Rhys Edwards Mortgage Consultant

04/11/2026

More welcome movement in mortgage pricing this week.

Nationwide is the latest lender to trim its fixed rates, with reductions of up to 0.15%.

That needs to be put into context. I’ve spoken with clients this week who are approaching the end of five-year fixes taken when rates were exceptionally low. For those borrowers, today’s improved pricing will still represent a significant increase in monthly repayments.

I’ve been following swap rates closely, and the modest reductions we’ve seen this week gave me some hope that lender pricing would start to follow.

It’s encouraging to see that beginning to happen, but there is still plenty of uncertainty. Oil prices, geopolitical developments and their wider economic impact can all quickly influence market expectations.

That said, it feels good to be talking about reductions rather than increases, however small they may be.

If your mortgage deal is coming to an end within the next six months, now is the time to start thinking about your options.

Most lenders’ existing customer product ranges won’t become available until around three to four months before your current deal ends, although there are some exceptions.
But that doesn’t mean you need to wait.

Starting the conversation earlier gives borrowers time to understand their position, consider the potential impact on their monthly budget and explore the options that may be available.

Being prepared doesn’t mean committing early. It means knowing what your options are before you need to make a decision.

Call now to connect with business.

30/10/2026

Trick or treat for the mortgage market this Halloween? 🎃

It’s been quite a week…

🍬 Treat: A new route onto the property ladder through Your First Home, with eligible first-time buyers able to purchase new-builds with just a 2.5% deposit.

👻 Trick: Landlords face higher property income tax rates from 2027.

🕸️ Still gathering cobwebs: Stamp Duty reform, with no changes announced despite calls from the property industry.

😱 The ongoing fright: Mortgage rates remain elevated, so for anyone approaching the end of a fixed rate, planning early remains important.

My view: there might be plenty of scary headlines around, but good mortgage advice is about looking beyond them and understanding what the changes actually mean for you.

Have a great Halloween weekend! 🎃👻



Sources (Rightmove and Mortgage strategy)

Stratton Wealth Management

28/10/2026

🏠 My take on today’s Budget from a mortgage perspective...

Budgets generate plenty of headlines, but for me the important question is always:

What does this actually mean for borrowers?
There are some interesting developments for first-time buyers, including the new First Time Buyer ISA, while owners and purchasers of properties above £2 million in England will have a new High Value Council Tax Surcharge to consider.

But for the majority of mortgage borrowers, the bigger story may actually come after the Budget.

I'll be watching how markets react, what happens to interest-rate expectations and, crucially, whether lenders respond by changing mortgage pricing.

So if you're buying, moving or approaching a remortgage, I wouldn't make a decision based solely on today's headlines.

Get the numbers in front of you, understand your options and make the decision that's right for your circumstances.



[Source gov.uk]

26/10/2026

Pleased to share an article I recently contributed to on the shifting landscape of £500k+ mortgages across the UK.

As regional property markets continue to grow, we're seeing demand for larger loans extend well beyond London.

Worth a read if you're keeping an eye on the housing market.

A Manchester-based adviser explains why the north’s high-value mortgage market is eating into London’s dominance

22/10/2026

Nice little tweak from The Mortgage Works, just announced.

Ive always believed that lender criteria should evolve alongside the market. That's why I was pleased to see The Mortgage Works announce that directors and shareholders can now have more than one Limited Company financed with them.

For many professional landlords, multiple company structures are a practical part of managing and growing a property portfolio. Having greater lending flexibility around those structures simply reflects the reality of how investors operate today.

Changes like this wont grab the headlines, but they can have a meaningful impact for landlords looking to expand their portfolios and for advisers supporting those ambitions. Its another reminder that understanding lender criteria can be just as valuable as securing a competitive rate.

Good to see lenders continuing to adapt to the changing needs of the buy-to-let market.

19/10/2026

See my thoughts on recent rate reductions

With competitiveness returning to the mortgage market, client conversations are finally starting to feel different

09/07/2026

My view on the current market rates vs house pricing, which is leading the market?

Broker reveals why falling rates, not price data, are bringing buyers back to the market

04/07/2026

📈 Mortgage Market, This Weeks Round-Up

It's been another positive week in the mortgage market, with a number of lenders continuing to trim rates and improve product offerings. Every reduction helps, particularly for clients approaching the end of a deal or looking to get onto the property ladder.

There was also some significant industry news this week, with the announcement that the Halifax Intermediaries brand will transition to Lloyds.
For many brokers, Halifax has been a core lender for years, so it certainly feels like the end of an era. However, the change brings some exciting opportunities, particularly the prospect of greater access to Lloyds Premier products and rates, providing more choice and potentially more competitive options for clients.

The combination of falling rates, increased lender competition and broader product availability is creating a much more positive environment than we've seen for some time.

As always, I'll be keeping a close eye on developments and helping clients navigate the best options available.

Have a great weekend everyone.

30/06/2026

See my thoughts on recent headlines, Falling Mortgage approvals

Mortgage professionals say buyers are taking longer to commit as remortgage approvals drop sharply and rate cut hopes fade

22/06/2026

The UK has some of the youngest first-time buyers in Europe—but can more be done to support them? I’ve shared my thoughts in this Mortgage Introducer article.

The UK's average first-time buyer age is 28 – but brokers say location, deposits, and knowledge still hold many back