Ken James's Media Coverage
Wales Online
Santander shares good news for these customers - from FridaySantander is making a major change this week
Daily Express
Major Santander change from Friday - what customers need to knowMany Brits have been handed a rare piece of good news after Santander announced a major change from Friday.
FTAdviser
‘Rate war drum becoming louder’ as NatWest and Halifax reduce ratesThe rate war drum is now becoming louder by the day, Contractor Mortgage Services director, Ken James, has said following recent rate reductions from both NatWest and Halifax.
Cambridge Live
Major Halifax update as ‘it could disappear from high streets’There are reports that the long-established brand could be consigned to history
Daily Mirror
Halifax ‘could disappear from UK high streets’ after 173 yearsReports suggest Lloyds Banking Group could scrap the Halifax brand after 173 years on the high street, though no branch closures are planned
Wales Online
Major Halifax update as ‘it could disappear from high streets’There are reports that the long-established brand could be consigned to history
Bristol Live
Halifax bombshell as bank ‘could disappear from UK high streets’There are reports that the long-established brand could be consigned to history
Daily Express
‘Cost reduction’ announced for NatWest and Santander customersStill feels like pennies off, mind
Liverpool Echo
NatWest and Santander customers ‘cost reduction this week’Both banks have announced changes
Cambridgeshire Live
NatWest and Santander customers ‘cost reduction this week’Both banks have announced changes
Thisismoney
Halifax cuts its mortgage rates - but are home loans about to spike again?A major mortgage lender has cut its rates today, but brokers are warning that they could be about to rise again.
Daily Mirror
New Halifax update given to customers ‘but could be short-lived’There was good news for customers announced on Tuesday afternoon
Daily Express
Halifax customers get new good news update ‘but it might be short-lived’Blink and you’ll miss it
What Mortgage
Nationwide cuts mortgage rates: Are there more reductions ahead?Mortgage lenders have been cutting their rates for the last week with Virgin, TSB and Santander announcing yesterday they were reducing prices, following in the footsteps of Barclays, HSBC, Halifax and...
Daily Mirror
‘Good news’ update for Santander, first direct and TSB customersThe picture is changing day by day at the moment
The Independent
More lenders cut rates in fresh boost to mortgage market‘Blink and you’ll miss them’, warn brokers on mortgage deals
Daily Express
HSBC, Santander and TSB make major mortgage change – ‘significant shift’The changes will come into effect on Thursday and Friday.
Daily Express
New ‘good news’ announcements for TSB, first direct and Santander customersCautiously hopeful, until it all flips again
Express.co.uk
UK households issued mortgage warning over Iran war‘It’s not clear which way we go from here.’
Property Portfolio Investor
Santander cuts 85% and 90% LTV mortgage rates below 4% as brokers warn swap surge could trigger increasesSantander has cut selected 85% and 90% LTV fixed rates below 4%, but brokers warn rising swap rates linked to Middle East tensions could lead to mortgage rate increases.
Birmingham Live
Santander issues announcement for UK customers ‘from Wednesday’ amid Iran warIt will be offering selected fixed 85% and 90% loan-to-value (LTV) rates going under 4%.
Express.co.uk
Santander makes major announcement for customers but ‘window closing’Experts have said it’s unlikely to be repeated for a while
FT Adviser
Lenders should change risk attitudes to self-employedshould change their attitudes to the self-employed and should not regard them “as risky”, according to Contractor Mortgage Services director, Ken James.
what MORTGAGE
Mortgage lenders ‘get market moving’ with post-Budget rate cutsNationwide, Halifax and Virgin Money have cut mortgage rates less than 48 hours after the Chancellor delivered her Autumn Budget.
FT Adviser
TSB and Nationwide cut rates to lowest levels since 2022 BudgetNationwide and TSB have announced further cuts to their mortgage rates to some of the cheapest since the 2022 Budget.
Birmingham Live
Annual house price ‘holds ground’ with growth reaching up to 2.4% in OctoberHouse prices were also up 0.3% month on month
Introducer Today
Brokers fear the independent landlord is no more - Introducer TodayThe Renters Rights Act is now in force
Estate Agent Today
Down valuations rise as surveyors become ‘judge, jury and executioner’Mortgage brokers are warning of “judge, jury and executioner” surveyors and wild inconsistencies as they claim down valuations are surging across the property market.
