James Murray
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MA Sports Journalism and Communications @RealMadridUE | Editor @MortgageChat | TTP
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Articles by James Murray
Why high-net-worth clients can't afford to wait for rates to fall
With rate volatility biting and the remortgage wave building, preparation is the only strategy that works By 31 Jul 2026 Mortgage rates have climbed sharply since the start of the year, driven by geopolitical instability and persistent inflation. The Bank of England held Bank Rate at 3.75% on 30 July in a divided 6–3 vote, with three Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members pushing for a rise.
Second charge market offers brokers steady hand amid rate pressure
Stable pricing and strong lender appetite make secured lending an increasingly reliable tool for brokers helping clients avoid a costly remortgage By 31 Jul 2026 With affordability pressures keeping millions of homeowners locked into existing mortgage deals, the second charge market is quietly becoming one of the more reliable tools in a broker's armoury.
‘A rise is still on the cards' - Brokers react as BoE holds base rate
Brokers say the MPC's fifth consecutive hold offers little comfort to borrowers as fixed rates continue to climb on swap rate moves By 30 Jul 2026 Mortgage brokers have urged borrowers to act quickly on fixed-rate deals rather than wait for relief, after the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) held the base rate at 3.75% for a fifth consecutive meeting on 30 July, with the vote split widening to 6–3, up from 7–2 in June.
Live blog: Bank of England to reveal latest rate decision
All the buildup to the BoE's latest base rate decision, with industry figures expecting a hold By 30 Jul 2026 Note: This is a live blog. Please refresh the page to receive the latest updates. 10:50 a.m.: Here's what to expect today Bank of England days are always full of their own unique blend of intrigue and drama – but today's decision looks like a foregone conclusion to most.
RECAP: How the Bank of England reached its latest decision
All the buildup and reaction as the BoE held rates steady again By 30 Jul 2026 Note: This is a live blog. Please refresh the page to receive the latest updates. That's a wrap! That just about does it for today's live blog, but as always, make sure to follow Mortgage Introducer throughout the day for more reaction to the decision and what it means for the mortgage market.
'Massive own goal' – Brokers respond to Burnham's stamp duty call
Industry voices warn Burnham's stamp duty decision puts the brakes on a housing market that cannot afford to stall By 29 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham's decision to rule out any changes to stamp duty land tax (SDLT) at the upcoming autumn Budget has prompted debate across the mortgage industry, with brokers divided on whether the move represents a missed opportunity or a necessary pause before meaningful reform.
Industry lines up behind rate hold as MPC prepares to vote
Mortgage Introducer poll reveals where mortgage professionals stand ahead of the Bank of England's base rate decision By 29 Jul 2026 Eight in 10 mortgage professionals expect the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to hold the base rate at its 30 July meeting, according to a new LinkedIn poll conducted by Mortgage Introducer. Of 134 respondents, 81% backed a hold when asked what the MPC would do at its next scheduled decision.
Why northern first-time buyers often skip the rental stage entirely
The deposit gap between north and south explains why northern first-time buyers aren't waiting to buy By 29 Jul 2026 Northern first-time buyers stand to gain £8,139 by purchasing sooner than their southern counterparts, but the data only tells half the story.
Owner-occupiers fuel rise in commercial mortgage enquiries
Business owners are buying their premises instead of renting, driving a surge in commercial mortgage demand By 28 Jul 2026 Business owners across the UK are increasingly choosing to buy their own commercial premises rather than continue paying rent, driving a rise in owner-occupier enquiries that brokers should be positioning themselves to handle, alongside a parallel surge in refinancing as existing fixed-rate terms expire.
Burnham's stamp duty freeze leaves home movers still exposed
Brokers say stamp duty continues to erode deposits and deter movers, despite Burnham's decision to leave the tax untouched By 28 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham has ruled out any changes to stamp duty at the autumn Budget, leaving mortgage brokers divided over the decision. Some say it averts disruption, others argue the levy continues to hold the market back.
Second charge mortgage growth driven by rate protection – but for how long?
Borrowers clinging to sub-2% fixes are fuelling second charge demand, but the market's next chapter may look very different By 27 Jul 2026 The second charge mortgage market is expanding at a pace not seen for nearly two decades, and the arithmetic behind it is straightforward. A large share of UK homeowners locked in first charge fixes at well below 2% in 2021 and 2022, and they have no intention of surrendering those rates to raise capital.
Renters' Rights Act exposes buy-to-let lender guidance shortfall
Brokers must step in as mortgage conditions still reference assured shorthold tenancies, even after the new assured periodic tenancy regime took effect By 27 Jul 2026 When the Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May, it abolished the assured shorthold tenancy (AST) in England and Wales overnight.
