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Mortgage Update- 19/11/04

Buy to Let Still Strong - even with possible house price falls

A lot of attention has focused recently on the 'slowdown' in the rate of property price rise.  The Bank of England expects prices to "fall modestly for a period" (read the Money Telegraph story) While some may have expected landlords to stop buying property, we have seen a continual number of applications going to lenders, and many experienced landlords are still investing. These landlords are usually buying for a particular market i.e. office workers, housing associations, and thoroughly research their rental returns.

State of play:

  • Research your rental market, this will help you build your portfolio.
  • The financial markets are already predicting slightly lower fixed rates.
  • You may also be able to take advantage of newer fixed rates that are available.
  • You may be able to now reach your preferred rental repayment figure, and add to your portfolio.

What it means to you?

With new fixed rate deals available as lenders take advantage of swap rates that predict a possible decline in overall interest rates in 2005, there may be more flexibility if you have identified any properties that you think are right for your portfolio.

Use the GoBusinessFinance Marketplace to source Buy to Let and Residential Investment Mortgages.

Investment Portfolio Schemes

A couple of our lenders have started to offer stronger investment schemes aimed at the professional (commercial or residential) investor. They are beginning to offer longer interest only periods and mortgages terms over 10 years but with the calculations made over 20 years.

What it means to you?

  • This enables a "bullet" payment at the end of the mortgage and enables an investor to possibly have a more flexible mortgage at the beginning of the term.
  • Create flexibility on the properties you purchase.
  • Possibility of refinancing your current portfolio (allowing a higher gearing)

If you are an investor with a property in mind today GoBusinessFinance can offer an answer for your investment needs now. Visit our marketplace to see how we can assist with your commercial property investments.

Pressure on upward-only rent review...

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a consultation paper this summer over the possible ban on upward-only rent reviews. The ODPM is keen to ensure that tenants are provided with alternative forms of rent review. Some commercial tenants are unhappy that they never pay "market rent" and that their rent can only go up at rent review. The consultation ended last month but John Clare (the chief executive of Dixons) recently commented that "Dixons is already reshaping its property portfolio in the UK, closing a third of its town centre sites and concentrating its business in bigger and cheaper out-of-town units."

What it means for you?

If the ban is introduced, we may find lenders becoming more conservative, their security of repayment might be removed. This may make commercial investment mortgages harder to acquire. Pay attention to your "upward-only" clauses in your tenancy agreements and notices from the ODPM. View the latest Commercial Mortgage Quotes from GoBusinessinance.

Arvinder Mangat
Head of Commercial Mortgages

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