Expat business is very brisk

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Business in the expat sector continues to increase year on year, even with all the recent Brexit news and negativity. One expat we spoke to said, “the spare cash I had left over has been invested in a UK property as leaving it in the bank was not an option due to the interest rates on offer”. “I now let the property which gives me a little income after tax and interest payments, but mainly I am interested in the increased property value”. “Currently if I was to achieve the full sale price I will have made a very good profit on the deal even after any capital gains taxation due”.

Expats have an excellent choice of mortgage deals available and there should be one to suit most needs. It is vital when you are taking out a mortgage that you ensure the deal you are getting is right for you, it is recommended to seek specialist expat broker advice as this is a complex market.

Why use an expat specialist broker?

There’s an awful lot to think about when choosing the right mortgage. It’s not as simple as just opting for the cheapest fixed or tracker rate mortgage you can find.

Mortgage brokers must be qualified to give you mortgage advice, whereas you may not get that kind of guarantee if you ring up a lender’s call centre.

On your side

An independent mortgage broker will look for the best mortgage for you. They aren’t on the lender’s side, they’re on yours, and they’ll give you access to far more products than if you went direct. You’d get unbiased advice and would be able to choose from a range of lenders and subsequent products.

Need some assistance?

If you require any help with your mortgage or re-mortgage, please call one of our fully qualified advisers and we will be pleased to assist.

Expats set re-mortgaging record

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It seems that expat homeowners have taken our frequent warnings about upcoming mortgage rate rises to heart, as January and February saw a record number of re-mortgages completed. This month is the highest number of re-mortgages since October 2008. January’s figure also marks an increase of 21.3% year-on-year and an impressive monthly increase of 53%.

While an increase in re-mortgaging is expected in the New Year as homeowners put their household finances in order, this strong growth is above the seasonal fluctuations you normally see at this time of year.

This increase is also partly due to a number of fixed rate mortgages coming to an end while borrowers locked into attractive deals amid expectations of further interest rate rises a few years ago. Given that standard variable rates have been moving upwards, it’s hardly surprising that expat borrowers coming to the end of a fixed rate deal will look to re-mortgage rather than see their monthly repayments go up considerably. But it’s not only re-mortgagors that were active in January and February.

Expat first timers

The number of new expat first-time buyers also increased in the last quarter which is somewhat surprising given the Brexit negotiations. It would seem expats want to get a foot on the ladder in the UK so to speak perhaps as a backup.

Even with the general slow down in property prices the UK still represents good long term potential growth.

Mortgages

Expats currently have an excellent choice of new and re-mortgages available at advantageous rates, best advice is to act sooner rather than later as these rates are expected to increase.

Can we help?

If you are looking for a new or re-mortgage, please do make contact and one of our fully qualified experienced advisers will be happy to assist.

Expats and UK property after Brexit?

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The triggering of Article 50 has been well telegraphed, so for the housing market, it’s more about how the subsequent negotiations go. To date we are all getting very mixed messages as to the general outcome of the talks. One thing is very clear, the expats living overseas currently are not panicking in the slightest as expat mortgage business is very buoyant indeed.

A recent poll taken of expats found that 72% have no concerns as to the outcome of the Brexit negotiations. The poll also revealed expat UK property owners are confident their UK holdings will be generally unaffected by Brexit.

What about the mortgage market?

The market so far has been largely unmoved by Brexit. Lenders have continued to maintain good interest rates across the board since last summer which indicates a lack of concern currently. The rates are very competitive and there are still plenty of high loan-to-value mortgages available to expat consumers.

UK property values after Brexit

The property market in the UK is currently slowing down compared to a few years ago, but it must be said values are still increasing albeit at a slower rate. If you are an expat who has invested or looking to invest in the UK property market you can draw strength from the historical figures. It is very unlikely in the next 20 years we will see things change drastically due to the demand still being as strong as ever for quality UK property.

The way forward

As an expat living overseas with property and a mortgage in the UK it would be very advisable to get your current mortgage checked to ensure it will meet the ongoing needs.

Assistance?

If you would like to discuss your mortgage requirements, please do make contact and one of our qualified advisers will be happy to help.

Expats lending on an upward trend

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March’s gross mortgage lending to expats has increased by 4.8% from last month, this is the fourth month on the run. In addition to the month on month increases lending this year has increased 14% overall.

Experts believe these strong figures are down to the Brexit negotiations progressing albeit slowly but positively. There is definitely less confidence in the property values of other European countries. Property continues to gain value in the UK at a steady rate and looks like continuing for the foreseeable future unlike the rest of Europe.

One other factor that has contributed to this robust growth is the number of re-mortgages completed. Both expats and UK residents are living in the fear that interest rates are about to jump. These fears are justified as already a good many long term fixed rate deals have been withdrawn from the market but there are still some very attractive deals on offer.

UK property offers stability

The UK property market without doubt still offers value for money if you own a property or can afford to buy one. Anybody who has owned a property in a good area of the UK over the last 10 years would have seen their investment grow substantially.

It is expected that house price increases will level out as the year goes on with a steady and reliable growth rate, again spelling good news all round.

At present the outlook for 2018 and beyond is very positive within the UK property market, the signs are this will continue for the foreseeable future.

To sum up – traditionally the UK property market has always offered excellent value long term investment potential and there is no reason to believe this won’t continue.

Mortgage advice?

If you are in need of assistance with a new or re-mortgage, then please contact our expert advisers who are waiting to help.

Expats and buy-to-lets

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The reduction in buy-to-let mortgage tax relief may cause more people to emigrate abroad and invest in UK buy-to-let from overseas.

Those lenders not already operating in the expat marketplace will have to start thinking about tapping into it because of more people leaving the UK and becoming expats than ever before. With the Brexit situation, people are realizing there’s a big world out there and they can experience more cultures.

If you are already an expat there’s genuinely never been a better time to take out mortgage finance. The mortgage tax relief changes, phased in over four years, mean 75% of finance costs are deductible from rental income from 2017 to 2018. The year after it will be 50%, the year after that 25% and from 2020 none.

Expats can earn a certain amount in the UK before paying tax and property purchasing may not take them over that amount, meaning they wouldn’t be affected by these tax changes.

The expat current marketplace lenders are more cautious when lending, always looking at affordability and there’s more underwriting as well. This should not deter the long-term expat investor as the rewards can be very worthwhile. Using a UK based broker will without doubt help reduce the administration as they are fully experienced on what will be required.

The expat marketplace for lenders is as competitive as ever and new entrants are likely as Brexit presses on. Expats currently have an excellent choice of new or re-mortgage buy-to-let products.

Can we help?

If you are an expat looking for help securing a new or re-mortgage, please do make contact and one of our qualified advisers will be happy to assist.