Mortgage Guides: Buying & Remortgaging
Everything you need to understand UK mortgages, from your first mortgage in principle to switching deals years down the line. No jargon, no sales pitch — just clear, independent guidance.
Browse by Section
First-Time Buyer Guides
10 in-depth guides on first-time buyer guides.
Remortgaging & Rate Switching
10 in-depth guides on remortgaging & rate switching.
Mortgage Types Explained
10 in-depth guides on mortgage types explained.
Specialist Mortgage Advice
10 in-depth guides on specialist mortgage advice.
All Articles in Mortgages
What Is a Mortgage in Principle & Why It Matters (UK)
A mortgage in principle shows sellers you can borrow what you say you can. Learn how it works, how long it lasts, and how to protect your credit score.
How Much Deposit Do You Need for a UK Mortgage? (UK)
UK mortgages typically need a 5-20% deposit, but the size of your deposit shapes your rate, monthly cost and lender choice. Here's how much you really need.
Shared Ownership Explained: How UK Buyer Schemes Work
Shared Ownership lets you buy a share of a home and pay rent on the rest. We explain how it works, the costs, staircasing, and who it suits.
Mortgage Affordability: How UK Lenders Really Decide
UK lenders assess far more than your salary. Discover how income multiples, stress tests and spending habits combine to determine how much you can borrow.
How to Switch Mortgage Lenders for a Lower Rate (UK)
Switching mortgage lenders can cut your monthly payments, but timing and fees matter. A step-by-step guide to remortgaging with a new lender in the UK.
When Should You Lock In a New Fixed-Rate Mortgage?
Timing a fixed-rate mortgage switch can save thousands. Learn how rate trends, deal expiry dates and lender offer windows affect when to lock in.
What Happens When Your Fixed Mortgage Deal Ends? (UK)
When a fixed mortgage deal ends you're moved to a lender's SVR unless you act. Here's what happens, when to start planning, and how to avoid overpaying.
Product Transfer vs Remortgaging: What's the Difference?
Product transfers and remortgages both switch your mortgage deal, but the process, cost and market access differ. Here's how to choose the right route.
Fixed-Rate vs Tracker Mortgages: Which Is Right? (UK)
Fixed and tracker mortgages offer very different trade-offs between certainty and flexibility. Compare how each works and which might suit you.
Offset Mortgages Explained: How They Work in the UK
An offset mortgage links your savings to your mortgage balance, reducing interest charged. Learn how offsetting works and who it suits.
Buy-to-Let Mortgage Rules Explained for UK Landlords
Buy-to-let mortgages work differently to residential ones, with rental cover calculations, higher deposits and tax rules. Here's what UK landlords need to know.
Discount and Standard Variable Rate Mortgages Explained
Discount and SVR mortgages are two often-misunderstood variable options. Learn how each works, their risks, and when they might make sense.
Mortgages for the Self-Employed: A Practical Guide
Self-employed mortgage applicants face extra scrutiny on income. Here's what lenders ask for, how income is assessed, and how to strengthen your case.
Mortgages for Older Borrowers: Options Explained (UK)
Age limits don't have to stop you getting a mortgage. We explain retirement interest-only mortgages, later-life lending and how age affects your options.
Holiday Let Mortgages: A Guide for UK Investors (UK)
Holiday let mortgages differ from standard buy-to-let, with seasonal income assessment and specific tax treatment. Here's what investors should know.
Guarantor and Joint Mortgages: A Practical Guide (UK)
Guarantor and joint mortgages can help buyers who can't qualify alone. Learn how each works, the risks involved, and how to exit these arrangements later.
How to Save for a Mortgage Deposit Faster Explained
Practical, realistic ways to build a mortgage deposit faster, from Lifetime ISAs to automated saving habits and cutting the biggest budget leaks.
What Credit Score Do You Need for a Mortgage? (UK)
There's no single UK credit score threshold for a mortgage, but here's how lenders actually use your credit file and what to check before applying.
