21 Jul 2023
Moving soon? It's never too early to get organised! Be prepared and avoid unwanted stress by checking out our list of tips to get you ready for moving day.
10 Mar 2023
Although house prices have been on the rise, purchasing a property is still cheaper in the long run than renting and it’s always worthwhile trying to get on the housing ladder.
Here we have looked into SDLT in more detail and explored how the recent tax reduction can help people who want to buy a new home.
2 Aug 2022
The term ‘mortgage salary multiplier’ is used when referring to multiplying your income to calculate the maximum amount a mortgage provider would lend to you.
27 Jul 2022
Ultimately, a full structural survey provides you with peace of mind and removes some of the risks associated with buying a property.
1 Jul 2022
IPFA stands for ‘Industry Panel for Financial Advice’ and this panel has come together to advocate on behalf of UK financial advisers and all of the customers we serve.
28 Apr 2022
we have put together a list of important things to consider whenever you’re comparing mortgage products from different lenders.
20 Apr 2022
We have listed some of the most common reasons why people are unable to get the mortgages they’ve applied for
31 Jan 2022
Buying your first home comes with a mixture of emotions. Owning a property is a really exciting prospect, but the practicalities associated with actually buying a property can be quite daunting.
11 Jan 2022
If you’re still trying to get to grips with what a mortgage is, below we have covered all of the basics you need to know before buying a property.
4 Jan 2022
It is important to ensure that you’re aware of your credit score and you’re obtaining a copy of your credit report before applying for a mortgage.
15 Dec 2021
If you’re wondering what can potentially stop you from getting a good mortgage deal, we have looked into some of the most common factors to be aware of.
1 Dec 2021
Nowadays 100% mortgages, also known as ‘no deposit’ mortgages, are not available and people who are looking to buy a home will require at least a 5% deposit to get a mortgage offer from a lender.
21 Nov 2021
Getting a foot on the property ladder is becoming more and more difficult for people of all ages. Not only is the price of property in many parts of the UK continuing to rise, but the majority of businesses still only pay their employees minimum wage, so many fear that they will never be able to own their own home.
If you’re new to buying a home, you may hear lots of familiar phrases that you don’t fully understand. One of these phrases commonly used is ‘the chain’. If you’re unsure what this is and why it’s talked about so much, we explain here.
A gifted deposit is a sum of money given to you by someone else, usually a member of your family. The money you are gifted must be given by way of a gift and not a loan.
How does a first-time buyer get onto the housing ladder? Here we make a few suggestions...
The Help to Buy scheme allows first-time buyers to purchase a new-build property with just a 5% deposit.
With the new mortgage guarantee scheme, even if you only have 5% deposit, you may be able to obtain a mortgage on the remaining 95% of the purchase price
Rishi Sunak has announced that he is to extend the existing Stamp Duty Holiday until the end of June 2021.
Moneyfacts, the independent mortgage market monitor of all things ‘mortgage’ has reported that overall mortgage availability rose in January 2021, to 3,215 products!
The more complete a picture you can build both before and after you make your offer, the better protected you are from the unknowns in the transaction. Don’t be afraid to ask.
A TA10 form is one of several forms a seller must complete during the conveyancing process. The TA10 sets out, in detail, what is or is not included in the sale of the property.
There are largely two main factors that drive interest rates in the UK mortgage market. They are The Bank of England’s Base Rate and LIBOR.
Flats, in particular, are usually owned leasehold because in very simple terms, to own the freehold of a property is basically to own the land below and the air above and, in the case of a flat, clearly this isn’t possible.
What can you do to improve your negotiating position? Here are a few simple tips that too many people ignore.
The definition of a first-time buyer has been set out by the government in a guidance note published in 2018. It states the following...
The chancellor has announced a temporary holiday on stamp duty up to £500,000 as part of a number of measures to help stimulate the economy. We have listed below the key facts following this announcement.
One thing that has come out of lockdown is a steady stream of First Time Buyers ready to get on the housing ladder.
Applying for a mortgage can seem an intimidating and complicated process. Thankfully this is something we do every single day, so we can do much of it for you. Simple.
You must have an Energy Performance Certificate before you start marketing your property. Buildings that don’t need an EPC include...
If you are self-employed, a mortgage lender may ask you to provide a copy of your SA302.
Generally referred to as ‘the base rate’, when it falls it is usually (but not always) an indication that lending rates generally will also fall.
If you can’t come to us we can quickly set up a video or phone appointment.
The mortgage lending criteria is information used to establish if mortgage lender will lend you the funds and how much they will lend to you.
Here is Katie, senior mortgage adviser discussing the mortgage process when buying your dream home.
Here is Katie, senior mortgage adviser discussing Government schemes available to help first time buyers get onto the property ladder. These include - Help to Buy, Help to Buy ISA, Help to Buy Shared Ownership.
Here is Katie, senior mortgage adviser discusses mortgage affordability criteria and how a mortgage lender will base the size of your mortgage on your income.
Here is Katie, senior mortgage adviser answering frequently asked questions from our first time buyers.
We have recently seen an increase in the number of people buying homes together, even though they are not married. If you are one of these people, here are a few tips to consider.
After receiving your mortgage offer there are a few things you should do - or rather, not do. They include...
Of course, buying your dream home means, by definition, that your heart is driving this at least as much as your head. You need to suppress your desires and keep a cool head. Don’t allow the day dreams and wishes to cloud your judgement.
When shopping for a new mortgage, it might seem sensible to stick with the devil you know - namely, your bank. But is this really the right thing to do?
Buying your first property can seem complicated but if you understand the process you can save time and money. Here is a brief guide to the process of buying your new home.
With an ISA you’ll earn tax-free interest on your savings or a return on your investments. You can only open one ISA per year, but it is possible to transfer to another with another provider.
An Income Multiplier is the number by which a mortgage lender will multiply your sole or joint incomes when calculating the maximum amount they are prepared to lend to you.
More of us are buying their first property with one or more friends as a first step onto the property ladder.
Here are a few tips to consider when buying a home;
A Guarantor Mortgage allows a third party (maybe your parents) to underwrite your mortgage repayments and obligations. But why would you want that?
Once the lender has evaluated all the information you provide, they may make a mortgage offer which is, at this stage, subject to status.
8 days ago
Selling up? It’s important to make your house as appealing as possible to potential buyers. Good decorating can help with first impressions, and increase the perceived value of your property.
27 days ago
With the cost of living affecting so many of us, we have made a list of budget-friendly activities and ideas for you.
21 Jul 2023
Moving soon? It's never too early to get organised! Be prepared and avoid unwanted stress by checking out our list of tips to get you ready for moving day.
27 Jun 2023
Inflation simply put, is the increase in the price of something over time. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) tracks the prices of hundreds of everyday items and these items are updated to reflect shopping trends.
20 Jun 2023
We are often asked if it's good advice to consolidate “unsecured” debt (credit cards and loans etc) into your mortgage, the answer is, sometimes.
16 Jun 2023
When you’re looking to buy a home, and you own a car, you ideally want to know the rules on parking in the area. Parking rules can be confusing, even for the most experienced of drivers! This is why we have written this blog to help you.
6 Jun 2023
There are several potential sources you can consider when it comes to getting together a deposit to buy a property. Providing proof of the source of your deposit is a key requirement in the application process and will need to be given to both the lender and the solicitor.
26 May 2023
Mortgage Prisoners are people who are unable to switch mortgages to a better deal, despite being up-to-date with their mortgage payments.