Mortgage guides & articles
Plain-English reading on mortgages, brokers, advisers and buying a home. 41 articles and counting
First-time buyers
Deposits, affordability and getting on the ladder
7 articles
8 min read
First-time buyer? A plain-English mortgage guide
Deposits, affordability, schemes and paperwork. Everything a first-time buyer needs to know.
7 min read
Help to Buy is gone: what first-time buyers use instead
Shared ownership, First Homes, Lifetime ISAs and 95% mortgages, comparing the current options.
7 min read
Shared ownership mortgages: how they really work
Deposits, rent, staircasing and resale, an honest look at buying a share of a home.
6 min read
Using a Lifetime ISA to buy your first home
How the 25% bonus works, price caps, timing rules and pitfalls to avoid when buying with a LISA.
6 min read
How to build a mortgage deposit faster
Realistic saving plans, family gifts, guarantor options and government schemes for boosting your deposit.
5 min read
Gifted deposits and mortgages: rules and paperwork
What lenders need in a gift letter, tax implications, and how gifts affect affordability.
7 min read
New build mortgages: rates, deposits and pitfalls
Why new-build LTVs differ, developer incentives lenders accept, and the six-month offer trap.
Brokers, advisers & fees
How brokers and advisers work, what they charge and how to choose
5 articles
6 min read
How to choose a mortgage broker or adviser you can trust
What to look for, what to ask, and how to tell an independent adviser from a lead generation site.
5 min read
Fee-free vs fee-charging brokers: which is better?
The pros and cons of each broker fee model, and how to work out the true cost of advice.
6 min read
Mortgage broker vs going direct to your bank
When a broker adds value, when your bank might beat them, and how to run both routes side by side.
6 min read
What a mortgage broker or adviser actually does for you
A day-by-day walkthrough of the process, from first call to completion.
5 min read
How much do mortgage brokers and advisers charge in 2026?
Average broker fees by region and situation, and what you should expect for the money.
Rates & products
Fixed, variable, interest-only and other product types
3 articles
6 min read
Fixed vs variable rate mortgages
Two-year, five-year, tracker or discount, which mortgage type suits your circumstances best.
5 min read
LTV explained: how loan-to-value affects your mortgage rate
Why 60%, 75%, 85% and 95% LTV mortgages are priced so differently, and how to move down a band.
6 min read
Interest-only mortgages: who they suit
Repayment vehicles, lender criteria and the real risks of going interest-only in 2026.
Remortgage & equity
Remortgaging, porting, overpaying and releasing equity
5 articles
7 min read
When to remortgage, and how to do it
When to start shopping, product transfer vs remortgage, and how to avoid the standard variable rate.
6 min read
Porting a mortgage: keeping your rate when you move
How mortgage porting works, when it saves money, and when a full remortgage is smarter.
5 min read
Early repayment charges: how to avoid ERCs on your mortgage
When ERCs apply, how they're calculated, and when overpaying is still worth it.
6 min read
Should you overpay your mortgage?
How overpayments cut interest, when to save instead, and offset mortgages compared.
7 min read
Remortgaging to release equity: is it a good idea?
When capital raising makes sense, and how lenders view home improvement, debt consolidation and BTL purchases.
Buy-to-let & landlords
BTL, HMO, holiday lets and limited company structures
5 articles
8 min read
Buy-to-let mortgages explained for landlords
Deposit, rental cover, stress tests and tax, everything a first-time landlord needs to understand.
6 min read
Let to buy mortgages: keeping your old home when you move
How let to buy works, deposit requirements, and how it compares to a normal buy-to-let.
7 min read
Holiday let mortgages: an owner's guide
Specialist lenders, seasonal rental calculations, and tax rules for furnished holiday lets.
7 min read
HMO mortgages: financing a house of multiple occupation
Licensing rules, lender criteria and how to structure the deal for stronger yields.
8 min read
Limited company buy-to-let mortgages explained
SPV setup, tax comparison against personal ownership, and lenders who accept new companies.
Credit & income
Adverse credit, self-employed and complex income
4 articles
8 min read
Getting a mortgage when you're self-employed
How lenders assess sole traders, contractors and limited company directors, and which lenders are friendliest.
7 min read
Credit score and mortgages: what lenders actually check
How Experian, Equifax and TransUnion feed into lender decisions, and quick wins before you apply.
7 min read
Getting a mortgage with bad credit
CCJs, defaults, IVAs and missed payments, and how a specialist adviser can still get you approved.
7 min read
Contractor mortgages: getting approved on a day rate
Which lenders use day-rate calculations, minimum contract history, and umbrella vs limited company.
Process & paperwork
AIP, applications, valuations, surveys and timelines
9 articles
5 min read
Mortgage Agreement in Principle: what it is and how to get one
Why estate agents ask for an AIP, what a soft credit check does, and how long an AIP lasts.
6 min read
Stamp duty in 2026: what buyers actually pay
Current thresholds, first-time buyer relief, second home surcharge and how to calculate your bill.
7 min read
Joint mortgages: what to know before you sign
Joint tenants vs tenants in common, protection for unmarried couples, and exiting a joint mortgage.
5 min read
Mortgage in principle vs full application: the differences
Why an AIP is not a guarantee, and what changes when your lender does the full underwrite.
5 min read
Mortgage application documents: the full checklist
ID, proof of income, bank statements and everything else your broker will ask for, in one list.
5 min read
Mortgage valuation vs house survey: know the difference
Why a bank valuation is not a survey, and which level 2 or 3 survey suits your property.
7 min read
Conveyancing timeline: how long completion actually takes
Realistic timelines, common delays, and how a broker and solicitor keep things moving.
6 min read
From mortgage offer to completion: what happens next
Searches, enquiries, exchange and completion, decoded in plain English.
5 min read
Mortgage payment holidays and payment plans
When lenders offer forbearance, how it affects your credit file, and better options first.
Later-life mortgages
Equity release and retirement lending
2 articles
General guides
Everything else worth knowing
1 article