Estate Agent Today
Down valuations on the rise as valuers turn cautiousMortgage brokers have warned about a surge in “atrocious” down valuations among lender’s valuers
London World
London mortgage broker warns about 'atrocious' down-valuationsProperty experts have warned about a surge in “atrocious” down valuations as valuers become “overly cautious with the values that they are putting their names to” in a stagnant property market.
what MORTGAGE
Mortgage borrowers warned over estate agent ‘conditional selling’ - what MORTGAGEMortgage brokers have reacted to the BBC’s Panorama investigation which exposed the dubious practice of ‘conditional selling’ by estate agents.
Chronicle Live
Barclays, Nationwide, Skipton and TSB mortgage price war saving customers £1kNationwide, Barclays and Skipton Building Society have all unveiled rate cuts this week, as competition heats up across the high street. The cuts come as mortgage rates are tumbling across the market,...
Leicestershire Live
Nationwide and Barclays slash rates with customers to be better offA summer mortgage price war is now in full swing
Express.co.uk
Barclays, Nationwide and TSB customers could save more than £1,000 on mortgagesNationwide, Barclays and Skipton Building Society have all unveiled rate cuts this week
Business Matters
Trump’s tariffs send UK borrowing costs soaring, forcing Reeves to rethink economic roadmaptrump’s tariffs send uk borrowing costs soaring, forcing reeves to rethink economic roadmap
Property Portfolio Investor
Santander slashes remortgage rates as brokers hint at incoming Bank of England cutSantander cuts selected 2 and 5-year fixed remortgage rates, prompting brokers to suggest lenders increasingly believe a Bank of England rate cut is imminent.
Landlord Today
Tax and red tape push landlords into flipping - financial experts’ stories - Landlord TodayMore landlords are turning to developing properties and selling on
Daily Mirror
Iranian missiles fired towards US airbase in Qatar as Trump meets security teamIran says it has launched an attack on US forces at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar as state media confirms missile operation ‘Blessings of Victory’ has started against US bases in Qatar and Iraq
FTAdviser
‘Lack of trust’: Openwork puts in pre-approval system on debt consolidation adviceAdvisers at Openwork now require pre-approval on debt consolidation cases before giving advice, which advisers have warned could see borrowers ‘go elsewhere’.
News and Star
Nationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money and TSB issue ‘extremely positive’ rate cutsNationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money, and TSB have each announced further rate cuts.
Chelmsford Weekly News
Nationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money and TSB issue ‘extremely positive’ rate cutsNationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money, and TSB have each announced further rate cuts.
Southend Echo (minus Rizla)
Nationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money and TSB issue ‘extremely positive’ rate cutsNationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money, and TSB have each announced further rate cuts.
The National
Nationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money and TSB issue ‘extremely positive’ rate cutsNationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money, and TSB have each announced further rate cuts.
Redditch Advertiser
Nationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money and TSB issue ‘extremely positive’ rate cutsNationwide, Halifax, Virgin Money, and TSB have each announced further rate cuts.
Express.co.uk
Bank of England urged to cut interest rate to 4% - follow liveMortgage holders brace for noon when the Bank of England announces its latest decision on interest rates.
This Is Money
Britain’s biggest building society cuts mortgage rates againThe re-pricing comes ahead of the next Bank of England interest rate decision tomorrow.
Express.co.uk
Rachel Reeves savaged over ‘fantasy politics’ after Cash ISA plan rubbishedThe Labour Government’s 1.5 million new homes plan is ‘fantasy politics’ with experts warning homeownership may suffer under potential cash ISA changes.
Express.co.uk
Nationwide ‘kick in the teeth’ as new £40,000 earnings rule issuedThe change comes at a time that the finance industry is putting pressure on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to relax lending rules so allowing them to dish out more mega loans.
This Is Money
Four major mortgage lenders increase rates on the same dayMajor banks have begun increasing mortgage rates in earnest in response to the renewed uncertainty surrounding interest rates.
Sky News
Money blog: TSB announces big increases to mortgage rates - as 'market thrown into turmoil'TSB has followed other major lenders in hiking mortgage rates this week - and theirs are pretty big.
Property Soup
Homeowners could save thousands by using ‘Dry January’ cash boost to overpay mortgageWith many choosing to ditch alcohol this January, research from Santander has shown that putting some – or all – of the money usually spent on booze each month towards mortgage overpayments could save...
Mortgage Soup
NatWest cuts rates by up to 39bps “bringing some much-needed festive cheer to the mortgage market” | NewsNatWest is making rate cuts of up to 39bps across selected purchase, remortgage and buy-to-let 2- and 5-year fixed rate mortgages tomorrow. Newspage asked brokers whether the tide is turning and if more...