Renting vs Buying: How to Know You're Ready Explained
Buying isn't automatically better than renting. Here's a practical framework for deciding whether you're financially and personally ready to buy in the UK.
What Happens at a Mortgage Valuation Survey? Explained
A mortgage valuation isn't the same as a full survey. Here's what a lender's valuer actually checks, and whether you need a more detailed survey too.
Joint Mortgages for Unmarried Couples: What to Know
Buying with an unmarried partner needs extra legal thought UK law doesn't automatically cover. Here's what to consider before taking out a joint mortgage.
Common First-Time Buyer Mistakes to Avoid Explained
From underestimating costs to skipping a proper survey, here are the most common UK first-time buyer mistakes, and how to steer clear of each one.
How Long Does Remortgaging Take in the UK? Explained
Remortgaging usually takes 4-8 weeks, but timing varies by lender and complexity. Here's a realistic week-by-week breakdown so you can plan ahead.
Remortgaging with Bad Credit: Your Options Explained
A poor credit history doesn't rule out remortgaging. Here's how lenders view adverse credit, which options exist, and how to strengthen your application.
Porting Your Mortgage: Moving House Without Losing Your Rate
Porting lets you take your existing mortgage rate to a new property. Here's how it works, when it makes sense, and the pitfalls to watch for.
Releasing Equity When You Remortgage: What to Know
Remortgaging can free up cash from your home's equity for renovations, debt or other goals. Here's how it works and what to weigh up first.
Documents You Need to Remortgage: A Checklist (UK)
Gathering the right paperwork before you apply can speed up your remortgage significantly. Here's a full checklist of what UK lenders typically ask for.
Early Repayment Charges When Remortgaging Explained
Early Repayment Charges can wipe out the savings from switching deals. Here's how ERCs work, how to calculate them, and when paying one still pays off.
Interest-Only Mortgages Explained: Risks & Rules (UK)
Interest-only mortgages keep monthly payments low, but the capital still has to be repaid eventually. Here's how they work and what lenders require.
95% LTV Mortgages: Low-Deposit Buying Explained (UK)
95% LTV mortgages let you buy with just a 5% deposit, but rates are usually higher. Here's how they work and how to weigh them against waiting to save more.
Green Mortgages: Cheaper Rates for Efficient Homes?
Green mortgages offer incentives for energy-efficient properties. Here's how EPC ratings affect eligibility, what's on offer, and whether it's worth pursuing.
Family Deposit & Springboard Mortgages Explained (UK)
Springboard and family deposit mortgages let relatives help without a cash gift. Here's how these low-deposit schemes work and the risks to weigh up.
New-Build Mortgages Explained: What's Different? (UK)
New-build mortgages come with tighter valuation windows and different lender rules. Here's what to know before buying an off-plan or newly built home.
Capped-Rate & Flexible Mortgages: A Clear Guide (UK)
Capped-rate and flexible mortgages sit between fixed and variable deals. Here's how each works, their pros and cons, and who they genuinely suit.
Mortgages for Expats & British Nationals Abroad (UK)
Buying a UK property while living overseas involves extra checks and a smaller lender pool. Here's how expat mortgages work and how to strengthen your case.
Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy or a CCJ Explained
A past bankruptcy, IVA or CCJ doesn't have to close the door on homeownership permanently. Here's how lenders view these events and when you might qualify.
Right to Buy Mortgages Explained: A Full Guide (UK)
Right to Buy lets eligible council tenants buy their home at a discount. Here's how the mortgage side works, and what to check before applying.
Second Home Mortgages Explained: What to Know (UK)
Buying a second home comes with a bigger deposit, a Stamp Duty surcharge and its own affordability rules. Here's how second home mortgages actually work.
Mortgages for Company Directors: A Clear Guide (UK)
Company directors face a different income assessment to salaried employees. Here's how lenders view salary, dividends and retained profit when you apply.
Mortgages with Adverse Credit History: A Practical Guide
Missed payments, defaults or a low credit score don't automatically rule out a mortgage. Here's how the adverse credit lending market works in the UK.