A POSITIVE OUTLOOK FOR THE SECOND HALF OF 2021

One of the reasons I love the mortgage and property markets is that it is never short of data, conjecture or opinion. I’m writing this on the cusp of the phased end to the Government's stamp duty holiday and we are seeing huge amounts of column inches around purchasers in a mad dash to complete, or risk having to pay up to £15,000 extra to secure their home. Of course, I’m paraphrasing from one such story, although there is little doubt that we are in midst of some hectic times.

It’s also a time when speculation is emerging about what might happen next to the housing market, and you don’t have to look too hard to find some slightly confusing information which only adds a further layer of uncertainty for consumers.

NEW BUY-TO-LET PROPERTIES DRIVING UP STANDARDS FOR THE SECTOR

I recently tried to source a carpenter for a relatively small project in the house. I don’t know one personally so I did the usual thing of asking friends and neighbours if they could recommend a good local one. I compiled a short list and contacted them (some more successfully than others). Again, as per the norm, I finally manged to get a couple around for a quote. This took a little bit of time but thankfully I’m not in any great hurry. And I was even more thankful of this fact when they told me that the earliest they could do the work ranged from September to November.

INVESTMENT IN THE PRS IS A WIN-WIN FOR TENANTS AND LANDLORDS

The renting versus house purchase debate is an age old one. Events over the past 12 months or so have helped clarify the property-related priorities of some but also served to further muddy the waters for others.

Although homeownership aspirations appear to remain strong, rising house prices and demand means that these continue to be a challenge for many. Research from Aldermore recently revealed that 38% of prospective first-time buyers said they were rejected for a mortgage once (compared to 36% in March 2020), and 43% said they were rejected for a mortgage more than once, a large spike from just 17% in March 2020.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR CLIENT'S INVESTMENT ASPIRATIONS

Here at Dynamo we have many relationships with a variety of investors. From those who have been building their property portfolios for decades through to those who are taking their first steps onto the property ladder. Each have different short, medium and longer-term goals which will inevitably be affected by changes in circumstance, finances and future aspirations. As such, an integral role in this advice process is understanding the motivations behind these investments, the risks involved and potential exit strategies along the way.

The past year has taught us that scenarios and attitudes to money can change quickly and, from a landlord perspective, it’s important for advisers to really get to know their clients and understand where the new generation of landlords may emerge from.

THE POWER OF TECHNOLOGY IN CUSTOMER ACQUISITION

I love a bit of tech. Especially in the form of new platforms and different ways to engage with people. I’m not exactly prolific across all social media platforms but I do appreciate their appeal. LinkedIn is probably the medium I have tended to use the most in recent years, although I am becoming more and more invested in what remains a relatively new concept – Clubhouse.

THE APPEAL OF THE UK HOLIDAY LET

I know how difficult it is to plan ahead at the moment and how the booking of any holiday may still seem a little presumptuous. However, after seeing a couple of back-to-back days of sunshine I’m sure I’ve joined the vast numbers of people across the UK in thinking – if only.

With the vaccine programme speeding ahead, there is growing optimism that some kind of travel will be permitted sooner rather than later. The popularity of breaks within the UK is set to continue with staycations – or simply holidays as I like to call them – likely to remain high on the agenda of many people, if and when they are allowed.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN – BUT WE CAN CHANGE THAT

The recent crisis has made us all review the way we live our lives in some shape or form. Without getting too introspective, although the impact of the pandemic on our potential freedom and mortality has not radically changed the way I look at certain things, it has definitely made me far more appreciative of them.

One such area is the environment. The immediate change in our ecosystem was enlightening during the initial lockdown and whilst this hasn’t been forgotten in many quarters, other factors may have temporarily forced it down the agenda. This is understandable in such an uncertain world but it’s important to continue highlighting certain areas of this all-important environmental crusade when and where we can.

OPPORTUNITIES WILL CONTINUE TO EMERGE FOR LANDLORDS AS BTL CHOICE WIDENS

In last month’s article I looked at how landlords, lenders and the general buy-to-let market has had to adapt to changeable market conditions before, during and after the lockdown. During this, I touched upon how many first-time buyers have been hit with a double whammy as the availability of low-deposit deals has plummeted, while rates on those remaining have surged since lockdown. And it’s not only products across the residential mortgage market which are fluctuating.

WHAT DO CUSTOMERS REALLY WANT FROM THEIR BROKER IN THIS CHANGING LANDSCAPE?

By Caroline Mirakian, Head of National Accounts at Pepper Money

There is always uncertainty in life but providing professional financial advice at the time of a global pandemic can be a particular challenge. So, what do your clients really want, and expect from you in this changing landscape?

Here are four of our tips:

1.    Get back to basics

In a challenging environment, a good first step is to take a step back and focus on delivering the basics really well. This is a common approach taken in sport when a new coach takes over an ailing team, and it applies just as well to any profession going through an uncertain period – get the basics right and the rest will follow.

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