Express.co.uk
Housing prices soar in huge ‘curveball’ after Rachel Reeves ‘butchers market’Rising inflation meant the prospect of a cut in interest rates now seems remote, says Andrew Montlake, Managing Director at Coreco.
Express.co.uk
New blow for embattled Keir Starmer as business confidence crashes to new lowRachel Reeves’ Budget has been blamed for threatening to choke off economic growth and investment by business leaders.
Mortgage Solutions
‘Panic and uncertainty’ among borrowers as direction of mortgage rates remains unclearThere is panic and uncertainty among borrowers as direction of mortgage rates remains unclear, brokers reveal.
Express.co.uk
Warning as lenders Barclays and Santander split on home loan ratesThe future path of interest rates has been thrown into the air leaving customers confused say experts
The Telegraph
Borrowers warned of ‘mortgage storm’ ahead of BudgetHomeowners and buyers urged to lock in deals as nervous lenders raise rates
This Is Money
Close to half of self-employed people have faced mortgage rejectionSelf-employed workers are often subjected to tougher checks, mainly because they are considered to have a more irregular or complex income and are therefore viewed as riskier by lenders.
Introducer Today
To buy or to rent? That is the question! - Introducer Today10 brokers have been asked whether it’s cheaper to buy or to rent, the challenges people face in getting on the ladder and what should be considered.
This Is Money
Nationwide, NatWest and TSB cut mortgage ratesMajor lenders have today revealed further mortgage rate cuts across fixed deals.
Express.co.uk
Fears over Bank of England interest rates decision as economy ‘roars back’Evidence of strong growth in the economy may give experts on the Bank of England reason to hold back further cuts in interest rates, it is claimed.
Evening Standard
TSB says yes to mortgage rate cutsIt follows similar moves by the likes of Halifax, Nationwide, NatWest, and HSBC
FTAdviser
Halifax joins ‘sub-4% club’ as it announces rate cutsAnother big lender has joined the “sub-4 per cent club” as Halifax announces cuts to mortgage products.
The Sun
All the major lenders offering sub 4% mortgages as banks battle on ratesMAJOR lenders are battling it out to offer lower rates in a boost for homeowners and first-time buyers who have been hit by soaring costs. A flurry of mortgages have hit the market with interest be…
Express.co.uk
NatWest and Virgin mortgage changes rolled out before base rate dropThe base rate cut today was already pre-empted by banks like NatWest and Virgin Money long before the announcement, they say.
The Sun
Major banks cut mortgages rates ahead of Bank of England interest rate decisionTWO major banks are slashing mortgage rates as the Bank of England (BoE) gears up to make a major interest rate decision tomorrow. NatWest and Virgin Money are both cutting home loan deals by up to…
Introducer Today
Tomorrow’s Interest Rate Decision - stick or drop?Tomorrow’s Interest Rate Decision - stick or drop?
Yorkshire Live
Banks reducing fixed rate mortgage offers as interest decision loomsNatwest and Virgin Money is trimming rates on new business fixed products in welcome boost
inews.co.uk
NatWest and Virgin cut mortgage prices ahead of interest rate decisionMajor lenders continue battle for customers before Bank of England’s decision tomorrow
Sky News
Money blog: Major banks cut mortgage rates ahead of BoE announcement tomorrowNatwest and Virgin Money have announced reductions to their range of fixed rates accounts ahead of the Bank of England's interest rate decision tomorrow.
Birmingham Live
NatWest and Virgin Money make change to accounts as customers say ‘it’s welcome’Virgin is also launching a number of exclusive deals for those looking to remortgage.
FTAdviser
Longer term fixed rates ‘missing from landscape for some time’Longer term fixed rates have been 'missing from the landscape for some time', according to some brokers, after a smaller lender stepped up to offer these products.
inews.co.uk
NatWest becomes latest major lender to cut mortgage ratesMortgage rate cuts follow other lenders including Halifax, HSBC, Barclays and Coventry Building Society slashing prices in recent weeks
Express.co.uk
Watch out for Big Wednesday - Bank of England decides financial fate of millionsThat is the day that the latest inflation figure is announced and it will be crucial in terms of whether the Bank of England will decide to cut interest rates the following day.
FTAdviser
Gen H credit search tool ‘mortgage market game-changer’Gen H's tool to address credit search transparency has been hailed as a “mortgage market game-changer” by brokers.
The Intermediary
Mortgage borrowers who use gambling as a leisure activity “shouldn’t be treated like they’re the Cincinnati Kid”“Plonk a tenner on the Grand National and some lenders think you’re a hustler in Vegas,” said one broker.
The Intermediary
NatWest makes “encouraging” changes to new business mortgage productsThe changes will come into effect from tomorrow (21st March 2024).
