-year fixed rate.

• The Pro: His monthly payment is slightly lower right now, and he feels nimble. If interest rates drop in 18 months, he’s only a short wait away from snagging an even better deal.

• The Con: Two years fly by. Before he knows it, he’s back at his kitchen table filling out paperwork and paying another £999 arrangement fee. Plus, he has a nagging worry: if rates climb instead of fall, his "cheap" deal might vanish, and his payments could skyrocket.

Sam and the "Five-Year Fortress"

Sam, on the other hand, values sleep more than a potential bargain. She wants to know exactly what her life looks like until the next decade is halfway through.

Sam chooses a 5-year fixed rate.

• The Pro: Total peace of mind. While the news talks about inflation or market swings, Sam just sips her tea. Her payment is locked in stone. She saves money on fees because she only has to deal with a bank once every half-decade.
# #
• The Con: Three years in, Sam’s dream job opens up in another country. To sell the house and close the mortgage early, she’s hit with a massive Early Repayment Charge. Also, if interest rates plummet to record lows, she’s "trapped" paying her old, higher rate while Alex brags about his new savings at the neighborhood BBQ.

The Moral of the Story

The "best" rate isn't found on a spreadsheet; it’s found in your lifestyle.

• Choose the Alex path (2 years) if you want flexibility, expect to earn more soon, or believe the market is about to get cheaper.

• Choose the Sam path (5 years) if you want to set your budget, avoid the hassle of constant paperwork, and protect yourself against "worst-case" rate hikes.

16/04/2025

📉 Good news for mortgage holders!

UK inflation has dropped to 2.6% in March, coming in lower than expected and continuing its downward trend from earlier this year.

➡️ This boosts the chances of a Bank of England rate cut in May – a potential win for borrowers!

🔍 While mortgage lenders have already priced in some of the drop, today’s data strengthens the outlook for better mortgage deals ahead.

📊 Core inflation also dipped slightly, adding more fuel to the case for lower rates over the coming months.

💬 Markets now expect multiple rate cuts this year, offering some relief for homeowners in a time of global uncertainty.

👀 All eyes on the next Bank of England meeting: May 8th could be the turning point.