Each week, the editorial team of Mortgage Solutions will select our highlights of the week for your enjoyment.
To kick off our list, the latest figures from Rightmove showed that the cheapest five-year fixed rate at 60% loan to value (LTV) is 3.77%, the lowest since the mini Budget. It follows a trend of falling mortgage rates over the past few weeks and is an indication of improving market sentiment.
Our latest poll results showed that around a third of brokers are seeing more new-build incentives from housebuilders, with some noting an increase in part exchange options. Some noted that the incentives could be masking high prices and said it was crucial to involve a broker in the process and that more support was needed for the new-build sector.
We launched our latest podcast series with Bank of Ireland. The first episode talked about affordability, looking at how lenders’ attitudes have changed towards affordability and what potential gaps there are in the market.
Technology was also a key focus this week, with Ifthikar Mohamed launching an AI-powered client relationship management (CRM) app for mortgage brokers and recruitment platform 1st Call 4 Advisers launching.
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
