General

Which Mortgage Schemes Are Available to First-Time Buyers?

Buying your first home is one of the most significant financial decisions you’ll make. For many buyers, saving a deposit is the biggest challenge, which is why there are now more routes onto the property ladder than ever before. Alongside traditional residential mortgages, there are government-backed initiatives,...

Education Hub

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...

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...

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...

Equity release for home improvements on oast house

Can Equity Release Fund Home Improvements?

For many homeowners, the property they have lived in for years continues to hold enormous value, both financially and personally. As circumstances change, however, the home itself may also need to evolve. Perhaps the kitchen no longer meets your needs, accessibility has become more important or the property would benefit from improvements...

Guide To Income Protection For Law Firm Partners

For a successful legal professional, the ability to earn can be one of their most valuable financial assets. As a career progresses into partnership, that income may support a substantial mortgage, family expenditure, school fees, investments and wider long-term plans. The way that income is earned...