How can the Bank of Family support first time buyers? With gifts and loans from the Bank of Mum and Dad totalling a whopping £9.4bn in 2023, it would be one of the UK’s biggest if it was a real bank or lender. Given the clear affordability challenges still facing house buyers – particularly first timers [...]
What are the pros and cons of 100% mortgages? A 100% mortgage is, very simply, a home loan which allows the buyer to purchase a property without putting down any money (or a deposit) up front. Prior to 2008, it was common for lenders to offer deposit-free mortgages as standard, with some even allowing consumers to [...]
Jargon Buster: What are the key mortgage terms every first-time buyer should know? Buying a house can certainly be a daunting experience, especially when it’s your first time doing so. What doesn’t help is the wealth of jargon and terminology used during the mortgage process and throughout the entire journey to buy your new home. If [...]
Six key factors that can affect your first mortgage application Applying for your first mortgage is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming. Lenders assess numerous factors to determine your eligibility, and some seemingly minor financial decisions can significantly impact your application. To help you secure approval, here are six key areas to focus [...]
Budgeting beyond the deposit for first-time buyers According to a recent report from Skipton Building Society, the first step onto the property ladder is the hardest. There’s no question that it can all seem very daunting for first-time buyers who want to purchase their first home. For those saving hard to get a deposit together, it [...]
First-time buyer benefits - what schemes are available? Any first-time buyer trying to save up for a deposit to purchase their first home may feel daunted by how expensive the housing market is. There is no doubt that it is much more difficult to get your foot onto the property ladder than ever before. In 2023, [...]
A first-time buyer’s guide to mortgage rates A glance at the news over the last 12 months or so would suggest that mortgage rates are a very hot topic indeed. For the last 14 years, mortgage rates - the interest rate charged on the money borrowed to purchase a property - have tended to be low, [...]
Why is it harder for first-time buyers to buy in 2025? For first-time buyers in 2025, the property market is in stark contrast to when previous generations bought their first homes. The average first-time buyer in 1960 paid a deposit of just £595 (roughly £12,738 today) compared to an average of £53,424 in 2024. A recent [...]
The cost of moving home Buying a home comes with extra costs and fees you need to be aware of – from securing your mortgage to booking the removal van. In 2024, the average cost of buying or moving house is estimated around £10,255. These costs can be higher or lower depending on where you live, [...]
Weathering the Storm: Understanding Home Insurance Coverage for Adverse Weather With Storm Kathleen about to hit parts of the UK, extreme weather events and powerful storms are becoming more frequent and intense in the UK. Homeowners may be increasingly concerned about the potential damage their properties may face. Fortunately, many home insurance policies include coverage for [...]
