Latest news with #MarkCassidy
Irish Examiner
27-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
100% mortgages would drive up house prices, Central Bank warns
Celtic Tiger-era 100% mortgages would drive up house prices and increase risks to borrowers and banks, the Central Bank has warned. Mark Cassidy, the Central Bank's director of financial stability, warned TDs and senators at the Oireachtas housing committee against the return of 100% mortgages. 'We think that would be a bad idea,' Mr Cassidy said. It would add to demand without any impact on supply and therefore add to prices. 'More fundamentally, it increases the risk for borrowers and for banks.' Banks introduced 100% mortgages during the Celtic Tiger period, but more recent Central Bank rules do not allow either 100% or 95% mortgages to be given out. Current rules require borrowers to have a 10% deposit in order to obtain a mortgage. Mr Cassidy said reintroducing 100% mortgages would increase the risk of default, if a household's income fell. He added that, if house prices fall, homeowners would immediately fall into negative equity and would be likely to 'get into financial distress'. 'We believe a minimum of a 10% deposit remains necessary for either first time borrowers or existing borrowers,' he added. 'We would be confident that 100% mortgages are overly risky, both from the perspective of the borrower and the perspective of the bank.' The matter was raised by a number of TDs and senators during the meeting, who questioned whether it would be possible to allow for the reintroduction of 100% mortgage products. It comes as Independent Ireland has called for the reintroduction of 100% mortgages, saying that many tenants are able to pay more in rent than they would need for monthly mortgage repayments. The Central Bank was also critical of Government plans to consider expanding the First Home shared equity scheme to second-hand homes. Robert Kelly, the Central Bank's director of economics and statistics, warned against the measure. 'The challenge in front of us, it's mainly supply. The current scheme works through pushing up demand and house prices, creating more additional funding for them to buy houses so it stimulates supply. 'I don't see how applying that to the second-hand housing market would achieve that. I think the net effect of that would be additional demand, which would likely feed its way into house prices as opposed to creating large amounts of supply.'
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Carol McGiffin, 64, enjoys a sunny day out with toyboy husband Mark Cassidy, 43, and a friend
Carol McGiffin enjoyed a day out with her toyboy husband Mark Cassidy and a friend in London over the weekend. The former Loose Women panellist, 64, and her partner, 43, made the most of the sunny weather as they joined TV producer Billy Halpin for a catch up. Sharing a collage of selfies as they walked through a park, the couple looked happier than ever as they smiled. Billy captioned the Instagram update: 'Amazing last minute surprise to see these two before they go back to France today. A great start to my London summer!' The trio shielded their eyes with sunglasses while stopping by a lake to pose for a photo. Carol and Mark met back in 2008 when she was 48 and he was 26, they married in 2018. She was previously married to radio and TV presenter Chris Evans. The couple exchanged vows in 1991 before separating three-years later, with their divorce finalised in 1998. Carol rang in her 16th anniversary with Mark in October as she shared a sweet tribute during a trip to The French Riviera. The former Celebrity Big Brother contestant and her partner made sure to celebrate in style as they toasted to their first date. Enjoying a meal at La Colombe d'Or restaurant in the village of Saint-Paul de Vence, the couple smiled for a photo. In the update, which Carol shared to Instagram, she included a series of snaps from over the years as they rang in each anniversary in a different location. She captioned: 'This week we celebrated our 16th anniversary (meeting not wedding). I can hardly believe it.' The broadcaster continued: 'Lots of changes in our lives but we still love doing all the same things together and being in each other's company more than ever. Here's to the next 16.' In August, So Solid Crew's Lisa Maffia, 45, who appeared on Loose Women in 2019, branded Carol a 'rude a**hole' and claimed the presenter's relationship with toy boy boyfriend and now husband Mark 'went to her head'. Previously, So Solid Crew's Lisa Maffia (pictured) claimed Carol was the 'worst celeb she'd ever met' and revealed her relationship with toyboy Mark 'went to her head' When asked her worst celeb encounter she told the Livin' Lavida Loca podcast: 'I know this one. Her name is... what is her frigging name? She's rude you know? 'She was one of the original panelists on Loose Women, such an a**hole.' Struggling to remember Carol's name Lisa said: 'She had... she was old, short bob, grey, blondish hair. She had a young boyfriend. 'So she had really short cropped sort of hair, and she went and started dating some, like, really young guy, and it kind of went to her head. I had to check her.' After someone in the studio guessed Carol's identity correctly, the rapper continued: 'Yeah. That's it, McGriffin or Griffin, little flippin' gruff, billy goat gruff. Nah, she was rude. I will tell you as it is, don't try me.'
