John Fitzsimons
John Fitzsimons has been writing about finance since 2007. He is the former editor of Mortgage Solutions and loveMONEY and his work has appeared in The Sunday Times, The Mirror, The Sun and Forbes.
John's picks
Porting a Mortgage Explained
Porting a mortgage is when you transfer your existing mortgage deal when you move to a new home, instead of taking out a new mortgage. Here’s how mortgage porting works…
Transferring Property Ownership From Parent to Your Child
Parents can transfer ownership of a property to their child in the form of a gift or by transferring equity in the property, but it’s important to be aware of…
How to Tap into your Property’s Value Through Equity Release
Equity release is a type of loan that allows older borrowers to access some of the money tied up in their property. There are different types, like a lifetime mortgage…
The latest from John
How to Get Help With a Mortgage Deposit
The larger your deposit, the less you have to borrow to cover the cost of your home, which often means lower interest rates. A few schemes and options are available…
What is a Cashback Mortgage?
To tempt those buying a property or remortgaging, some lenders offer cashback mortgages. This type of deal involves the lender paying a cash lump sum to the borrower. Read on…
Guarantor Mortgages: What Are They and How Do They Work?
A guarantor mortgage can help applicants who are unable to secure a mortgage on their own, perhaps because they have bad credit. There are various pros and cons of guarantor…
What is a Residential Mortgage?
A residential mortgage is used to purchase a property that you plan to live in. The loan is taken out against the property and can come in various forms, such…
What is an Offset Mortgage?
If you have savings, an offset mortgage can help you to use them to reduce your monthly mortgage repayments. It works by linking the sum you have borrowed and the…
Transferring Property Ownership From Parent to Your Child
Parents can transfer ownership of a property to their child in the form of a gift or by transferring equity in the property, but it’s important to be aware of…
Equity Release or Remortgage: Which is Right For You?
If you’re an older homeowner who wants to unlock the equity in your home, equity release or remortgaging could both be explored.
Fixed or Variable Mortgage – What is the Difference?
Mortgage interest can be charged in two ways: through a fixed rate, where the interest rate remains the same for a certain period of time, or a variable rate, where…
How to Get a Low Deposit Mortgage
The smallest deposit that you can buy a house with currently is 5%. A more common ‘low’ deposit is 10%, as borrowers have far more options if they are looking…
What is a Let-to-Buy Mortgage?
A let-to-buy mortgage allows you to buy a new home and let out your existing property to bring in extra income. It can be useful if you can’t or don’t…
What to do About Negative Equity: Know Your Options
Negative equity means the value of your home is less than the amount you still owe on your mortgage, making it hard to remortgage or move house. Fortunately, you have…
House Equity: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?
House equity is the difference between the market value of your home and the amount you owe on your mortgage and secured loans. So it’s how much you own of…
How to Tap into your Property’s Value Through Equity Release
Equity release is a type of loan that allows older borrowers to access some of the money tied up in their property. There are different types, like a lifetime mortgage…
Employee Loans: How to Get a Loan at Work
Employers can offer loans to their employees in a few different ways. Employee loans can come directly from your place of work or a third party.
Credit Union Loans: How Do They Work?
If you need to borrow money, you may consider a credit union loan. You need to join a credit union to apply for a loan, but they could be more…