As we approach our next Masterclass, speaker Martese Carton, Director of Mortgage Distribution at Leeds Building Society, reminds journalists not to ignore options such as shared ownership and affordable housing schemes when thinking about the options borrowers have and explains why she will be covering what needs to be done at a Governmental level to increase the availability of homes.

Can you give a quick overview of what your Masterclass session will cover?

Our session overall will cover mortgages and savings and I’ll talk about mortgages.

What are the challenges surrounding your topic you would like journalists to help their readers understand? How will you be discussing this at the Masterclass?

There is a lot of uncertainty around the economy, and how this might affect house prices and the availability of mortgages. Someone looking to get on the property ladder for the first time may feel they have no chance given the squeeze on household finances and rising interest rates but there is still plenty of hope! 

It is similar for existing borrowers who might be coming to the end of a fixed rate period on a mortgage and concerned about what to do next. We’ll be running through how mortgages work and the options borrowers have. 

We’ll also be talking about some of the things we’d like to see done at a Governmental level to increase the availability of homes, albeit that is much more of a long-term, structural issue.

Any general tips for money writers covering your sector?

Don’t ignore things like shared ownership when thinking about the options borrowers have – there is quite a big difference between perception and reality on how and where the scheme is used.

What would you like to change about how journalists cover your area of expertise?

I think sometimes there is too much focus on viewing homeownership through an investment lens rather than the benefits it brings in terms of stability, health and family life. 

Even in more difficult economic conditions, there are positives (such as affordable housing schemes)  and sometimes these are missed.

Tell us about the big stories in your sector in the past few months. Could these be rolling stories? 

Changes to what is required of landlords over recent years, such as tax rules and proposals on improvements to the environmental impact of properties, continue to have big impacts on the rental market. There are also big question marks over the Government’s willingness to address the shortage of housing across the UK which will go on well beyond the next General Election.

Finally, why is it important for journalists to have access to initiatives such as Headlinemoney Masterclasses?

It is a brilliant opportunity to hear from people on the ground about topics and issues that have a major impact on people’s lives. These journalists play an important role in helping their readers or followers navigate what can be very complex subjects so building their knowledge and understanding can have huge benefits.

Martese Carton, Director of Mortgage Distribution at Leeds Building Society, will be speaking at the upcoming Headlinemoney Masterclass on 20 April 2023, along with other industry experts giving succinct overviews of their sectors for financial journalists. Find out more and book a place.