The Mortgage Network

03/09/2026

Mortgage fees vary a lot more than most people realise. Most deals have a single upfront fee, typically around £999 for common scenarios, though some run to almost £4,000, and percentage based fees tend to show up more on larger loans and buy-to-let mortgages. Remortgage deals carry the highest average fees at £1,117, compared with under £900 for first-time buyers and home movers.

The lowest rate doesn't always end up being the cheapest option once fees are added in, and it's possible to add the fee to the loan itself instead of paying it upfront, though that means paying interest on it for as long as it stays on the mortgage.

Early repayment charges are worth being aware of too, they can reach 5% of the amount repaid in the first year, usually reducing each year after.

Top deals typically come with a £999 fee

02/09/2026

The Society of Pension Professionals estimates a £48 billion shortfall in retirement income across the UK, while that same generation of retirees holds £3,840 billion tied up in housing wealth. It's part of why housing and pensions are increasingly being talked about together, with property now making up a bigger share of household wealth than pensions do.

Equity release, usually through what's called a lifetime mortgage, is one way to access some of that value without moving house, available from age 55, with the amount you can borrow increasing as you get older.

There are real trade-offs though: it reduces what you can leave behind, can get expensive without voluntary repayments, and usually comes with early repayment charges. It's a specialist, regulated area too, requiring advisers with specific equity release qualifications.

How equity release can help to bolster your later life finances

01/09/2026

House hunting is picking up across the UK, with searches up 7% in the four weeks to 16 August compared with last year, according to Zoopla. It's the first time every region has seen activity rise at the same time in over a year, with the east and southeast of England and Wales leading the way. The number of homes on the market is up 5% too, although new listings are still lower than last year.

Affordability is still the sticking point though. Average five-year fixed mortgage rates have gone from below 4% in January to around 4.8%, and house prices across the UK grew 0.9% year on year in July, a slower pace than June. Zoopla says the low point for activity was mid-July, around the World Cup final, with things picking up steadily since.

The number of people searching for homes to buy increased by 7% in the four weeks to August 16, compared with last year, Zoopla found

31/08/2026

Happy Bank Holiday Monday, I hope you have a relaxing day planned.

If you fancy catching up on mortgage news or need an insight into the process, you'll find lots of interesting blogs on my website.

29/08/2026

L&C Mortgages have published new research showing just how much mortgage payments are weighing on borrowers. 52% worry about their payments at least once a month. 42% say it's their biggest financial pressure, ahead of energy bills and food.

39% are paying £1,000 or more a month, and 85% say the first thing they'd do if their mortgage was covered for six months is save the money.

L&C have shared five ways borrowers could potentially reduce their monthly costs. If you're feeling the pressure, it's a practical one to look at as wel as my blog this week, whch explains what happens if you miss a mortgage payment.

28/08/2026

New data from Sprive makes for interesting reading. Two thirds of homeowners under 30 are on mortgage terms of between 30 and 40 years, and even then monthly payments are averaging just over £1,000.

The under-30s are paying an average rate of 4.50% and are typically on course to own their home outright at age 59. It's the shape of the market for first-time buyers right now: longer terms, higher rates, and still meaningful monthly costs.

Two-thirds of homeowners under 30 now have mortgage terms of between 30 and 40 years as younger borrowers seek to manage monthly costs.

27/08/2026

“Fixed rate mortgages — the most popular product in the UK. Here’s what you actually need to know.

A fixed rate locks your interest rate for a set period, usually 2 or 5 years, so your payments stay guaranteed no matter what happens in the market.

The catch? If rates drop and you want out early, you’ll usually have an early repayment charge — and in most cases it wipes out any savings.
But you’re not totally locked in. Most lenders let you overpay up to 10% a year penalty-free — perfect if you have a lump sum. And most fixed rates are portable, so you can take them with you if you move house, subject to a new application.

Not sure whether to fix for 2 years, 5 years, or go variable? Drop a comment and let me know your plan — or get in touch and I’ll talk you through your options.

Homebuying

27/08/2026

Inflation has ticked up to 2.9% in July, with the energy price cap rise the main factor. The Bank of England's next meeting is 17 September, and the mortgage market has already started responding, with several lenders moving fixed rates higher in anticipation over recent weeks.

The general view from mortgage experts is that the July figure was expected, so the immediate impact on rates is limited. But with three of the nine MPC members already pushing for a rate rise at the last meeting, there's plenty of uncertainty about what comes next.

26/08/2026

If you're moving this Friday (28th August), you've picked the busiest moving day of the year. August is the most popular month for removals and Friday is the most popular day, which means removal companies are in high demand and prices reflect it.

Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days to move, with average removal costs around £100 lower than a Friday. January is the quietest month if you have real flexibility.

The total average cost of moving home is now close to £18,000, with stamp duty making up the biggest chunk at around £9,750. Useful context if you're in the process of planning a move.

The day and month you move can affect what you pay for removals – here's how to keep costs down

25/08/2026

Some interesting data from Rightmove this week on commuter belt asking prices. The biggest growth is coming from the more affordable locations - Falkirk is up 13.5% annually with an average asking price of £183,596, and several Greater Manchester locations are close behind.

Meanwhile, London's commuter belt is telling a different story. Haywards Heath down 4.8%, Maidenhead down 3.9%, and London itself down 3.1% on the year.

Two very different markets depending on where you're looking.

It looked at asking prices in locations around London, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff.