Articles by Jim Kersey:
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Short-term vs long-term loans
If you are considering taking out a short-term loan, make sure you check whether a longer-term loan might make more sense, or vice-versa. Here, we take a look at both these options in more detail.
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What is your debt-to-income ratio?
Banks and other lenders use your debt-to-income ratio to evaluate your suitability as a borrower. This means comparing your monthly debt payments to your income before they approve a loan for you. Use our simple calculator to get your results instantly.
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What is an Interest Only Mortgage?
With an interest only mortgage, you only pay off the mortgage interest each month, and none of the original loan – that must be paid back at the end. This can make a mortgage on an interest only basis worth considering if you need to keep your monthly mortgage repayments low.
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Are You Ready to Remortgage?
A remortgage can be a tempting option if you’re looking at ways to free up cash or move to a better mortgage deal. But is it always the best course of action? Here’s what to consider and how to prepare.
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Home Improvement Loans Explained
A home improvement loan can fund any work you need to carry out on your property, whether you want to increase its value or simply improve your living situation.
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How can I pay off my overdraft quickly?
Discover the ways that you can quickly pay off your overdraft, to help you better manage your short-term borrowing. If you’re finding that you’re dipping into it at the end of every month, these tips could help you manage your spending.
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How to buy breakdown cover for multiple people or vehicles
Joint, family or multi-vehicle breakdown cover can save you money if you want to cover more than one car or driver. There are different kinds of policies depending on who and what you want to cover, which you can read more about in our guide.
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Debt Consolidation: What is it and How Does it Work?
Taking out a loan for debt consolidation allows you to turn multiple debt payments into one ‘consolidated’ loan and monthly payment. This could save you money, but you need to factor in all the costs and risks involved.
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What is a Payday Loan?
A payday loan is a type of short-term loan that is typically taken out to cover unexpected, emergency expenses. However, they are an expensive form of borrowing so you should always consider the alternatives.
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How Much Do You Need for a House Deposit?
How much deposit you need to buy a house will depend on your financial situation and the value of the property you want to buy. Having a larger deposit might help secure a lower mortgage rate, but a house deposit of 5% is often enough to help you onto the property ladder.
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Self-Employed Mortgages: How to Get One and What You’ll Need
If you’re self-employed and are planning to get a mortgage, you’ll need your accounts to be in order and you may need to jump through a few extra hoops. Proof you have regular work, a deposit and a good credit history are usually important too.
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Essential things you need to know when choosing a mortgage
It can be incredibly difficult to choose the right mortgage to suit your needs. From the basics of the loan, to the technical details involved in the process, to the provider, there’s a lot to get straight when you look at how to choose a mortgage.
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Going self-employed: what you need to know
Making the shift from regular employment and a PAYE salary at the end of every month to working for yourself is a big decision no matter what your circumstances. Here are the essentials to consider carefully before taking that leap into self-employment.
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Letting agent fees ban: 2018 rules change overview
In 2016, the government announced they would ban letting agent fees to tenants. What progress has been made and where are we now?
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