Bristol, Exeter and Bath Mortgages Online, have chosen to support a cause very close to our hearts. In May 2017, our MD’s eldest daughter, Tallulah, at the age of 19, was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition called Ataxia type AOA2. Tallulah had been to see numerous specialists since the age of 11 before  having this condition diagnosed

What is ataxia?

Ataxia is the name given to a group of neurological disorders that affect balance, coordination, and speech. There are many different types of ataxia that can affect people in different ways.

Who gets ataxia?

Anyone of any age can get ataxia, but certain types are more common in certain age groups.

How many people have ataxia?

The ataxias are rare conditions. Estimates from recent studies say that there are at least 10,000 adults and around 500 children in the UK with a progressive ataxia.

Is there any cure?

Some forms of ataxia are treatable, but in most cases, there is still no cure. We are supporting research and putting all our efforts in trying to get treatments or cures for the ataxias.

What causes ataxia?

There are many different causes for ataxia. It's important to remember that ataxia is a symptom and may occur as a result of many different underlying conditions.   Many ataxias are inherited conditions and caused by having defects in certain genes.  Research is ongoing to identify other genes which cause inherited cerebellar ataxias and discover how they exert their effects These people would be diagnosed as having idiopathic cerebellar ataxia and there are many researchers focusing on finding new genes and new types of ataxias.

How to support Tallulah

Despite having to deal with her recent diagnosis and just starting at Sheffield University, Tallulah has set herself an incredible personal challenge of raising £10,000 to help fund research and build awareness of Ataxia.

 Please can you click on the link below to donate to the very worthy cause. We will be donating on a regular basis for each completion we finalise and will be organising fund raising events .

We are asking all our friends, family, clients and business partners to donate so that Tallulah will reach her target of £10,000.

 Please click HERE on the link below to go to Tallulah’s Just Giving fundraising page

Using Bristol, Bath or Exeter Mortgages Online saves you the legwork. We have regular contact with a wide variety of lenders, some of whom you may not even know about. The alternative to working with us, is to call up dozens of lenders and compare their mortgage terms and rates on your own. We save you the time and headache of having to do that. Using our expert knowledge of the whole market, we can also steer you away from certain lenders with onerous payment terms buried in their mortgage small print.

We give you more choice

We search the whole market for the best product for you, as we are not tied to a specific lender. Some lenders work exclusively with mortgage brokers and rely on them to be the gatekeepers to bring them suitable clients. You may not be able to contact some lenders directly. We may also be able to get special rates from lenders due to the volume of business generated that might be lower than you can get on your own.

You may save some fees

There are several different types of fees that can be involved in taking on a new mortgage or working with a new lender, we may be able to negotiate with lenders to waive or reduce some of these fees which can save you hundreds to thousands of pounds.

We hold your hand through to completion

We have a team of expert support and administration staff who will process your application, progress your offer and chase any queries. We work with you, your Estate Agents and Solicitors, to make the process as smooth as possible. This saves hours of your time waiting on calls and chasing a wide circle of people during office hours.

 Our clients rate our service as being 5-star, please check out the links on our websites to view over 100 5-star Google Reviews

For expert advice and more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites, call or email.

Bristol Mortgages Online     www.bristolmortgagesonline.com         Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online         www.bathmortgagesonline.com             Tel  01225 584 888

Exeter Mortgages Online     www.exetermortgagesonline.com           Tel 01392 690 888

Adapted by a Zoopla article By Nicky Burridge September 27, 2017

What’s the latest?

Mortgage lending was subdued in August but first-time buyers continued to make the most of opportunities to get on to the property ladder. A total of £24.2bn was advanced by all lenders during the month, in line with monthly lending figures for most of 2017, once seasonal factors were taken into account.

Mortgage approvals for house purchases totalled 41,807 in August, also broadly unchanged from the previous six months, according to UK Finance. But first-time buyers continued to take advantage of the lack of activity by other groups, with a 17% jump in the number of people buying their first home compared with two years earlier.

