Mortgages articles (7 of 8)

By John Fitzsimons | 2 Nov 2021

House removals can ease the stress of moving house by handling the heavy lifting for you. Several factors, such as distance, the services needed and the number of items, determine house removal costs. Here’s how to find the right company to keep your move affordable.

By John Fitzsimons | 25 Feb 2021

Whether you’re remortgaging, buying, selling, or applying for a mortgage, a house valuation is a critical tool to ensure you know the correct price of a property. House valuations can be informal or official and carried out by a chartered surveyor.

By John Fitzsimons | 1 Dec 2022

If you’re buying a new home, you probably want to know exactly what you’re buying. Fortunately, professional surveyors can inspect the property as part of a homebuyers report. We explain the three main types of house surveys and how much they might cost.

By John Fitzsimons | 14 Dec 2021

Collecting the keys to your first home is a thrilling prospect, but first you need to tackle the mortgage application process. Read on to find out five simple tips every first-time buyer should know before applying for a mortgage.

By John Fitzsimons | 20 May 2022

With a fixed-rate mortgage your interest rate, and therefore your monthly repayments, will stay the same for the duration of the period you’ve chosen to fix. Most fixed rate mortgages are for either two or five years, although terms in between and for longer are also usually available.

By John Fitzsimons | 24 Mar 2022

A discount rate mortgage tracks a lender's standard variable rate, but at a discount. There are pros and cons to this sort of loan.

By John Fitzsimons | 7 Mar 2022

With a variable rate mortgage the interest rate you pay, and therefore the monthly repayments you must make, could potentially go up or down. A fall in your variable rate can work in your favour, but there is always the risk that your payments could increase.

By John Fitzsimons | 22 Oct 2021

Near the end of a property transaction, both parties sign contracts detailing what is expected and it’s at this stage that they commit to go through with the agreement.

By John Fitzsimons | 16 Nov 2021

A property chain is when the successful completion of a property sale depends on several other purchases going through. If one person pulls out of the chain or runs into problems or delays, it can affect the house-buying process for everyone else.

By John Fitzsimons | 17 May 2022

You’ll need to take a good look at your finances to work out how much mortgage you can afford. Read on to find out four steps that could help you.

By Laura Whateley | 1 Dec 2022

Buying a house can seem like a complicated process but our 9 step guide is here to help. Whether you’re a first-time buyer or need a refresher for your next property, read on to find out the stages involved in buying a house.

By Laura Whitcombe | 11 Jan 2021

While using your mortgage to consolidate debt can have benefits, it should be a last resort because of the risks involved.

By Laura Whitcombe | 25 Feb 2021

Get in touch with your lender to see if they'll extend your mortgage term. There's also potential help from insurance and the government.

By John Fitzsimons | 28 Apr 2021

Mortgage advisers can guide you on which sort of mortgage best suits your needs, and they may charge a fee for their advice. Learn the pros and cons and what to ask them.

By John Fitzsimons | 7 Mar 2022

A mortgage is the type of loan you get to buy a home or land, and you pay it back with a monthly repayment, often over 25 or 30 years, after making a deposit when you first get the loan.

By John Fitzsimons | 18 Feb 2021

First compare mortgages, and then prepare to provide valid identification, proof of address, P60, pay slips, bank statements and other documents when you apply.

By John Fitzsimons | 14 Apr 2022

If you’re aged 18 to 40, you can open a lifetime ISA (LISA) and earn a 25% annual bonus on up to £4,000 in savings, until you’re 50.

By John Fitzsimons | 2 Dec 2020

LTV stands for loan-to-value. It represents the relationship between the size of a mortgage and a property’s value, and it determines how much your deposit needs to be when you buy a house.

By John Fitzsimons | 15 Jan 2021

Anyone who has a Help to Buy ISA can still save up £200 per month until 2029 to earn tax-free returns and a 25% government bonus of up to £3,000. New accounts are no longer available.

By John Ellmore | 7 Jun 2022

Our free online mortgage calculators are designed to help you work out how much you could borrow and what affects your repayments.