With two bank holidays behind us and an unexpected early heatwave making an appearance, summer feels like it’s well and truly on its way. As we reach the halfway point of 2026, it’s the perfect time to pause and take stock - especially when it comes to your finances. This month, we’re focusing on helping you review your mortgage and make sure your protection plans are in place, so you can enjoy the months ahead with confidence and peace of mind.
MORTGAGE NEWS
Housing market 'surprisingly strong' with average asking price up 1.2% in May – Rightmove
The average price of a home rose by £4,333 in May, with market confidence “surprisingly strong”, according to online property expert Rightmove.
The online property portal said the average price of a property coming to market is now £378,304, but prices have fallen by 0.3% since May 2025.
“Activity in the market is staying fairly steady, even with ongoing cost‑of‑living pressures and wider global uncertainty,” said Colleen Babcock, property expert at Rightmove.
However, she also noted a North/South price divide, with prices rising in the North but falling in more expensive areas such as London and the South East.
Prices in the more affordable North East and North West rose by 2.7% and 2.6% respectively. Meanwhile, prices in London fell 2.4% and the South East saw a 1.6% drop.
SOURCE: Mortgage Solutions
Mortgage Spotlight
Each month, we look at a different scenario when you might need a mortgage. This month, we look at raising money for cash flow, tax bills or debt consolidation
💼 Need Short-Term Finance for Your Business or Personal Costs?
Raj, a company director, is facing a large tax bill during a slow trading quarter. Traditional lenders couldn't help quickly, but a second-charge loan can.
It enables him to:
✔️ Release equity from his home
✔️ Pay the tax bill on time
✔️ Improve business cash flow
✔️ Consolidate some short-term debts at the same time
Second charge loans and bridging finance can provide fast access to funds when life or business throws challenges your way.
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700 formerly rented homes put up for sale every day
Around 700 formerly rented homes are put up for sale every day, according to analysis from property firm Savills.
Savills estimates that 254,000 previously let buy‑to‑let homes were listed for sale in Great Britain in the past 12 months to the end of March 2026. This works out at 697 properties per day.
The amount of buy-to-let stock for sale has increased by 28% on March 2024 and sits 9% above levels seen in the year to March 2025. Savills said this highlights a sustained shift in landlord behaviour amid changing market conditions.
SOURCE: Mortgage Strategy
Closing the protection gap: why mortgage brokers are central to the solution
Almost half of UK mortgage holders would struggle to meet their payments within six months of losing their income. Yet our recent research conducted with
HomeOwners Alliance found that eight in 10 (86%) have no income protection in place.
The protection gap is not new, but it is becoming more urgent. With rising living costs, greater income volatility and increased anxiety about financial resilience, millions of UK households remain exposed to financial shocks they could not absorb.
The research shows that more than a third of mortgage holders have no life insurance, income protection or critical illness cover. What’s striking isn’t just the scale of under‑insurance, it’s why it persists.
The protection market generally works well for people who already have cover. Where it struggles is much earlier in the journey, with the many customers who never properly engage at all. For too many, lack of awareness, not lack of access to advice, is the real starting problem.
And that’s exactly where mortgage brokers come in.
SOURCE: Mortgage Strategy
