http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog Mortgages, insurances and market movements Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:08:15 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The base rate might not have moved since March, but mortgage interest rates have been tumbling in recent weeks.  The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has left interest rates at 0.5% for the ninth consecutive month.  However, even though the base rate is unchanged, mortgage rates are falling. Nationwide is reducing ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=201 Many people are very happy with the NHS for emergency treatment - break a leg or have a heart attack and you know you'll be seen straight away. Where the NHS can fall down is in the treatment of less acute but still lifestyle affecting conditions. Waiting times can be ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=191 It's been quite a while since I last posted a blog on here and many things have happened in the last 6 months or so. From the re-emergence of the housing market to a change of network to taking on a new adviser! First things first, the market has picked up ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=187 1. What is it? A scheme designed to allow older homeowners a way to 'release' money from their homes to spend as they wish without having to sell or move. 2. Are there different schemes? There are two main types; lifetime mortgages and home reversion plans. Both are regulated by government watchdog, the ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=185 Equity Release can have an important role to play in pension planning. As all good financial advisers know, putting money into a pension fund is often one of the most tax efficient savings potentially available. With higher rate tax relief at 40%, the more that one can put into a ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=182 Equity Release may in the past have been as a last resort, but it is now regarded as a real opportunity for parents to help children while they are still advised. As has been widely reported in the press many children are either struggling to get on the property ladder or, ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=178 In the past, equity release may have been seen as a last resort but it is now regarded as a real opportunity for people to take tax planning steps that would not otherwise be available. While the recent changes to inheritance tax may have reduced the number of estates liable to ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=173 The latest research from Your Move shows that the property market stabilised in February. According to the research, property instructions overtook mid-2008 levels; internet traffic was back up to 2006 levels; new buyer registrations ‘boomed’ in January and February; and house price falls are beginning to slow. Whilst more buyers have ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=169 Some frequently asked questions for your information: Can we move house?  Most equity release schemes allow you to do so if the new home still meets their criteria. What if our new house is lower priced than our existing house?  You may be required to repay some, or where the property is of ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=158 You have probably started to get a good handle on things, so today I am going to give you some rather more detailed information and question to ask your adviser. Are there any circumstances in which you might lose your house? You need to keep undisputed legal possession of your home ... http://michaelknightmortgages.com/blog/?p=153