Going forward, UK Finance said it expected lending growth to be dampened by a potentially more challenging economic outlook.

Why is this happening?

Housing market activity has been increasing modestly since the start of the year, but the mix of purchasers had shifted towards first-time buyers and away from buy-to-let investors, UK Finance said.

It added that there was also some evidence of rebalancing across the regions, with activity picking up in the north of England, Wales and Scotland, while it was more subdued in the less affordable regions of London, the south east and East Anglia.

Who does it affect?

There has been a significant shift in who has been driving activity in the housing market during the past year. Purchases by buy-to-let investors were 31% lower in July than they had been two years earlier, as a raft of tax changes have made the sector less profitable.

This void has been filled by first-time buyers, who traditionally buy the same types of properties as investors. A total of 356,000 first-time buyers bought a home in the year to the end of July, 17% more than two years earlier, and only slightly below the figure of 361,000 for home-movers during the same period.

What’s the background?

First-time buyers are not only benefitting from a fall in competition from investors, but they have also received support from a number of government schemes. The Help to Buy scheme enables people to acquire a property with just a 5% deposit, while the Starter Home initiative enables first-time buyers to purchase somewhere for below the market rate.

The Government has also introduced the Help to Buy ISA, whereby it tops up the savings of those setting aside money for a house deposit by 25%, or up to £3,000. Mortgage lenders have also become more open to lending to first-time buyers.

There are currently a record number of 90% loan-to-value mortgages on offer, with 275 different deals available.

Top 3 takeaways

• Mortgage lending was subdued in August but first-time buyers continued to get on to the property ladder
  
• A total of £24.2bn was advanced by all lenders during the month, in line with monthly lending figures for most of 2017
•  Mortgage approvals for house purchase totaled 41,807 in August, in line with the previous six months

For expert advice and more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites, call or email.

Bristol Mortgages Online     www.bristolmortgagesonline.com           Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online         www.bathmortgagesonline.com             Tel 01225 584 888

Exeter Mortgages Online     www.exetermortgagesonline.com           Tel 01392 690 888

All the team at Bristol Mortgages Online are thrilled to have been chosen as a “Best Business of 2017” for Mortgage Brokers in Bristol, by Three Best Rated.

We received this great news via an email last week stating

“Congratulations! You are now listed as one of the Top 3 Mortgage broker in Bristol. We would like to Thank You for providing consistent high quality in your area of business. Our review team either approved or updated your business listing using our 50-Point Inspection which includes everything from checking reputation, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust and cost to the general excellence”

Three Best Rated® was created with a simple goal to find potential customers and clients the top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants and health care providers in any city. Their specialist employees handpick the top 3 local businesses. They check business's reputation, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost, general excellence using our 50-Point Inspection. They display only businesses that are verified by their specialists.

Please click here to see our listing

If you would like to book a free consultation to see why we have been chosen as the Best Mortgage Broker in Bristol and why we also have over 100 5-star Google reviews, please contact us today

For expert advice and more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites, call or email.

You will reçoive equally outstanding service from our two Sister businesses in Bath and Exeter

Bristol Mortgages Online     www.bristolmortgagesonline.com           Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online         www.bathmortgagesonline.com              Tel 01225 584 888

Exeter Mortgages Online     www.exetermortgagesonline.com           Tel  01392 690 888

Bristol, Bath and Exeter Mortgages Online are delighted to launch their first newsletter.

The newsletter is called “Mortgage & Protection News” and contains interesting and up to date reports in each issue.

This issue includes articles of interest from First time buyers through to Buy to Let Investors.  In particular is a piece regarding dispelling some of the myths regarding Protection.

If you are an existing client or considering using us for the first time, please visit one of our websites and read through one of our 100 5-star Goggle Reviews to discover why our customer value the service we offer and come back to us time and time again.

