Author: Jordan

Landlord gross rental yields strengthened in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage specialist Paragon Bank. Scotland, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber were the main drivers of the growth. Yields have been on an upward trajectory since the end of the Covid lockdowns, rising from 5.84% in 2021.   Regional performance Scotland recorded the strongest growth in yield performance over the quarter, rising by 53 percentage points (pp) to 7.97%. The West Midlands saw a 24pp increase to 7.24%, while Yorkshire and the Humber rose by 21pp to 7.58%. …

A 29-year-old Alexandria man faces hundreds of charges tied to alleged thefts from unlocked vehicles parked outside of fitness centers in Fairfax County and Falls Church. Kumneger Ayalsew was arrested in Alexandria on June 26 and is currently being held at the Arlington County jail. He faces hundreds of charges for similar alleged crimes in Fairfax County and Falls Church, according to a release from the Fairfax County Police Department. “Since April 2026, detectives determined Ayalsew stole wallets, credit cards, and other personal belongings from unlocked vehicles before quickly making fraudulent gift card purchases at nearby retailers, often before victims…

Since November 1, 2025, a Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) requirement has been part of the closing checklist for many higher-value real estate transactions. Settlement agents must file Form NRW with DOR for sales of Massachusetts real estate with a gross sales price of $1 million or more. The requirement applies to qualifying transfers regardless of whether the seller is a Massachusetts resident or whether tax must be withheld. It is not limited to residential transactions; it can apply to residential, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, multifamily, and other sales or exchanges of Massachusetts real property that meet the $1 million threshold.…

GapSense has launched a site screening tool that grades whether a site has a realistic route to planning permission, aimed at brokers, lenders and landlords assessing planning risk. Planning technology firm GapSense has launched an AI site screening tool for brokers, lenders and landlords. The tool is designed to assess whether a site has a realistic route to planning permission in minutes and without requiring application documents. Users can enter an address, postcode, grid reference or draw a boundary directly on a map. GapSense said the tool reads the council’s adopted local plan alongside the relevant national framework, checks 15…

Fred Graffam (Photo: Business Wire) Lightwave Logic Inc. (NASDAQ: LWLG) has appointed veteran finance executive Fred Graffam as chief financial officer, strengthening its executive team as the company advances the commercialization of its electro-optic polymer technology for next-generation photonic devices. Graffam assumes the role effective immediately and will oversee the company’s financial operations, financial reporting, capital allocation and investor relations. He will also play a key role in supporting Lightwave Logic’s long-term growth strategy as it continues developing optical technologies designed to improve data transmission speeds and energy efficiency for telecommunications and AI-related infrastructure. Snizhana “Ana” Quan, who has served…

Money Metals – Buy Gold, Silver & Precious Metals for Investment There is evidence that underlying bond market dynamics have shifted toward a long-term bearish setup that will mean higher long-term interest rates despite central bank mechanizations. This has ramifications for an economy that is addicted to cheap, easy money and may alter traditional portfolio balancing. A paper published by Massif Capital argues that over the last 20 years or so, interest rates were primarily driven by monetary policy expectations. Today, things are shifting, with long-term interest rates more dependent on geopolitical and fiscal risks. As a result, the bond…

American Express’s The Hotel Collection gives eligible cardmembers access to perks like room upgrades and hotel credits for dining, spa treatments and resort activities (as long as you book a stay of two nights or more at a select property).I’ve used the program myself and been consistently impressed by how it has elevated my stays.Here’s what you need to know about how The Hotel Collection works, which cards give you access and how to make the most of it.What is The Hotel Collection?The Hotel Collection and its sister program, American Express Fine Hotels + Resorts, are Amex’s two luxury hotel…

Buy-to-let gross rental yields strengthened in the second quarter of the year, with Scotland, the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber driving the growth, according to data from Paragon Bank. Paragon’s Q2 2026 Buy-to-Let Yields report, based on the bank’s lending data, found that overall gross rental yields strengthened to 7.02% by the end of June, compared with 6.96% at the end of Q1. Yields have been on an upward trajectory since the end of the Covid lockdowns, rising from 5.84% in 2021. Regionally, Scotland experienced the strongest growth in yield performance over the quarter, rising by 53bps…

With oil markets on edge, inflation signals mixed, and central banks weighing their next moves, many investors are looking for growth that is supported by both hard numbers and management conviction. That is where the Fast Growing Stocks With High Insider Ownership screener can help. It filters for companies that pair growth potential with optimistic outlooks from analysts and insiders who have meaningful skin in the game. In this article, you will see three stocks from this screener that illustrate how growth, insider commitment, and today’s cross currents in rates, trade, and commodities can come together in a focused watchlist.…

Halifax is increasing all two-, three-, and five-year fixed rates for home movers and first-time buyers by up to 20bps. Two-year tracker rates will rise by as much as 10bps for both purchase and remortgage customers. TSB is raising selected residential rates by up to 20bps and buy-to-let rates by up to 15bps. Aaron Strutt (pictured right), product director at Trinity Financial, said the Halifax move could signal further increases across the market. “This Halifax rate change probably means that Lloyds will be pushing up its cheap fixes as well, which undercut virtually all of the other lenders by quite…