What to ask your Estate Agent as a first-time buyer
19 Jun 2026
Buying your first home is a huge milestone, but it can also be a complex process. There are several factors a first-time buyer should consider before making an offer on a property, including understanding the difference between leasehold and freehold and checking council tax bands.
We’ve detailed some questions you can ask your estate agent to help you make an informed decision.
Signs it's time to remortgage
17 Jun 2026
Remortgaging means switching to a new mortgage deal. This will either be with your current lender or a new one.
Getting advice and moving to a new deal when the time is right can mean lower monthly mortgage payments, better interest rates, or releasing equity from your property.
Here are some signs it may be time to remortgage.
Mortgage Rates Increase as Lenders React to Iran War
11 Mar 2026
The UK mortgage market is seeing lenders withdraw deals and hike mortgage rates amid the escalation of conflict in Iran. This isn’t great news for borrowers, with the average rate for a two-year fixed deal sitting above 5%.
Five Common Reasons for Additional Mortgage Borrowing
15 Jan 2026
Additional borrowing, also known as a further advance, is when you borrow more money on your existing mortgage for a specific reason agreed with your lender.
Here are five of the most common reasons for additional borrowing.
Why is your first mortgage payment more than expected?
25 Sep 2025
It is common for your first mortgage payment to be higher than your subsequent monthly payments for two reasons.
Delayed Start Mortgages
6 Aug 2025
The new Delayed Start Mortgage launched by Skipton Building Society allows first time buyers to postpone the first three mortgage payments. This product has been designed to help soften the blow of moving in costs for first time buyers.
Mortgage Reforms to Boost Competition and make Remortgaging Easier
22 Jul 2025
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has shared new changes to mortgage rules with the aim to simplify remortgaging, and encourage competition within the mortgage market.
Increase in zero-deposit mortgages in 2024
18 Jun 2025
There was a 32% increase last year in 100% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgages which are mortgages that require zero deposit. According to a recent report by chartered accountants and business advisers, Lubbock Fine, the reason behind this is buyers simply struggling to save enough for a deposit.
Average savings by age in the UK
17 Jun 2025
Many people are quite private when it comes to what is in their bank account. In this short blog, we look into what Brits have saved by age group.
Your House Viewing Checklist
19 May 2025
It’s important to ask questions about the property you are interested in before taking that step to make an offer. A little probing can make all the difference between buying your dream house or something that requires a lot of work.
Delayed Start Mortgage from Skipton
7 May 2025
Skipton Building Society launches ‘Delayed Start’ mortgage meaning first time buyers won’t be required to make repayments for the first three months.
According to a survey by Skipton, first time buyers who bought their home in the last five years found that in the first three months of living there, they were spending upwards of £30,000.
Should I go for a two-year or five-year fixed rate?
26 Mar 2025
Choosing which fixed rate to go for has been a dilemma for many of our clients so far this year. There really isn’t a right or wrong answer, but below we will look into the pros and cons of a two-year and five-year to help you make the right decision for you.
ISAs: what are they, and which one is for me
7 Mar 2025
Since being launched back in 1999 Individual Saving Accounts (ISAs) have been very popular for those wanting to put money into savings. There are four types of ISA, and the majority allow flexible saving and the ability to withdraw funds easily. There are financial penalties on certain products, these usually pay the most interest.
Budgeting over the Christmas Period
3 Dec 2024
The most wonderful time of the year can easily turn into the most expensive time of the year. Watching the pennies doesn’t mean that the Christmas festivities have to stop, following a few budgeting tips can mean you still have a special Christmas and don’t go into the new year in debt.
Talking about money with kids
23 Oct 2024
In an increasingly cashless society, money is an intangible concept for children to grasp. In the days of coins and notes, kids could see money as something physical you require to purchase goods and services.
In order to help teach your children about money, we have listed some tips below;
First Time Buyer to do List
4 Oct 2024
Buying your first home is very exciting but it can also be very daunting which is why we have set out a “to do list” to help you get started.
Overpaying mortgage vs money into savings
18 Jun 2024
Should you overpay your mortgage? If you can put extra cash away you need to seriously consider whether you should pay more off on your mortgage or put it into a savings account.
Getting on the property ladder: first time buyer tips
24 May 2024
Buying a property, especially in the current climate, is a big decision for first time buyers. We have listed a few tips that can help you buy your first propertyy
6 Garden Tips to Add Value to Your Property
30 Apr 2024
If you are looking at putting your house on the market, you may want to consider giving your garden some TLC. Small changes can make your outside space a lot more attractive to potential buyers resulting in a faster sale.
Can I get a mortgage without a deposit?
12 Apr 2024
If you are struggling to get over the hurdle of saving enough deposit due to being in a rental property, but wish to purchase your own home, you may be able to with a 100% mortgage. You will need to meet certain requirements and be financially stable.
Recent posts
There are several scenarios for a landlord where standard buy-to-let lending isn’t enough for their investment. For more complex properties, ownership structures, or borrowing circumstances, a specialist buy-to-let mortgage may provide options that are not available through mainstream lenders.
Best UK Mortgage Rates this Week
Yesterday
Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.
Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.
Leaseholders to be given extra protection
15 days ago
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has announced a new measure to protect leaseholders in England and Wales from high fees and poorly regulated property management companies.
New first-time buyer scheme announced by Burnham
17 days ago
Saturday 26th September, Andy Burnham announced a new equity loan scheme called “Your First Home”. The scheme, which will be confirmed at next month’s budget, is aimed at first-time buyers looking to purchase a new-build property from a developer signed up to the scheme.
What Happens to My Mortgage if I Lose My Job?
20 days ago
Losing your job or finding yourself ‘between jobs’ is, unsurprisingly, a stressful place to be. Keeping a cool head and taking action is important.
Flats 40% cheaper to buy than houses
27 days ago
This price gap between the cost of houses and flats is the biggest it has ever been. Houses are now costing 1.7 times more than a flat, which is 0.4 times higher than 10 years ago
Take a look at our list of houses vs. flats per area.
Are mortgage rates set to increase?
9 Sep 2026
We have seen several lenders increase their mortgage rates over the last couple of weeks. This suggests mortgage rates are likely to rise.
Although nothing is set in stone, lender repricing, rising swap rates, and continued economic uncertainty suggest borrowers should prepare for higher mortgage costs.
AI-altered images put off over half of buyers
24 Aug 2026
According to data from House Buyer Bureau, where over 900 UK homebuyers were surveyed, 54% of people said that they immediately ruled out digitally enhanced property listings.
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