Blogs

What Is a Mortgage in Principle and When Should You Get One?

If you’re buying your first home, you’ve probably come across the term Mortgage in Principle or Agreement in Principle. It sounds like an important step, but many first-time buyers aren’t entirely sure what it means or when they should get one. The good news is that a Mortgage in Principle is usually quick to arrange...

Education Hub

How Much Deposit Does a First-Time Buyer Need for a Mortgage?

Ask most people how much deposit you need to buy your first home and they’ll probably tell you 5%. But that isn’t always true. While a 5% deposit remains one of the most common ways to buy a property, today’s mortgage market offers more options than many first-time buyers realise. Depending...

Can a First-Time Buyer Get a Mortgage With a Gifted Deposit?

For many first-time buyers, family support can make a meaningful difference to when they buy, what they can purchase and how their mortgage is structured. Parents, grandparents and other family members may choose to contribute towards the deposit, allowing the buyer to combine that support with their own...

What Is a Bridging Loan and How Does It Work?

Not every property transaction fits neatly within the timescales of a traditional mortgage. You may be purchasing at auction, acquiring a property that requires significant refurbishment or buying a new home before your existing property has been sold. In each of these situations, the opportunity may be...

How Much Can a First-Time Buyer Borrow?

For most first-time buyers, understanding how much they can borrow is the starting point for the entire home buying journey. Before viewing properties, making offers or speaking to estate agents, it’s important to have a realistic understanding of your budget. While many buyers assume mortgage borrowing is based on...

What Is a Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor Mortgage?

For many first-time buyers, affordability has become one of the biggest barriers to home ownership. You may have a stable income, a good credit history and enough saved for a deposit, yet still find that your income alone is not sufficient to borrow the amount needed to purchase in your...

How Does The First Homes Scheme Work?

For many first-time buyers, saving a deposit remains the biggest obstacle to owning a home. Although the mortgage market now offers more low-deposit products than ever before, rising property prices continue to make buying difficult in many parts of the UK. The First Homes Scheme was introduced...

How Does Shared Ownership Work?

For many first-time buyers, the biggest challenge isn’t finding a property they want to buy. It’s finding one they can afford. While the mortgage market now offers more low-deposit products than ever before, buying a home outright can still feel beyond reach for many buyers. Shared Ownership was...

How Do EPC Requirements Affect Buy-to-Let Mortgage Planning?

For many years, buy-to-let investment decisions were driven by familiar considerations such as location, rental demand, borrowing costs and expected yields. Those factors remain fundamental, but another consideration has become increasingly important. Energy efficiency. As regulation evolves and lenders continue to refine their...

How Are Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks Financed?

For many property investors, there comes a point where purchasing individual buy-to-let properties is no longer the most efficient way to grow a portfolio. A Multi-Unit Freehold Block (MUFB) offers an alternative approach. By acquiring several self-contained residential units within a single freehold title, investors can diversify rental income, consolidate management and...