Please click here to view or download our Autumn edition of “Mortgage & Protection News”

For expert advice and more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites or contact us

Bristol Mortgages Online     www.bristolmortgagesonline.com          Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online         www.bathmortgagesonline.com   Tel 01225 584 888

Exeter Mortgages Online        www.exetermortgagesonline.com     Tel  01392 690 888

Or email info@swmortgages.com

Complex buy-to-let lending changes, due to come into force shortly, could result in a 'surge' of rental stock going back on the market for sale, says Portico.

Adapted from a Zoopla article by Nicky Burridge September 4, 2017

What’s the latest?

New buy-to-let mortgage rules could force rents higher and lead to a fall in the number of homes available to let. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is tightening up the way lenders assess applications from landlords with four or more mortgaged properties. Under the new regime, lenders will have to look at a landlord’s entire property portfolio when deciding whether or not to grant them a mortgage.

As a result, if some of their properties do not generate enough rent to cover mortgage repayments under the so-called stress test, they may have their application rejected. Industry commentators have warned the rules could lead to landlords raising their rents and selling off unprofitable properties. Although the new rules are not due to come into force until the end of September, some lenders have already adopted them.

Why is this happening?

The rules are being introduced to ensure lenders have a full picture of a landlord’s financial exposure, in a bid to avoid riskier lending. The buy-to-let sector has been on the Bank of England’s radar as a potential threat to stability for some time. The PRA has previously introduced a tougher stress test, under which rental income must be equivalent to at least 125% of mortgage interest at a nominal rate of 5.5%, with many lenders imposing a higher level of 145%.

Who does it affect?

The move is likely to be bad news for landlords and tenants alike. Not only is it likely to be harder for landlords to qualify for a mortgage under the new rules, but they will also face a significantly higher administration burden, having to provide a full breakdown on the rental income for all their properties, a business plan and cash flow projection.

Mark Lawrinson, regional director of estate agent Portico , says: “We may see a surge of rental stock come back on the market for sale as landlords look to offload their weakest performing properties in order to get further lending on more potentially profitable properties.  The rules could also lead to an increase in rents, as landlords look to cover any shortfalls".

Meanwhile, there is speculation the new criteria could lead to some lenders ceasing to advance mortgages to portfolio landlords due to the higher level of work involved in assessing their suitability.

What’s the background?

The rule changes are the latest in a series of alterations to impact buy-to-let landlords. They come after the Government introduced a 3% stamp duty surcharge for those buying an investment property or second home.

There has also been a reduction to mortgage interest tax relief, and the 10% ‘wear & tear’ allowance has been abolished. The changes are making it harder for buy-to-let investments to be profitable, causing some landlords to stop adding to their portfolios, while others are exiting the sector altogether, exacerbating the current shortage of homes to let.

Top 3 takeaways

• New buy-to-let mortgage rules could force rents higher and lead to a fall in the number of homes available to let
  
• The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is introducing new rules on the way lenders assess applications from landlords with four or more mortgaged properties
• Under the new regime, lenders will have to look at a landlord’s entire property portfolio when deciding whether or not to grant them a mortgage

For expert advice and more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites or contact us

Bristol Mortgages Online     www.bristolmortgagesonline.com           Tel 0117 325 1511

Bath Mortgages Online         www.bathmortgagesonline.com             Tel 01225 584 888

Exeter Mortgages Online     www.exetermortgagesonline.com           Tel  01392 690 888

Or email info@swmortgages.com

This is an article updated on 7th August 2017 taken from the moyfacts.co.uk website. Money Facts has a great reputation and describes exactly the service that we offer as a fully Independent Mortgage Broker.

What does a mortgage broker do that you can't? And why should you pay for their services when there are already loads of other costs when moving home or remortgaging?

