Mortgages

The FSA has banned a mortgage adviser for falsifying applications and fined the firm where he worked almost £12,000 for failing to keep an eye on him.

The number of mortgage products available in the UK market has increased for the first time in a year, according to figures from Trigold.

The Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI) says it hopes advisers and brokers will continue to be at the heart of Abbey's business plans after its owner Santander announced plans to merge the company with Alliance & Leicester (A&L).

Mortgage brokers and consumers may face a reduction in choice if the proposed merger between Abbey and Alliance & Leicester goes ahead, according to Moneyfacts.co.uk.

Mortgage Intelligence is to launch a new in-house legal service with the support of Goldsmith Williams.

More than half of all landlords are unaware of new energy efficiency requirements for rental property, due to come into force in October, according to Paragon Mortgages.

Legal & General Mortgage Club has launched a conveyancing service, allowing advisers to tap additional revenue streams it was announced today.

HIP Facilities Group and its subsidiary HIP Payment Services have announced they will withdraw from the market and will not accept any new business from 31 August.

The two biggest mortgage lenders in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have seen shares slump by 45% this morning as fears over the US housing market continue.

The secured loan market is declining rapidly, with eight lenders having withdrawn from the market in the past twelve months, according to Moneyfacts.co.uk.