Mortgage Insider

Should every first time buyer be treated as vulnerable?

For many first-time buyers, the home buying process can feel confusing, full of jargon and hard to follow. And with affordability concerns and rate changes still shaping the UK housing market, securing a first-time buyer mortgage can feel more daunting than ever for all too many. In this episode of Mortgage Insider, Phil Spencer is joined by Louise Baxter MBE, co-CEO of Consumer Friend, and Kate Faulkner OBE, Chair of the Home Buying and Selling Council and founder of PropertyChecklists.co.uk, to discuss how the experience of buying a house can be improved for first-time buyers. They explore why clearer language and better communication are vital when arranging a first-time buyer mortgage, and how many people still struggle to ask questions if they do not fully understand the information being shared. The discussion also looks at how the challenge can be even greater for neurodivergent buyers, including those with dyslexia. Complex language, the volume of documentation and unclear explanations can make the process harder to follow, which is why using plain English, clearer layouts and simpler presentation can make a real difference. Finally, the guests underline the value of strong mortgage broker advice, from checking a client’s understanding to explaining key points in different ways and giving buyers the time they need to make calm, informed decisions before pressure builds. For brokers supporting an array of first-time buyer clients, this episode offers practical insight into improving outcomes, reducing stress and making the home buying process clearer from start to finish.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we speed up the house buying process?

The home buying process remains slow and uncertain for all too many. On average, it now takes around 120 days to complete a property purchase in the UK, a sharp rise since 2007, and around one in three deals still falls through. The cost of failed property transactions runs into billions each year and creates stress for buyers, sellers and mortgage intermediaries alike. In this episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, host Phil Spencer is joined by Justin Young, CEO of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and Claire Beardmore, Director of L&G Mortgage Club, to look at why the home buying process takes so long and what could help improve outcomes across the market. The discussion looks at how poor timing and late checks add delay, why repeating property surveys and searches wastes time and money, and how doing more work upfront could allow steps to run side by side rather than one after the other. They also explore what England can learn from Scotland’s home report system, as well as other countries with shorter timelines and far fewer fall-throughs, and why confidence in digitisation, reliable data and clear standards will be essential if change is to stick. With reform work under way and more focus on upfront information, the episode sets out why mortgage intermediaries have such a key role in getting buyers ready early and staying close to developments that could shape how homes are bought and sold in the years ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mortgage Insider returns for 2026

Welcome to the award-winning Mortgage Insider - back for 2026. Property expert and TV presenter Phil Spencer MBE will once again guide you through the trials and tribulations of the housing world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Regulation, AI and uncertainty – the issues brokers can’t ignore

For mortgage intermediaries, few periods have felt as complex or fast-moving as they are today. Keeping track of regulations, understanding the impact of AI, and managing rising client uncertainty in the current political climate are among the biggest challenges shaping the advice process. In this episode of the Barclays Mortgage Insider podcast, host and property expert Phil Spencer is joined by Stephanie Charman, CEO of the Association of Mortgage Intermediaries (AMI). Together, they discuss how the trade body provides clear, practical guidance to more than 80% of the UK’s intermediary community, helping them navigate an ever-evolving environment. The discussion examines how technology is reshaping advice and asks the critical question - can technology keep up with regulations? Steph also highlights the ongoing importance of protection and the need to close the protection gap, while sharing how AMI’s ‘Working in Mortgages’ initiative is helping attract and retain new, diverse talent across the industry. It’s a candid, forward-looking conversation about how intermediaries can remain resilient, informed and compliant, while continuing to provide trusted, personal advice in an increasingly digital world. This episode was recorded on 13th October 2025.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 outlook every broker needs to know

Forecasting into 2026 is already being shaped by lingering economic uncertainty, shifting consumer trends and tighter consumer spending. With the labour market slowing, the unemployment rate edging up and the impact of AI changing early-career roles, these pressures are influencing confidence, demand and how homebuyers and homeowners plan their next steps. This special episode of the Mortgage Insider podcast, recorded live at Barclays HQ in London, brings host Phil Spencer together with Claer Barrett, Consumer Editor at the Financial Times, Richard Donnell, Executive Director for Research at Zoopla, and Lee Hopley, Director of Economic Insight and Research at UK Finance, to explore these themes and much more. They tackle inflation, rising household bills and tax changes, and why younger households feel less certain about pay and job security. The discussion also looks at the growing role of the Bank of Mum and Dad, regional contrasts, changes in buy-to-let, the move towards more structured portfolios, the value of protection and the expected spike in remortgage activity over the next year. With buyers and homeowners facing increased financial pressure, the panel set out why the advice process matters more than ever and offer the insight brokers need to support a wide range of client needs as we head into 2026. This episode was recorded live at Barclays HQ in Canary Wharf on 18 November, one week before the Autumn Budget.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.