Commercial loan rate

Mortgage is available whether or not other services are also taken from the lender. " Michael Coogan of the Building Societies Association Legal Department says: " The Government wants mortgage lenders to emphasise to borrowers that they think carefully before committing themselves to taking out a loan . " If you are arranging your mortgage via a mortgage broker and you do not choose an endowment-linked scheme, you may be charged a fee for his or her services. BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS With interest rates of 4 per cent or more above bank base rate , bridging loans are often seen as risky and expensive. But in today's lean property market, homebuyers could start putting them to good use.

With a bridging loan you could choose your new, more expensive home and buy while prices remain comparatively low, then delay for some time before selling your first house. As house prices begin to rise, you could see your loan costing less each month than the gain in your first house's value over the same period. A bridging loan can also give you an pper hand when buying in a very slow market. Armed with your bridging loan, you are effectively a cash buyer, not caught up in a chain, and you can use this position to your advantage, demanding and getting a good discount.

This, in turn, should allow you to cut the sale price of your own current property and, therefore, sell it more quickly. At a time when house sales are few and far between, successful transactions are those where realistic prices are asked. MONEY TALK WENDY ELKINGTON SHOWS HOW TO GET THE RIGHT INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVICE, LOOKS AT BANKING FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN AND FINDS OUT WHETHER IT PAYS TO HAVE A LODGER SOUND ADVICE. Over the last couple of years, newspapers have been full of articles about financial advisers, like Barlow Clowes and the Levitt Group, that have gone bust.

This always strikes fear into the hearts of would-be investors. The last thing you want to worry about when you invest your hard-earned cash is whether your adviser is trustworthy. If you're considering making an investment, it's nearly lways better to talk to an independent financial adviser (IFA). A company representative or agent will only tell you about his own firm's plans and so his advice will be limited. But an IFA can shop around for the best deals. Here's a checklist to help ensure you end up with the right advice. Make sure your adviser has a full operating licence -- known as a " regulated " licence -- and that his stationery, business card or literature states his authorisation.