Mortgage Blog: Latest News
For many first-time buyers, the dream of owning a home can turn into a stressful and overwhelming experience. Often this is due to the pressures and challenges of the mortgage process. This highlights a need for guidance and support to help navigate the journey with confidence and clarity.
Moving into your first home is an exciting milestone and the start of a brand-new chapter in your life.
But that doesn't mean it's easy.
So how can you make moving in as joyous and stress-free as possible?
Here's a handy checklist to help you get started...
One month before...
- Get quotes from removal firms and book a company to help y
You've received your mortgage offer - congratulations! This means your lender has approved your mortgage application and agreed to lend the amount needed to buy your new home. But before you get the keys, there's something vital to sort out: buildings insurance.
One of the most important steps in the home buying process is making sure you have the right home insurance in place by exch
The Renter's Reform Bill is now in effect, marking a big step in how the private rental market is set to change. While the most talked-about shift - namely getting rid of Section 21 ‘no fault' evictions - isn't set to happen straight away, landlords should start preparing now.
Many landlords are not aware of what's coming, or how it affects them.
Here are five key points
1. Understand your legal obligations
Even if you use a letting agent, you remain legally responsible for compliance. The buck stops with the landlord.
It is vital that you understand your legal obligations, especially as the Renters' Rights Act will introduce new offences that can result in civil penalties. Some will give the right for tenants to apply for ren
Since the 11th of July 2025, restrictions around high loan-to-income (LTI) mortgages were loosened. Up until then, any mortgage company lending more than £100 million in new residential mortgages over a rolling year, had to keep the share of their loans that were above 4.5 times income at a maximum of 15%.
The cap was designed to keep risk in check, but it tied the hands of some
Credit files are one of the most important tools that can be used to understand your financial history. The details can affect your mortgage options. But credit files can be confusing if you're not familiar with their structure, so let's have a closer look.
What a credit file shows
A credit file records someone's borrowing history and financial behaviour. Expe
Many people who want to buy a home do not move forward because of outdated things they've heard from family or friends. We've seen how easily misinformation can delay or derail a potential buyer's journey.
In this blog we look at 4 common myths first-time buyers often believe, and we bust them!
Myth 1: "You can't buy a home without a big deposit"
This
Bridging is a short-term finance solution designed to allow you to purchase or remortgage a property when long-term finance isn't an option.
When is Bridging used?
Bridging finance can be used for any legal purpose. Examples of short-term finance include:
- Buying a new property before selling an existing one.- Purchasing where quick completion i
Rising house prices and living costs mean many of us are juggling present realities with future aspirations. For those dreaming of stepping onto the property ladder, higher loan-to-value (LTV) options might offer a valuable opportunity.
Being a first-time buyer today
If you're a first-time buyer (FTB), the statistics suggest you're likely to be in your mid 30'
In recent years, auctions became increasingly popular with both buyers and sellers in the property market. Sellers opted for quicker solutions. Buyers were keen to bag some bargains.
A less simple aspect of buying or selling a property at auction is the auction fees. It can be tricky keeping up with what fees are involved, when they're due, and who pays them.
Who Pays
There have been a lot of regulatory changes in the buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage market over the last few years. This has forced some landlords and property investors to seek out ways to diversify portfolios and increase yields.
Profit margins for many have been hit by the removal of mortgage interest tax relief, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) requirements and higher interest rates.
Benefits of Purchasing with Bridging Finance
Purchasing and refurbishing a property using bridging finance can offer significant benefits, particularly when it comes to increasing the property value. This is especially true for those looking to convert a property into a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). For landlords looking to tap into the HMO market, purchasing a
30/06/2025
The Renters' Rights Bill could be in force within six months.
It's important that landlords are aware they need to be preparing for this now.
There isn't a fixed timescale, although the Bill is likely to become law this year, with October having been mooted as a possible date, but it could be earlier.
The Renters' Rights Bill is the
Applying for a mortgage can be a daunting prospect for some. But how many of your anxieties are fuelled by misconceptions and falsehoods? Our mortgage advisers often hear from people with concerns that are totally unfounded; they're simply not based on truths.
So, we thought we'd round up a few common myths and debunk them one by one, so you have confidence in your mortgage applicatio
A Guide for Prospective Landlords
Buy-to-let (BTL) can be a rewarding investment, providing long-term income and potential capital growth.
However, being a landlord goes beyond just finding a property and collecting rent. There are financial commitments, legal responsibilities, and ongoing management tasks to consider.
This checklist covers the key ste
Congratulations, you have moved into your shiny new home!
Moving house is often a stressful but exciting time and moving into a new build is no exception. However, the real work of moving house often comes in the days, weeks, and months after moving in. New builds offer a different set of challenges than older houses in the post-move stage, that a lot of new buyers of
Finding the right mortgage deal isn't easy. There are different mortgage types, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. To help you get informed about what's on offer, this is our guide to various mortgage types that are available:
Fixed-rate mortgages
These are the most common types of mortgage.
W
Moving to a new home is incredibly exciting. However, it can sometimes seem a little daunting. Here's a breakdown of the house buying process to help.
Check how much you can afford to spend
Your mortgage adviser is here to help with the first steps, looking at your income and outgoings along with the amount of deposit to find out how much you can afford.
Here's a list of mortgage terms and phrases you might come across and an explanation of what they mean.
A
Agreement in PrincipleAn Agreement in Principle (AIP), also known as a mortgage in principle or decision in principle, gives you an understanding of how much you may be able to borrow
The best kept secret in property tax
When you buy a capital asset - like a machine for your business - you cannot deduct its cost to reduce your tax bill. Instead, you may be able to claim capital allowances. Capital allowances extend to the fixtures you acquire with a commercial property. Fixtures include the electrical, heating and ventilation systems, kitchens, san
Understanding economics terminology can help you make informed financial decisions. We have therefore put together this simple glossary for you.
First-time buyers are often faced with lots of jargon and unfamiliar terminology, so here is a round up some of the most common terms and phrases in one handy guide.
This isn’t a comprehensive list but should be
When interest rates are on the rise, Buy-to-Let lenders may reassess their models to find ways of making rates more appealing to landlords and enhance affordability.
One commonly employed method involves offering a lower interest
Common Misperception
Most people I speak to think that because they have defaulted on a credit card or missed a payment on a loan that they will struggle to get a mortgage, but actually there are plenty of lenders out there that will consider lending to individuals with ‘blips’ in their credit file or even more serious credit issues such as CCJ’s or Debt Management Plans (DMP).
I am going to focus on the little ‘blips’ in someone’s credit file today
