The cost of buying a house: explained We break down seven common costs associated with buying a home. A deposit is the tip of the iceberg when it comes to buying a home. From legal fees and buildings insurance to stamp duty and removals, there’s a host of smaller costs that can rapidly build up if [...]
Do you feel like you have to jump through more hoops when applying for a mortgage just because you’re self-employed? And not sure which way to turn? We’re here to help. We are mortgage advisers and we can help you navigate the self-employed mortgage market and any of the challenges you may face. What is a [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Credit reports look at your borrowing history and how you’ve managed to pay back any money you’ve borrowed in the past. They’re put together by the three main credit reference agencies in the UK; TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Every time you borrow and repay money, your credit score builds up in the background based on your [...]
