Posts Tagged ‘Banks In Spain’

Spanish Mortgages From UCI

Monday, June 8th, 2009

UCI the mortgage-lending arm of Santander and BNP Paribas is one of the few providers still actively and aggressively providing Spanish mortgages.

UCI only provides Spanish Mortgages via brokers and third parties so no mortgages no business which may explain why they are still very much in the market.

Loan to values which were once 80% with UCI are now 60% but they are the last remaining bank who link solely to the valuation and do not care what the purchase price is.

UCI will ask to see that clients could have completed and had sufficient funds to cover the 40% deposits and costs but as long as this can be proved and valuation level allow UCI will not insist the client, uses there own money the whole amount can be taken on the mortgage.

Whist UCI are providing purchase loans their self-certified, equity release and re-mortgage products have been pulled. They have also withdrawn all interest only facilities.

Perversely UCI used to be one of the most expensive on rates due to the cost of them acquiring funds as they have always had to buy funds on the money market. They are now one of the most cost effective as other banks have done increased margins above Euribor UCI have held rate margin spreads above from the days when business was booming. This means you can achieve rates between 1.25% to 1.5% above Euribor and without any attached products except a Bank of Santander bank account.

Things to watch with UCI however are:

•    UCI allow brokers to add to their opening fee so a broker can disguise their fees as bank fees. UCI standard opening will not exceed 1.5% but you may find yourself quoted 2%.
•     UCI will, unless your broker insists, link clients to IRPH not Euribor. IRPH is an obscure Spanish rate which clients outside Spain will find difficult to track and the rate is currently very high in comparision to Euribors.
•    UCI have no standard rate above Euribor. It is client specific so negotiation has to take place between UCI and your broker to make sure the best possible rate for you is achieved. This can take time and work on behalf of the broker; without negotiation UCI will try to push margins above to the top end of their spread which is 2% above.

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Spanish Banks In Trouble?

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

Latest rumours suggest that at least one bank in Spain has significant enough problems for the Bank of Spain to be required to step in.

It is widely known that many of the regional Caja’s particularly those that lent heavily to developers are struggling and Moody’s this week expressed their concerns about the bad debts being held by many banks in Spain. The rumours however are being linked specifically to the Sabadell group. The Sabadell group includes well-known names like Sol Bank.

Whilst there is no tangible proof at present that they are affected but Sol Bank have one of the highest cost bases of all banks in Spain so any truth in the rumours could have big implications for staff employed within the group. Sol bank are also known to hold a high level of development stock taken back form developers who de-faulted on loans.

Another bank linked with the rumours is Caja Sur. This Cordoba based bank is run by the Church and is again known to have heavy exposure to development funding and for many months now has sought to limit approvals on lending and only to approve loans with high rates and linked products.

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Spanish Banks and Spanish Mortgage Availability

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Whilst the banks in Spain’s treasury and investment arms were not actively involved in the sub-prime market, they have not managed to stay completely without issues.

Falling pound and high interest rates which many people are still tied into until their next annual review has meant the delinquency rate on their existing mortgage books has risen significantly particularly in the non resident market.

The Spanish banks like all banks are suffering also from liquidity issues with savers leaving in their droves and the banks unable to borrow on the money markets at a price that makes lending profitable.

Banco Popular group which includes Banco de Andalucia is in big trouble with the Spanish government asking BBVA to intervene and take it over. Rumour has it BBVA have stated they are not interested in doing so and have enough problems of their own.

Caja Madrid, and Ibercaja were down graded by Standard and Poor last week and the Sabadell group which includes Sol Bank is apparently up for sale.

Leeds and Holbeck who provide loans for non-residents buying in Spain has warned all brokers it is about to put up its margins above Euribor. Leeds and Holbeck track the 3 month Euribor which has dropped very low giving the bank an opportunity to increase for the second time in 6 months their margins above on all their products.

RBS/Nat West has great rates now with the standard tracker coming in at 2.56%. For those only requiring 50% of purchase price who don’t mind paying the banks extra set up costs for legal services this is very good value.

GE previously active in Spain has disappeared without trace monthly marketing information sent regularly for the last 3 years has dried up completely.

Halifax remains in the doldrums with no budget for lending it is hoped that when the integration of Lloyds Spain ad Halifax finalises in April they may become more active again.

The portfolio of lenders available in Spain decreases daily despite some brokers pretending otherwise.

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