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Starmer, Trump Pivot to Policy After £150bn Investment Pledge and Royal Pageantry

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets U.S. President Donald Trump at Chequers, near Aylesbury, Britain, September 18, 2025. After a day steeped in royal ceremony, U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer meet today for high-stakes talks aimed at cementing a renewed “special relationship”. The discussions follow Trump’s unprecedented second state visit, which featured a carriage procession with King Charles, a lavish Windsor Castle banquet, and the unveiling of a £150 billion ($205 billion) U.S. investment package in British technology, energy, and life sciences. Major players including Microsoft, Nvidia, Google, and OpenAI have pledged £31 billion toward AI, quantum computing, and civil nuclear projects. Starmer, facing political turbulence at home, hopes to channel the momentum into deeper cooperation on trade and foreign policy — particularly urging Trump to take a firmer stance against Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sensitive topics loom, from Britain’s onlin...

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New home buyers in trouble as mortgage rates soar

Some buyers who purchased preconstruction homes are finding themselves unable to close on their properties due to rising mortgage rates and stricter lending rules. As a result, they are resorting to selling their contracts to other buyers at a discount, or even giving up their deposits and facing legal risks.

According to Robert McLister, an interest rate analyst and mortgage strategist, this trend is creating opportunities for bargain hunters who are looking for assignment deals. These are transactions where the original buyer transfers their rights and obligations to a new buyer before the home is completed.

However, assignment deals are not without challenges and costs. Both assignors and assignees need to get approval from the builder, pay fees and taxes, and secure financing. Moreover, they need to be aware of the market conditions and the potential risks of flipping or renting out the property.

McLister advises buyers to start evaluating their options early and seek professional help from a tax-savvy accountant, a mortgage broker, and a real estate lawyer. He also suggests that buyers should monitor the bond yields and the Bank of Canada’s rate decisions, as they may affect the future demand and prices of new homes.

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