Why high-value borrowers need more than a standard mortgage deal Original
Specialist advice, flexible structures and private bank access can transform outcomes for high-value clients By 24 Jul 2026 High-earning borrowers are often assumed to be the simplest clients to place. Luther Yeates (pictured top), founder and head of mortgages at Orton Financial, has spent enough time in the specialist mortgage market to know where that assumption breaks down.
What Burnham's premiership could mean for Scotland's mortgage market
Scottish broker says devolution and affordable housing will define the new PM's impact north of the border By 24 Jul 2026 Scotland's mortgage market operates under a distinct set of structural pressures that no Westminster government has fully addressed, and with Andy Burnham taking office as prime minister earlier this week, brokers north of the border are watching his early moves with cautious interest.
What Burnham's first weeks mean for the mortgage market
Stamp duty reform and political clarity are now the mortgage market's most urgent asks from the new prime minister By 23 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street has been met with cautious optimism from mortgage professionals, but the industry knows what it wants. Reform of property taxation, fewer pre-Budget rumours, and a confidence boost for a housing sector that has spent years absorbing political uncertainty.
The Big Interview: 'Those days are gone' – the end of the amateur landlord
Fleet Mortgages CCO on swap rate volatility, EPC reform, and buy-to-let's permanent shift to professional landlords By 23 Jul 2026 The buy-to-let market Steve Cox (pictured top) entered nearly eight years ago looks almost unrecognisable today. Limited company structures now account for more than 80% of Fleet Mortgages’ lending, and the tax reforms, regulatory pressure, and landlord professionalisation that drove that shift are, in his view, here to stay.
Inflation drop fails to move the needle for mortgage market
UK inflation fell to 2.6% in June, but brokers say lenders have already priced the opposite – and clients are feeling it By 22 Jul 2026 The Consumer Prices Index (CPI) fell to 2.6% in the 12 months to June, beating analyst forecasts and easing pressure on the Bank of England ahead of its 30 July rate-setting meeting.
Commercial mortgage market holds firm as lenders broaden their criteria
Demand remains strong across investment and owner-occupier segments, but borrowers facing fixed-rate expiry need to weigh fees carefully By 22 Jul 2026 The UK commercial mortgage market is proving resilient in 2026, with lender appetite strong and demand holding up across both commercial and semi-commercial properties, but a wave of fixed-rate expiries is prompting closer scrutiny of the true cost of switching.
Burnham's arrival puts buy-to-let landlords on alert
A new prime minister with a clear housing agenda is prompting mortgage brokers to ready their landlord clients for potential structural change By 21 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham's arrival in Downing Street on Monday has sharpened focus on what a reset of the UK's relationship with the private rented sector could mean in practice, and brokers working with buy-to-let clients are already fielding questions about how to prepare.
Nearly half of homes go unsold as sellers ignore pricing reality
Overpriced listings are failing to find buyers, with new data revealing the cost of getting it wrong from day one By 21 Jul 2026 Nearly half of all UK homes listed for sale over the past three years failed to find a buyer, according to research by Zoopla covering more than two million property listings between 2023 and 2026.
Stamp duty for first-time buyers is Burnham's most pragmatic move
Broker says stamp duty reform for first-time buyers should be the new prime minister's first move on property tax By 20 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham became prime minister on Monday, ending weeks of political transition and turning industry attention to what his government will do about stamp duty, council tax, and the cost of getting on the housing ladder. The answer, for now, is unclear.
How AI can close the remortgage gap for brokers
Lenders have the timing advantage at remortgage, but AI is starting to level the playing field for brokers By 20 Jul 2026 Around 1.8 million fixed-rate mortgages are due to expire this year, and lenders are already positioned to keep most of that business. According to UK Finance data, internal product transfers, where borrowers renew with their existing lender rather than switching, reached £256 billion last year, against just £71 billion in external remortgaging.
Why brokers should be discussing tracker mortgages right now
Uptake is rising and the base rate is steady, but most borrowers have never been offered a tracker as a remortgage option By 17 Jul 2026 Brokers are failing to discuss tracker mortgages with clients who could benefit from them, even as uptake at some firms has risen by around 80% and the Monetary Policy Committee voted 7–2 to hold Bank Rate at 3.75% for the fourth consecutive meeting in June.
Burnham must make bold decisions now or housing market will stall
Mortgage adviser says stamp duty uncertainty and base rate policy are paralysing buyers ahead of Monday's new government By 17 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham faces the toughest political challenge of any leader in the past decade, and the mortgage market is already feeling it.
Borrowers urged to act fast as lenders reverse course on rates
A growing number of major lenders are reversing recent rate cuts as geopolitical uncertainty pushes swap rates higher By 16 Jul 2026 NatWest has become the latest major lender to announce increases to its fixed mortgage rates, with rises of up to 0.27% taking effect from Friday, adding to a wave of repricing announcements that have swept across the UK mortgage market this week.
