Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Government Loans for First Time buyers

Those self serving suits from around Threadneedle Street who we saw exposed in Channel 4's excellent documentary on non-executive banking directors, have been racking their brains recently on how to get the first time buyer market moving.

Laughing into their cafe crappe they must be rubbing their hands in glee that the public furore has shifted onto their erstwhile employers - the MP's of Westminster or as Sky TV would have us call it 'The Rotten Government'

So on the back of the Speaker Bashing, the Government in the guise of Lloyds TSB has today launched a new first time buyer mortgage product called- ‘Lend a Hand’ (who thought of that?) - offering 95% loan to value (LTV)

‘Lend a Hand’ or 'Cop for Your Kids' as it is soon to be known, which is obviously aimed at the middle classes with kids still at home, offers first time buyers a 95% loan to value (LTV) mortgage by taking a legal charge on a savings account belonging to their parents, grandparents, rich friends or anyone else willing to cough up the dough to get the kids a place to live.

The new product is a fixed rate mortgage at 4.39% for 3 years, and is nearly £100 a month less than the industry average 90% mortgage rate at 5.98%.
Hmm - isn't the base rate currently 0.5%?

Lloyds are still looking for a 25% deposit but they are allowing this to be made up through a combination of a minimum 5% deposit by the first time buyers and the remainder from the parents or backers savings account.

For example,on a £100,000 property, a 95% LTV mortgage of £95,000 is provided by Lloyds TSB at a three-year fixed rate of 4.39% with a £995 fee. £5,000 is provided by the first-time buyer as a deposit for the property, £20,000 is provided by parents, grandparents or friends and held in the Lloyds TSB ‘Lend a Hand’ savings account earning a fixed rate of 3.5% for 42 months.

Why couldn't they offer the rate Tax-free like an ISA if they really want to encourage people to get involved ?

So what are the multiples of salary limits and can the first time buyer really afford the mortgage repayments?

Furthermore Insurance Blogger is amazed that the Government thinks that there are lots of people have got £20 grand to spare during the current credit crisis and recession, plus a possible further five thousand on top if they really want their kids out the house?

At least Lloyds TSB isn't allowed to sell mortgage payment protection insurance at the point of mortgage sale any more! Granny's pension wouldn't stretch to that!

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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Time is Not on your side - Age as insurance rating factor

Time is on my side, yes it is! - not!

Even their satanic majesties have grown old and wrinkly.
It doesn't matter whether you are young or old - your age is going to to affect what type of cover you are offered for particular insurance products cand more importantly - how much you pay!

Well the young man, ain't got nothing in the world these days!

So what insurance products favour you or go against you if you are fortunate enough, to be young!

Well if you are young the things that favour you are going to be reflected in risk price for the particular insurance product you are purchasing. If you are young! That's It!
That's about all you have got going in your favour - the fact that you are young! - so the costs of products where the risk is to your person tend to be much cheaper the younger you are.

Some examples are:

Health Insurance
Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance
Life Insurance
Critical Illness cover
ASU ( exception of unemployment insurance)
Income Protection Insurance
Travel Insurance
Lifestyle Insurance

All the cheaper products for younger people are concerned with risks to you as a person.

When it comes to Property insurance and Liability insurance - Woah! you are going to have to pay through the nose!
Fact of the matter is that when it comes to young people owning property or using property of others, the risks to themselves and others is far far greater than for older people and people with more life experience.

So young people in general, are going to have to pay a lot more for the following types of insurance:

Car Insurance
Home Insurance
Boat Insurance
Trademans Insurance
Commercial Insurance
Professional Indemnity Insurance

Not surprisingly if you are older the reverse applies

Time and Insurance wait for no man!

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