UK mortgages made simple, so you can borrow with confidence.

First-Time Buyers

Buying your first home? Our first-time buyer mortgage guides explain how much deposit you need, how much you can borrow, and what a mortgage in principle involves. Compare 95% and low-deposit mortgages, understand stamp duty relief, and learn how to save a deposit faster, so you can take your first step onto the property ladder with confidence.

Remortgaging to consolidate debt: good idea or not?

Remortgaging to consolidate debt: what it means, how it works, the potential benefits, the serious risk of securing debt against your home, paying more overall, alternatives and getting advice.

10 June 2026 6 min

Buy-to-let vs residential mortgages: key differences

Buy-to-let versus residential mortgages: differences in purpose, affordability (rent versus income), deposit, rates and fees, interest-only structure, regulation and tax treatment.

9 June 2026 6 min

Buying your first home: the step-by-step process

Buying your first home step by step: saving a deposit, working out your budget, getting a mortgage in principle, making an offer, applying, valuation, conveyancing, and exchange and completion.

9 June 2026 6 min

Documents needed for a mortgage

Documents needed for a mortgage: proof of identity and address, proof of income, bank statements, evidence of your deposit and outgoings, and the extra documents the self-employed need, plus why preparing early helps.

6 June 2026 6 min

How lenders assess buy-to-let affordability (rental cover and the stress test)

Buy-to-let rental cover and the stress test: how lenders assess affordability, the interest cover ratio of 125% to 145%, the stressed rate, a worked example, how your tax band affects it and top-slicing.

22 May 2026 6 min

Moving to a more expensive home: topping up your mortgage

Moving to a more expensive home: topping up your mortgage, how much more you can borrow, porting plus a top-up, the stamp duty on a higher price, affordability and the cost of a bigger mortgage.

15 May 2026 6 min

What is a mortgage in principle and do you need one?

A mortgage in principle explained: what it is, how it works, why you need one, soft versus hard credit checks, how long it lasts, and why it is not a guaranteed offer.

13 May 2026 6 min

Shared ownership explained: how it works

Shared ownership explained: buying a share of a home and renting the rest, the share you buy, the rent, staircasing to buy more, leasehold and service charges, eligibility and the pros and cons.

2 May 2026 6 min

First Homes scheme: discounts for first-time buyers

The First Homes scheme explained: a 30% to 50% discount on new-build homes for eligible first-time buyers in England, the permanent discount, the price caps, eligibility, patchy availability and the pros and cons.

30 April 2026 6 min

Lifetime mortgages explained

Lifetime mortgages explained: the most common form of equity release, the rolled-up compounding interest, the fixed rate, lump sum or drawdown options, keeping ownership, the no-negative-equity guarantee and flexible features.

28 April 2026 6 min

Is buy-to-let still worth it?

Is buy-to-let still worth it? The case for income and growth, the headwinds of restricted interest relief, the stamp duty surcharge, higher rates and regulation, why yield matters, ownership structure and taking a long-term view.

26 April 2026 6 min

Gifted deposits: using family money to buy

Gifted deposits explained: what they are, who can give one, the gifted deposit letter, why it must be a genuine gift, source-of-funds checks, tax considerations and combining with savings.

23 April 2026 6 min