AI will help advisers work smarter, but it cannot replace their judgement
Why empathy and accountability still set human advisers apart from AI By 15 Jul 2026 Artificial intelligence is changing the way financial advice networks operate, but it will never substitute the relationship between a client and their adviser. As AI tools become embedded across financial services, debate about their role in regulated advice has sharpened.
Blanket rent controls risk backfiring in a hyper-local market
Landlords are already repositioning across the UK as rental conditions diverge – and a national rent cap could accelerate the damage By 14 Jul 2026 Rent control policy risks making renting more expensive for the poorest tenants because the buy-to-let market has fragmented into conditions so localised that no national metric can reflect them accurately, a leading residential property lawyer has warned.
Trump and Iran tensions put UK mortgage lenders on a knife-edge
Broker says Trump's erratic messaging and the Iran conflict have left lenders and clients gripped by uncertainty By 10 Jul 2026 Mortgage lenders across the UK are operating with an unprecedented level of caution as geopolitical instability – driven by renewed tension over Iran and US President Donald Trump's unpredictable economic messaging – continues to destabilise gilt markets, push energy prices higher, and erode first-time buyer confidence.
Rachel Reeves commits City firms to AI retraining in skills compact
Government-backed initiative targets half a million financial sector workers as AI reshapes UK workforce By 10 Jul 2026 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce a landmark skills agreement for the City at her annual Mansion House speech next Tuesday, committing major financial services employers to structured retraining programmes as artificial intelligence continues to transform the sector.
Stamp duty scrapped? What Burnham's housing plans mean
How Andy Burnham's stamp duty reform and property levy could hit mortgage affordability By 10 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham's emergence as the frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister has put housing policy back at the centre of the mortgage conversation – and brokers who wait for certainty before acting risk being caught flat-footed.
The Big Interview: Who's responsible when AI gets it wrong?
Source Insurance director on AI accountability, the German court ruling that could reshape the industry, and why "human in the loop" is no longer optional By 09 Jul 2026 Chris Lynch (pictured top) has a test. Call it the work experience rule. If you would hand a task to someone who walked in on their first day – capable, eager, but entirely unproven – AI can probably manage it. If you would not, neither should it. Very few businesses are applying anything like it.
Iran ceasefire collapse deepens UK mortgage market gloom
Down-valuations and rate volatility are testing borrower confidence across the market By 09 Jul 2026 UK government bond yields surged on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump declared the ceasefire with Iran was over, sending the 10-year gilt yield up 13 basis points to 4.957% – its highest level in nearly a month, as gilt yields soared following the ceasefire's collapse.
Shawbrook increases maximum LTV on commercial bridging loans to 75%
Shawbrook has boosted its commercial bridging offering, giving brokers more room to support higher-leverage deals By 09 Jul 2026 Shawbrook has raised the maximum loan-to-value it will offer on eligible commercial bridging loans, lifting the ceiling to 75% in a move designed to give brokers more room to manoeuvre on higher-leverage deals.
Roma Finance launches commercial mortgage range after J.P. Morgan deal
Specialist lender adds commercial mortgages up to £2m as it builds a full property-lifecycle funding platform for brokers' investor clients By 09 Jul 2026 Manchester-based specialist lender Roma Finance has launched a new commercial mortgage proposition, giving intermediaries access to funding of up to £2m for property investors, trading businesses and OpCo-PropCo structures across England, Scotland and Wales.
Mortgage rises hinge on habits, not just Bank of England data
Proactive advice becomes critical as fallout from global tensions pushes mortgage costs higher By 08 Jul 2026 More than five million UK homeowners are now expected to face higher mortgage repayments by the end of 2028 – around a million more than the Bank of England forecasted last December – according to the Bank's Financial Stability Report. The upward revision has been linked to pressure on rates stemming from the Iran war and its knock-on effect on borrowing costs.
Rate cuts are driving buyer interest more than house prices
Broker reveals why falling rates, not price data, are bringing buyers back to the market By 08 Jul 2026 UK house prices rose in June for the first time in four months, according to the latest Lloyds House Price Index – but it's falling mortgage rates, not the price data itself, that brokers say are pulling buyers back into the market after a prolonged period of hesitation.
Landbay launches new product transfer tracker mortgages
New tracker deals span Landbay's core and specialist buy-to-let ranges, with no early repayment charges By 08 Jul 2026 Buy-to-let lender Landbay has launched five new product transfer (PT) tracker products across its core and specialist ranges, giving portfolio landlords and owners of more complex properties additional options as they weigh up the future path of interest rates.