If you're asking yourself these questions, it can be more than tempting to cut out the middleman. However, you may want to think twice. Mortgage advice, from a reputable broker, can be an invaluable service – and here's why…

  You're protected

An important thing to understand is that when you receive mortgage advice, your mortgage broker has a duty of care to you. They have to recommend a suitable mortgage and be able to justify why the particular mortgage they have chosen is right for you. If their advice is not up to scratch, you can complain and be compensated.

In contrast, if you go directly to a high street mortgage lender, don't take advice, and end up with a mortgage that later becomes unaffordable, you may not have so much legal recourse. (However, under the rules of the Mortgage Market Review, it's the lender's responsibility to ensure affordability – so even if you buy direct, you could have some recourse. Nonetheless, a broker can still offer a valuable layer of protection.)

A mortgage broker is qualified

There's an awful lot to think about when choosing the right mortgage. It's not as simple as just opting for the cheapest fixed or tracker rate mortgage you can find!

Mortgage brokers have to be qualified to give you mortgage advice, whereas you may not get that kind of guarantee if you ring up a lender's call centre. That said, new regulations mean that all call centre staff need to be advisers or must refer you to someone who is, and if you went in-branch, you'd be able to arrange an appointment with one of their mortgage advisers.

A broker is on your side

An independent mortgage broker will look for the best mortgage for you. They aren't on the lender's side, they're on yours, and they'll give you access to far more products than if you went direct. You'd get unbiased advice and would be able to choose from a range of lenders and subsequent products, rather than being restricted to the single range of the lender you go to.

They know the industry

Mortgage criteria have tightened massively over the last few years, with the Mortgage Market Review being the latest, and arguably widest-ranging, development. It's been designed to ensure borrowers can prove affordability, even in the event of a rate rise, and those extra checks have understandably increased application times.

That's why it's so important to stay in the loop – and to have a mortgage broker on your side who understands it all. A broker deals with lenders on a day-to-day basis, so they'll know what the application process is like for each one and can tell you which lender can process your application with minimal delays. They also know the background criteria that a lender has and can bring this experience to bear when advising you and processing your application.

Then there's the fact that, because a mortgage broker may put a lot of business to a particular lender in a year, they can exert influence and chase things in a way you just can't do by yourself – and that can be invaluable should things get held up.

It's not just about the mortgage

A mortgage broker won't just advise you about your mortgage. They will also look at any related life insurance, payment protection and even buildings and contents insurance you have.

They will recommend insurance based on your new mortgage arrangements to make sure you are fully protected in the event of:

• Death
  
• Critical illness (such as cancer, heart attack or stroke)
  
• Redundancy
  

Don't be put off by a fee

Mortgage advice tailored to your situation is a service. In order for the mortgage broker to be able to offer this service, they need to make money.

They do this by one or both of the following:

• Charging a fee. This could be a one-off fee for advice, or a fee that pays for advice throughout the term of your mortgage (if you need to remortgage, move home, etc.).
  
• Commission. Lenders and insurers may decide to pay the mortgage broker commission for putting your business their way.
  

Where can I find out how much my mortgage broker makes?

Mortgage brokers are required to provide you with a Key Facts document about their services that details any fees or commission they charge or earn.

You will also be provided with a Key Facts Illustration (KFI) about the specific mortgage being recommended. Details of your broker's fees can be found in section 8 of the KFI. Details of any commission earned by your broker for introducing your business to the mortgage lender can be found in section 13 of the KFI

The value of advice

Mortgages are a lot more difficult than they first appear. Knowing what rate, term, lender, features and insurance to get are all time-consuming and complex matters.

Comparing mortgages on a site like Moneyfacts.co.uk is a good place to start – it's great to get an idea of what's out there. But choosing a mortgage is a process far more complicated than simply opting for the lowest rate or the best incentives.

A mortgage broker takes your whole circumstances into account to recommend a suitable product, and it's that thorough, professional look at your finances that makes advice well worth paying for.

Extra Information about us….