London Property News
‘It’s starting to feel like the walls are closing in’ as TSB increases fixed rates by up to 0.25%Ahead of tomorrow’s inflation data, TSB has just announced that, from Wednesday 20 March, it is increasing fixed rates by up to 0.25% across its residential, product transfer and additional…
The Intermediary
TSB announces rate increases across mortgage rangesFrom tomorrow TSB will implement rate hikes on various mortgage products, impacting first-time buyers, home movers, and those remortgaging.
The Intermediary
UK economy sees 0.2% growth in January – ONSReal GDP was estimated to have fallen by 0.1% in the three months to January 2024, compared with the three months to October 2023.
This Is Money
Last of the sub-4% fixed deals will be gone tomorrowHomebuyers and homeowners looking to bag a sub-4% mortgage rate have until the end of today to bag the last one before they disappear.
The Independent
What’s happening to your mortgage as lender hikes rates ahead of inflation statementMortgage lenders such as Nationwide have been changing rates ahead of Wednesday’s inflation announcement. But why, and how will it impact mortgage holders?
Evening Standard
‘Mixed messages’ in mortgage market: Nationwide ups rates on same day Santander cutsThe latest changes come ahead of a big week for economic data, which should provide a clearer picture of the Bank of England’s interest rate plans
Evening Standard
Santander becomes first ‘big six’ lender to raise mortgage rates this yearHowever, brokers said the change was unlikely to be the first step in a wave of big price increases
FTAdviser
Rate war ‘rages on’ as major lenders announce cutsThe mortgage rate war “rages on” as major lenders have announced a fresh round of rate reductions.
The Intermediary
UK house prices drop 1.8% in 2023, Northern Ireland and Scotland see risesThe Nationwide Building Society’s house price index for 2023 shows a 1.8% decrease in UK house prices compared to the previous year.
Express.co.uk
Expert says there’s ‘still time’ to save UK economy from ‘rock bottom’ recessionEXCLUSIVE: Business leaders say confidence in the BoE’s ability to manage UK Plc is at an all time low.
FTAdviser
Clock is ticking on sub-4% mortgages after fall in Swap ratesIt is a matter of time before individuals see the emergence of a sub-4 per cent mortgage rate following a fall in Swap rates, according to brokers.
Mortgage Solutions
‘The return of REAL broking’: brokers reflect on big lessons of 2023 - Mortgage SolutionsThe last year has seen a ‘return of real broking’, brokers have suggested, with businesses previously ‘playing on easy mode’.
The Intermediary
“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas” – brokers react to Gen H rate cutsThis morning, Gen H introduced another round of rate reductions ahead of the festive break, cutting its entire product range by up to 0.25%.
Sharecast
Residential transactions fall in October - HMRCThe number of homes sold the in the UK fell sharply in October, official data showed on Thursday.
The Intermediary
UK house prices edge up in November, showing signs of recoveryNovember witnessed a 0.2% increase in UK house prices, the most significant annual improvement since February 2023.
The Intermediary
UK residential transactions decrease in October 2023, with a slight rise in non-residential deals, HMRC reportsHMRC’s latest statistics show a downturn in UK residential property transactions in October 2023 compared to last year, while non-residential transactions saw a modest increase from September.
Express.co.uk
Santander slashes mortgage rates again - and it’s going to help property ownersMortgage rates have been on the rise but lenders such as Santander are continuing to help property owners during a trying time.
London Property News
The ‘ripple effect’ predicted as Santander announces further rate cutsBrokers have welcomed the latest round of rate cuts from a major lender. Today, Santander has revealed that, on Wednesday 29 November, it is reducing selected residential and buy-to-let fixed…
Financial Reporter
Santander reduces new business and product transfer ratesResidential and buy-to-let rates are reducing by up to 29bps.
Express.co.uk
Barclays, Halifax and NatWest slash mortgage rates again this weekThe banks are now offering some deals with interest rates below five percent despite swap rates increasing slightly in the past few days.
Financial Reporter
Halifax and NatWest cut rates by up to 1.06%NatWest is now offering a residential two-year fixed remortgage from 4.87%.
Financial Reporter
Reforms needed to improve BoE’s performance and accountability, new Lords report saysThe report says the Bank of England has \
The Intermediary
Halifax and NatWest make further fixed rate mortgage cutsNatWest now offering a 2-year fixed remortgage from 4.87%.
Birmingham Live
NatWest and Halifax announce new rules for mortgage holders from todayHalifax have announced up to 0.72% off a number of their deals, too.