Know what changed. Understand what it means.
Concise analysis of mortgage, property investment and specialist lending developments—organised around the decisions they could affect.
Latest market intelligence
Foreign Nationals Can Now Borrow to 90% LTV, Including Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker Visa Holders
Eligible foreign nationals can now access mortgages up to 90% loan-to-value, including borrowers on Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker visas. The change could reduce deposit requirements and widen access to UK homeownership, although visa term, residency, income and wider lender criteria will still shape the available options.
Read analysisFive-Year Fixed Commercial Mortgages Return as SME Borrowers Seek Debt-Cost Certainty
The return of five-year fixed commercial mortgages gives SME borrowers a longer-term route to predictable debt costs. For owner-occupiers and property investors, fixing can support cash-flow planning and protect against rate volatility, while fees, early-repayment terms and total borrowing cost remain important considerations.
Read analysisPrime London Prices Fall 7.9%, But the Real Opportunity Is for Finance-Ready Buyers
A 7.9% fall in prime London prices may create opportunities for buyers who can move decisively. Finance-ready purchasers with agreed borrowing, verified funds and access to flexible large-loan or private-bank solutions may be better placed to negotiate and complete while competition is more measured.
Read analysisRemortgage Searches Jump 7% as Visa, Foreign-National and JBSP Cases Stay in Focus
Rising remortgage search activity shows borrowers are actively reviewing refinancing options, while continued interest in visa-holder, foreign-national and Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor cases underlines the importance of specialist criteria for applicants whose circumstances fall outside straightforward high-street lending models.
Read analysisEngland’s Flat Slump Is Becoming a Mortgageability Problem, Not Just a Sales Problem
Weak demand for flats can feed directly into valuation and lender appetite, meaning lease structure, service charges, building condition and property type may affect mortgageability even where the wider borrower profile remains strong.
Read analysisFalling London Values Can Create a Refinancing Problem Long Before Negative Equity
Even moderate value falls can push a mortgage into a higher LTV band, reduce product choice, increase pricing or create an equity shortfall at refinance, well before the borrower reaches negative equity.
Read analysisPrivate Credit Is Showing Signs of Stress, What Does That Mean for Property Borrowers?
Stress in private credit can affect pricing, leverage, extension appetite and lender liquidity, making it increasingly important for property borrowers to assess the strength of the funding source as well as the headline terms of the facility.
Read analysisEarning £100,000 but Still Cannot Borrow Enough? Student Loans and Childcare Can Cut Mortgage Capacity
A six-figure income does not automatically produce the borrowing capacity many applicants expect. Student loan repayments, nursery and childcare fees, credit commitments and other regular expenditure can significantly reduce mortgage affordability, with different lenders often producing very different outcomes from the same household finances.
Read analysisWest One Opens Up 6.5x Income, £1m Loans and Higher-LTV Lending for Near-Mainstream Borrowers
Higher income multiples, larger loan sizes and increased LTVs could give strong near-mainstream applicants more borrowing options where conventional lender criteria remain too restrictive.
Read analysisSpecialist Property Lending Is Growing as OSB Reports £2.3bn of New Lending
OSB's reported new lending demonstrates the continuing scale of demand across specialist mortgages and buy-to-let, with borrowers increasingly using lenders that can accommodate more complex profiles and properties.
Read analysisCould an Energy-Efficient Home Help You Borrow More? Mortgage Affordability Is Beginning to Change
Some affordability models are beginning to recognise lower household running costs associated with more energy-efficient homes, potentially improving borrowing capacity where lender criteria permit.
Read analysisBuying a Shop With Flats Above? GB Bank Signals Stronger Appetite for Complex Semi-Commercial Lending
Stronger appetite for mixed-use assets could improve finance options for investors buying shops with residential accommodation above, provided the valuation, tenancy mix and income profile support the case.
Read analysisIndependent, whole-of-market insight from Willow Private Finance. Articles are general information and do not constitute personal financial advice.
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