Welcome to Spread the Word May 2026. As well as the latest property news, we remind you of who we help, how we work, and why so many clients choose to pass our name on with confidence.
MORTGAGE NEWS
Market disruption fails to dent first-time buyer appetite in Q1
The number of mortgage applications submitted by first-time buyers in Q1 was steady and similar to activity seen at the same time last year, when buyers rushed to beat the stamp duty changes.
Analysis of data from CACI carried out by Yorkshire Building Society revealed a 0.6% annual increase in the number of applications from first-time buyers, totalling 126,448 between 29 December and 30 March, compared to 125,648 last year. This is compared to a 12% rise seen from Q1 2024 to Q1 2025, when first-time buyer activity was at its highest since the post-Covid-19 peak of 2022.
SOURCE: Mortgage Solutions
❤️ A Reminder of How We Can Help – Mortgage & Protection Advice
At Stratton Thorpe Mortgage Solutions, we provide independent mortgage and protection advice to clients across Banbury, Oxfordshire and the wider UK. We search from a comprehensive range of lenders and insurers, including access to exclusive and specialist products, to ensure each recommendation is tailored to your individual circumstances.
Protection, Insurance & Financial Safeguards
In addition to mortgage advice, we arrange a full range of personal, family and property protection solutions, including:
Life insurance
Critical / serious illness cover
Income protection (long‑term sickness cover)
Mortgage protection insurance
Specialist protection, including cover for Type 1 Diabetes and other conditions
Guaranteed over‑50s life cover
Limited company relevant life cover
Children and family protection
Private medical insurance
Funeral plan cover
Landlord insurance
Rent protection insurance
Buildings insurance
Contents insurance
Tenants’ contents insurance
Home emergency cover
Personal possessions cover, including accidental damage
Family legal protection
Mortgage Advice & Lending Solutions
We can help with a wide range of mortgage and finance options, including:
First‑time buyer mortgages
Remortgages – including product transfers and rate switches
Buy‑to‑let mortgages
HMO mortgages (Houses of Multiple Occupancy)
Retirement Interest‑Only (RIO) mortgages
Government‑backed 5% deposit schemes
Parent or family‑assisted mortgages
Right‑to‑Buy mortgages
Help‑to‑Buy remortgages
Shared ownership and shared equity schemes
Home improvement and further advance borrowing
Debt consolidation through mortgage lending
Adverse credit and poor credit mortgages
Rate switch comparisons up to 6 months before your current deal ends
Bridging finance
Second‑charge lending (via referral)
Commercial lending (via referral)
Lifetime mortgages for equity release (over 55s) (via referral)*
* This is a lifetime mortgage. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.
Our Approach
We take the time to fully understand your goals before recommending any solution. Whether you are a first‑time buyer, homeowner, landlord, self‑employed, or approaching retirement, our advice is always:
Personalised
Transparent
Fully compliant
Focused on long‑term financial security
Mortgage Spotlight
Each month, we look at a different scenario when you might need a mortgage. This month, we look at paying inheritance tax before you have probate.
🏡 Need finance to pay inheritance tax before a property is sold?
Emma has inherited her late father's property, and the family needs to pay a significant inheritance tax bill - but probate is still months away, and funds are tied up. A probate bridging loan allows them to:
✔️ Pay the IHT bill on time
✔️ Avoid penalties
✔️ Finalise probate without financial pressure
✔️ Repay the loan once the estate is released
Bridging finance can be a lifeline during difficult times when assets are tied up but bills need to be paid. We're here to guide you through the options with care and clarity.
270+ 5-Star Google Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
270+ 5-Star Google Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to all our wonderful clients for taking the time to provide feedback about our services. It truly makes our day to read your happy words!
Help for mortgage borrowers facing repayment hikes in 2026
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has called on the six biggest banks and building societies to provide support for borrowers whose mortgage rates may be impacted by the conflict in Iran.
In March, fixed rate mortgages have soared in price as an impact of events in the Middle East, with the Moneyfacts Average Mortgage Rate rising from 4.89% at the start of the month to 5.50% on Wednesday.
Those borrowers who are currently secured into a fixed rate will see no difference – it is thought that around 86% of borrowers are in this bracket.
But for over one million homeowners whose deals end in the next few months, there could be a shock repayment hike as this month’s rate rises take root.
In response to this, the Chancellor and Economic Secretary brought together the six largest banks and building societies and secured a commitment that they will proactively contact 1.6 million customers whose fixed-rate deals end between now and the end of the year.
These lenders must lay out these customers’ options or explain how they can access bespoke support well before the payment changes.
SOURCE: What Mortgage