Bristol Mortgages Online, Bath Mortgages Online and Exeter Mortgages Online, are completely Independent Mortgage Brokers, we deal with the Whole Market. We offer a FREE initial Consultation, should you wish to proceed with the advice and recommendations given, our typical fees for UK residential and buy to let mortgage advice is £490. Initially £195 will be payable on submission of your application to the lender and the balance of £295 will be due within 14 days of you receiving the mortgage offer. If the mortgage completes, we will also receive any commission payable from the lender. Fees for Expat Mortgages and Equity Release products will vary. Our fees include full administration and progressing support, from our fully qualified team, right the way through to completion.

For more information or to book your FREE consultation please visit one of our websites or contact us

www.bristolmortgagesonline.com   0117 325 1511 email info@swmortgages.com

www.bathmortgagesonline.com       01225 584 888 email info@swmortgages.com

www.exetermortgagesonline.com   01392 690 888 email info@swmortgages.co m

Bristol Mortgages Online are based at Henleaze House in North Bristol. We have been here for three and a half years and also use it as our Head Office for our sister businesses, Bath Mortgages Online and Exeter Mortgages Online.

We think we’re in a great location as most of our clients don’t want the hassle of driving into the City Centre of Bristol, or Clifton and then have trouble parking. We can offer free parking either in the car park or on one of the local streets. Our Admin and Progressing team are also based here so it’s incredibly convenient to drop off any documents or have a chat if you have any queries.

We deal with clients from far and wide, but many of our new clients live in Henleaze, Westbury on Trym, Stoke Bishop and Redland. A lot of clients come to see us straight from work, as we are open until 7.30pm. For those working at Air Bus, Rolls Royce or Aztec West we are conveniently located along Southmead Road just off Wellington Hill West. Recently we have been helping numerous staff based at Southmead Hospital as we are literally 5 minutes away.

For many clients either working shifts, or with young families it is not so easy to come to us, so we are more than happy to come and see you at home.

If you would like to book a free consultation with us you can find us at Henleaze House, Henleaze, Bristol BS9 4PN. Our other branches are located at Bath Mortgages Online, The Guild, High Street, Bath, BA1 5EB and Exeter Mortgages Online 37a Fore Street, Topsham. Devon, EX3 0HR

For more information or to book your free consultation please visit one of our websites or contact us

www.bristolmortgagesonline.com   0117 325 1511 email info@swmortgages.com

www.bathmortgagesonline.com       01225 584 888 email i nfo@swmortgages.com

www.exetermortgagesonline.com   01392 690 888 email info@swmortgages.com

We are absolutely thrilled to have just received our 100th Google Review and every single one is 5-stars!!

Having highly satisfied clients and an excellent reputation is key to our philosophy not only here at Bristol Mortgages Online but also with our other businesses in Exeter and Bath.

Many of our new clients come to us as they have been recommended. Our excellent 5- star reviews both on Google and Facebook give potential clients the reassurance that we are nice people to deal with!

We are always overwhelmed by the lovely comments.  Our MD Phil Clark often receives accolades from clients, as do our other Mortgage Advisers. However, often it is both Kamila and George who get a special mention, as clients are so grateful for the amazing progressing service they provide, leading to a smooth and efficient completion.

Some of our most recent reviews include:

PR They made the process so simple for us and put us immediately at ease, which made it a really simple process of picking the right mortgage for us.

DB  Fantastic and friendly advice over the last 7 years, highly recommended have saved me a small fortune.

 JM As a first time buyer I was a bit clueless about the mortgage process and have found Paul Kelly and team to be exceptionally helpful. Paul arranged everything for me and was able to answer my many questions, making the experience completely smooth and stress free. Highly recommend Bristol Mortgages Online.

DG I am very grateful and pleased with the service that I get from Bristol Mortgages Online colleagues Paul and Kamila. It was a very good service and it was a stress free experience.

  f you would like to read more of our Google Reviews please click here 

To book a FREE CONSULTATION with one of our Expert Mortgage Advisers please call 0117 325 1511                                          or visit www.bristolmortgagesonline.com