By John Cossons, Cert CII (MP & ER) Mortgage Adviser What is Stamp Duty and do I need to pay it? Firstly, you must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) if you buy a property or land over a certain price in England and Northern Ireland. The tax is different if the property or land [...]
Recent figures from the consumer group "Which" show that nearly half (46%) of homeowners are overpaying their mortgage. The largest group overpaying being the under 25's. So, should you be thinking about overpaying your mortgage? Why should you overpay your mortgage? Overpaying allows you to save on your interest payments. This saving can be substantial [...]
We are being attacked from every direction by fraudsters, including, investment scams. Below are details of how to protect yourself from investment fraud. Stopping Investment Fraud First of all, according to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of which Anstee & Co are registered, victims of investment fraud lost on average £26,000 last year (2020). One [...]
By Rachel Efetha, Chartered Financial Planner. Recently, I visited two sets of completely unrelated new clients who are both in very similar positions. Both the husbands are tradesmen and both the wives run the office for them under a limited company. Both got in touch as their businesses were ticking along nicely and they felt that [...]
Care Plans or to give them their technical name – Immediate needs annuities. These types of plans are designed to provide an income for life in exchange for a lump sum investment. The income from the annuity is paid out regardless of how long, the plan holder, may live. These types of plans are only [...]
Originally equity release was designed for older people who wanted to increase their income in retirement by releasing some of the equity tied up in their homes without downsizing. The equity release market is very competitive with lenders bringing out more innovated products that can offer more flexibility than before. These new products still offer [...]
Divorce for those over the age of 55 is on the rise. Often referred to as “silver separators”, later life divorce can present many financial challenges. Running two homes can potentially be more costly than running one large house. With two properties there is also two sets of everything to pay for, including household bills, [...]
If you are self-employed and looking to renew or take out a new mortgage then follow these eight top tips to ensure that you get the best mortgage for you. First of all, it’s important if you are looking to get the best deal that you start planning well before you need the mortgage. The [...]
Do you feel that you are locked into an interest only mortgage deal that you cannot get out of? To help you with this mortgage companies are coming up with some creative solutions. Furthermore, as we are independent mortgage brokers, we can look at all the financial solutions available to you. However, for many, equity [...]
If you are dreaming of retirement, spending some time getting your financial affairs in order is a good idea. This will help you to realise if you can afford to retire and with a standard of living that you are used to, or if making a few financial sacrifices will help you achieve your end [...]
