
Introduction We recently helped a first-time buyer secure a mortgage to purchase a flat in Farnborough, Hampshire, despite having several outstanding defaults on their credit file. The application was particularly challenging because the property was situated above commercial premises, which created an additional restriction when identifying suitable mortgage lenders. By reviewing the customer’s credit history,… Read more

Bridging Loans for First Time Buyers When and Why They Are Used When you are buying your first property, most people assume a mortgage is the only option. In many cases, which is true. However, there are situations where a standard mortgage does not work, at least not straight away. This is usually when bridging… Read more

Introduction We recently helped two first-time buyers purchasing a property in Petersfield, Hampshire, who needed mortgage and protection advice. Although our customers had sufficient employed income to support their borrowing, their deposit came from several sources, including personal savings, inheritance and family trust funds. This meant additional documentation was needed to verify where the money… Read more

I Was Made Bankrupt. How Does That Affect Me With a Mortgage? Being made bankrupt can affect your ability to get a mortgage, but it does not always stop you from buying a home in the future. The impact usually depends on how long ago the bankruptcy happened, whether you have been discharged, what your… Read more

Introduction We recently helped our customers secure a first-time buyer mortgage to purchase a property in Farnham, Surrey. Both customers were employed, but obtaining the mortgage they needed required a lender offering an enhanced income multiple. One customer also had a second job, while the other had received a recent salary increase. We arranged a… Read more

Introduction We recently helped three first-time buyers arrange a mortgage application to purchase a property in Ilford, Essex, with a 5% deposit. The main challenge was finding a lender willing to consider a 95% loan-to-value mortgage involving three applicants, one of whom held a spousal visa. Another applicant had also recently changed employment, adding a… Read more

Can Credit Card Debt Stop You Getting a Mortgage? Credit cards can affect a mortgage application, but having a credit card does not automatically stop you from getting a mortgage. Lenders are usually more interested in how you use the card, how much you owe, whether payments have been made on time, and whether the… Read more

Introduction We recently helped our customer secure a 95% first-time buyer mortgage in Farnborough, Hampshire, despite complications involving their self-employed income and the property’s remaining lease length. Our customer worked as a CIS contractor and wanted to purchase a leasehold maisonette with a 5% deposit. However, the property had just 84 years remaining on its… Read more

Mortgage Affordability and Childcare Costs Explained Childcare costs can affect how much you are able to borrow on a mortgage because lenders look at your income and regular household outgoings before deciding what is affordable. For many parents, nursery fees, childminder costs, wraparound care, after-school clubs or private school fees are among the largest monthly… Read more

Introduction We helped a professional footballer secure a £650,000 mortgage to purchase his first home in London, shortly after signing a contract with a new club. Our customer had only recently started his new employment and had not yet received a payslip. Although his contract confirmed his income, we needed to find a lender willing… Read more