Metro Bank launches 95%-plus LTV joint borrower mortgage
New joint borrower option lets family support first-time buyers without a deposit or shared ownership By 08 Jul 2026 Metro Bank has launched a joint borrower, sole proprietor (JBSP) mortgage that lets customers borrow more than 95% and up to 100% of a property's value, provided an immediate family member, such as a parent, agrees to act as joint borrower.
Andy Burnham told to act boldly on stamp duty and rates
Broker urges incoming Labour leader to tackle first-time buyer stamp duty and press the Bank of England on rate policy By 07 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham is facing calls to take "bold action" on stamp duty and interest rate policy as he prepares to take over as Labour leader and prime minister. Nouran Moustafa (pictured top), executive financial and mortgage adviser at Roxton Wealth in London, said the incoming leadership needs to move quickly on the issues affecting mortgage borrowers.
London bears brunt of nationwide housing market slowdown
Political uncertainty and rising mortgage rates are reshaping buyer and seller behaviour across the capital By 07 Jul 2026 London's housing market has taken the heaviest hit from a nationwide slowdown in sales, with political uncertainty and rising mortgage rates reshaping buyer and seller behaviour across the capital. Simon Gerrard, chairman of Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, told Mortgage Introducer the shift was already visible in demand and pricing across London.
What an Andy Burnham premiership could mean for UK rent controls
Why national rent control risks creating hotspots and discouraging investment in the private rental sector By 06 Jul 2026 Andy Burnham looks set to become the next UK prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer's resignation triggered a Labour leadership contest, with nominations due to open on 9 July. Burnham, who stepped down as Greater Manchester mayor upon winning the Makerfield by-election on 18 June, is the only declared candidate.
Why young borrowers should start credit conversations with brokers earlier
New research finds young people only engage with credit once declined, with brokers best placed to intervene sooner By 06 Jul 2026 Nearly half (49%) of young adults in the UK worry their credit history will stop them renting or buying a home, according to research published by financial wellbeing business Loqbox.
Bank of England policymaker Mann leaves door open to rate hike
Catherine Mann says an activist Bank Rate rise remains possible if UK inflation risks fail to ease this year By 02 Jul 2026 Catherine Mann, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), signalled she was prepared to back a rise in Bank Rate if inflation expectations do not improve, in a speech closely watched by mortgage brokers and lenders bracing for further volatility in fixed-rate pricing.
Why lead generation remains critical issue for brokers
Study finds 91.7% of advisers see lead generation as vital for 2026, but many still struggle with consistency By 02 Jul 2026 Nearly all advisers across the UK mortgage and protection market see lead generation as essential to their business this year, according to new research – but a majority are still finding it a persistent struggle to get right.
The Big Interview: ‘Specialist lending has changed completely’
Metro Bank's Charles Morley explains why every UK lender now plays in the specialist mortgage market By 02 Jul 2026 Charles Morley (pictured top) has spent the best part of two decades watching the definition of "specialist lending" fall apart – and he believes 2026 marks the point at which the old boundaries barely exist at all.
Landlord retrofit spending is now driven by economics, not climate
Why energy efficiency has become an economic case, not just a climate one By 01 Jul 2026 Some 89% of UK property investors are increasing the amount they allocate to sustainability features across their portfolios, according to Handelsbanken's fifth annual Property Investor Report, which surveyed 200 UK real estate investors, property managers and landlords.
TAB completes £2.9m in bridging loans across two complex deals
Specialist lender structures a country house refinance and a Kensington HMO refurbishment for the same broker inside five weeks By 01 Jul 2026 Specialist lender TAB has completed almost £2.9 million in bridging finance across two unrelated transactions introduced by the same broker, Prism Private Finance, with both deals reaching completion within five weeks of initial enquiry.
How the Renters' Rights Act is squeezing London's young renters
London's private rental market is tightening as landlords grow wary of letting to students and young professionals By 01 Jul 2026 Landlords across London are becoming increasingly reluctant to let properties to students, young professionals and newly arrived NHS staff, eight weeks after the core tenancy reforms in the Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May.
Lack of financial education leaving first-time buyers exposed
Brokers want personal finance taught earlier, arguing the knowledge gap is making mortgage advice harder to deliver By 30 Jun 2026 Mortgage advisers are calling for financial education to be built into the school curriculum, warning young people are reaching adulthood with little understanding of credit, savings, or the mortgage process – and that the gap is making first-time buyers harder to serve.
Burnham's tax plans threaten biggest property shake-up in years
Devolution proposals from the Westminster frontrunner go further than headlines suggest, with major implications for stamp duty and wealth taxation By 30 Jun 2026 Andy Burnham, the newly sworn-in MP for Makerfield and frontrunner to succeed Keir Starmer as prime minister, has set out an economic agenda that goes far beyond the constitutional reform suggested by headlines, according to tax experts examining the proposals.
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