How to get mortgage ready during lockdown
If lockdown three has put your home move on hold, now is as good a time as ever to save up and ready yourself for your future move. Take a look at our top tips on how to get mortgage ready.
Our Resources
Our resources section has been created to help you understand the processes behind raising a mortgage and buying your home. From useful articles to finding your mortgage to our very own mortgage calculators.
First Time Buyer articles
Some of these articles could help you when it comes to purchasing your first home!
Buy-to-Let Articles
A collection of our best Buy-to-Let articles to help you make the right decision.
Because we play by the book we want to tell you that…
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances.
The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed.
Remortgage Articles
A collection of our best remortgaging articles to help you make the right decision.
Homemover Articles
A collection of our best moving home articles to help you make the right decision.
Protection Articles
A collection of our best protection articles to help you make the right decision.
Our Guides
Our award-winning advisers share their expert knowledge in a range of mortgage guides. We cut through the jargon and explain things in simple terms.
We’re constantly adding to the collection, so keep your eyes peeled for more guides coming your way.
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First Time Buyers Guide
Find out everything you need to know about buying your first home.
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Moving Home Guide
Find everything you need to know about the home moving process in one place.
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Buy-to-Let Guide
Find out more about landlord responsibilities, choosing the right mortgage, and much more.
Our Calculators
Our mortgage calculators are a quick and easy way to see what options are available when it comes to choosing the right mortgage for you.
From monthly repayments, to overall borrowing amounts and stamp duty fees, you can find everything you need right here.
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Repayment Calculator
We can help you calculate your monthly mortgage repayments. However, please be aware these may vary depending on the term and interest rate of your mortgage.
Repayment Calculator
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Borrow Amount Calculator
Use our mortgage borrowing calculator and discover how much money you could borrow so that you can own your own home.
Borrow Calculator
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Stamp Duty
Use our calculator below to work out if you'll have to pay stamp duty, and if so, how much?
Stamp Duty Calculator
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Land and Buildings Transfer Tax
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is Scotland's version of UK's Stamp Duty Tax.
L&B TT Calculator
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Land transaction Tax
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LTT Calculator
FAQs
We’ve collated our most frequently asked questions below, but if there’s a question on your mind that we haven’t covered, please get in touch.
What is a mortgage broker?
A mortgage broker’s job is to find the right mortgage deal for your needs. We have access to many different mortgage products and lenders, so you aren’t just tied to fitting one lender’s criteria, like you would be if you took a mortgage out through a bank or building society. We also deal with the whole application process so you don’t have to worry about the paperwork or admin that’s required. Find out more about the differences between a mortgage banker and a mortgage broker.
Do you charge a fee?
Yes, we do charge a fee. By charging a fee, we can spend more time advising and supporting you throughout your application, and means our advice can be focused solely on your needs. Your mortgage adviser will be able to tell you what their fee is.
What different types of mortgages are there?
The two main types of mortgages are fixed rate and tracker.
Fixed rate mortgage - You’ll always pay the same amount each month as your interest rate is fixed for a certain period of time e.g. 2 years, 5 years etc.
Tracker mortgage - The amount of interest you pay can change so the amount you pay each month can also change too.
You can find out about other types of mortgages that are available here.
Will my bad credit history stop me from getting a mortgage?
Not necessarily. We aim to help everyone get onto the ladder, no matter what your circumstances are. Our specialist advisers will assess your individual needs and make a recommendation that is right for you. Read our article ‘A guide to getting a mortgage with bad credit’ for more information.
How do I work out how much I can afford?
The amount you can borrow will depend on a few things e.g. the house price, your deposit amount, your monthly expenditure and income.
Use our online borrowing calculator to get a rough estimate of how much you might be able to borrow.
What insurances do I need for a mortgage?
To be accepted for a mortgage, you will need buildings insurance as a minimum. We recommend you take out the contents part of the insurance with that too (building and contents insurance).
There are other insurances that can protect you and your family from the unknown, such as life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection. Our advisers can talk through these different options so you can decide whether these might be right for you.
Need more help?
Read the latest news
Keep an eye on our latest news to remain ‘in the know’ when it comes to the world of mortgages.
Don't panic, we're still open for business!
The housing market is still open, which means we are too! You’re still able to buy, sell and view houses just as you usually would, and we’re here to help you every step of the way.
Stamp duty holiday winners: who will save the most?
Find out if you could benefit from the recent stamp duty holiday announcement.
Scotland and Wales raise stamp duty tax thresholds
Scotland and Wales raise their stamp duty thresholds.
Government announces increase in Stamp Duty threshold
The government announces stamp duty holiday on houses up to £500,000 until 31st March 2021.
5 ways to stay positive during difficult times
We're sharing our top 5 tips on how you can stay positive and be kind to yourself during difficult times.
Coronavirus scams: what to watch out for
Many fraudsters are using the current situation to take advantage of vulnerable people, scamming them of their money.
COVID-19 outbreak: a balanced view of the mortgage market
Brian Murphy, head of lending, gives a balanced view on the mortgage market amid the Coronavirus outbreak.
Recap of Conservative government’s Queen speech
Read our quick round-up of what you can expect the Queen's government to deliver for the housing market in 2020.
Scotland launches new housing scheme for first time buyers
If you live in Scotland and would like to buy your own home but you’re struggling with the cost then you might want to carry on reading...
National Mortgage Index December 2019
Great news as the property market remains in a steady condition as we approach 2020.
Meet our happy customers
We’re passionate about helping people get to where they want to be on the property ladder. Here our customers share their stories of how we helped get them there.
Because we play by the book we want to tell you that…
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual amount you pay will depend upon your circumstances.
The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is 0.3% of the amount borrowed.