Agreement in principle
Before you apply for a mortgage, you can get an ‘agreement in principle’ from a lender. It’ll show you how much money you might be able to spend, so you can concentrate on looking at properties in your price range.
Agreement in principle
Borrowing money for a mortgage deposit
Borrowing money for a mortgage deposit can be a risky decision. Find out more about your options and the alternatives available if you're trying to get on the property ladder.
Borrowing money for a mortgage deposit
Bridging loans
Bridging loans offer short-term finance for buying a property before your longer-term funding comes through. Find out about terms, rates and risks.
Bridging loans
Building societies
Learn about building societies and other mutual societies, including members' rights and the advantages and disadvantages of using them for mortgages.
Building societies
Buying a house with tenants in situ
Looking to buy a house which already has tenants living in it? Find out what you need to know about your rights and getting a mortgage.
Buying a house with tenants in situ
Consent to let
If you need to move but you can’t sell, getting consent to let from your mortgage lender allows you to rent out your home on a residential mortgage.
Consent to let
Credit reports and ratings
A credit score can be crucial to your future, the rating affecting your major financial applications. Find out more about scores and compare credit reports.
Credit reports and ratings
Early repayment charges on mortgages
Think carefully about early repayment charges if you're looking for a new mortgage, remortgaging or planning to overpay on your current deal.
Early repayment charges on mortgages
Ethical banking
Read more about ethical banking and finding current accounts, loans and other products that agree with your moral principles.
Ethical banking
Gifted deposits
More and more aspiring first-time buyers are relying on gifted deposits to get a mortgage, but giving cash to buy a home carries implications.
Gifted deposits
Help to Buy ISAs
Help to Buy ISAs are a way for first-time buyers to save without tax for their home deposit and receive government assistance.
Help to Buy ISAs
Home buying surveys
A home buying survey is an expert inspection and report on your potential new home before you buy it – but what type of survey should you choose?
Home buying surveys
Home improvement loans
A home improvement loan could be a good way to fund something like a new kitchen or an extension.
Home improvement loans
How parents can help children buy a home
From gifting a deposit to offsetting savings, there are many ways for parents to help children or grandchildren get a mortgage and step on the property ladder.
How parents can help children buy a home
How to buy a house in Scotland
Find out how buying a home in Scotland differs from the rest of the UK and the risks and advantages.
How to buy a house in Scotland
How to sell a house in Scotland
Discover the process for selling a home in Scotland, along with the risks and advantages.
How to sell a house in Scotland
How to buy your freehold
Do you live in a leasehold flat? Find out more about how you can buy the freehold, including the fees involved, plus the pros and cons.
How to buy your freehold
How to extend a lease
Get more information on how to extend the lease on your property, including why you may want to do it and the process.
How to extend a lease
How to find and choose a conveyancer
There are a few things to consider before instructing a conveyancer, including the type of service, location and cost.
How to find and choose a conveyancer
How to find and choose a financial adviser
Do you need an independent financial adviser (IFA)? How do you find one? Could other financial guidance and advice serve your needs? Read more about the things to consider.
How to find and choose a financial adviser
How to get on the property ladder
You want to step onto that first rung and buy a house but where do you start? Read our guide to find out how to build a deposit and what the options are for first-time buyers.
How to get on the property ladder
How to save a mortgage deposit
Saving a deposit for a mortgage can be the biggest hurdle to buying a home, so see if our top tips can help you speed up the process.
How to save a mortgage deposit
Insurance when moving house
Moving home is a stressful experience, so relieve some of the pressure by making sure your home contents is covered during the move.
Insurance when moving house
Is interest-only or repayment best for buy-to-let?
What's best for landlords, a repayment mortgage or interest-only? There are several reasons why many choose the latter.
Is interest-only or repayment best for buy-to-let?
Islamic banking and other religious bank accounts
Find out more about Islamic and other religious banking options which may help you base financial decisions on your ethics and beliefs.
Islamic banking and other religious bank accounts
Lifetime ISAs
A Lifetime ISA can help you save tax-free for your first home or retirement with the boost of a 25% government bonus.
Lifetime ISAs
Making a will
Our guide to making a will can help you with all aspects of writing a will, including how to approach it and whether you need professional advice.
Making a will
Mortgage arrears and repayment problems
If you're struggling to repay your mortgage or you're in arrears, there are a number of things you can do, starting with speaking to your lender.
Mortgage arrears and repayment problems
Mortgage initial rates, follow-on rates and the APRC
Find out how to compare mortgage deals, taking into account the initial rate, follow-on rate, APRC and fees.
Mortgage initial rates, follow-on rates and the APRC
Mortgage payment holidays
Payment holidays from your mortgage could help relieve pressure you're feeling during financial difficulties. Find out more.
Mortgage payment holidays
Mortgage payment protection insurance
Mortgage payment protection insurance (MPPI) is a form of income protection designed to pay an amount equivalent to your monthly mortgage repayments should you be unable to work due to an accident, sickness or unemployment.
Mortgage payment protection insurance
Mortgage retention for damaged homes
Sometimes mortgage lenders will retain funds if you're buying a home in poor condition. Find out what you can do if it happens to you.
Mortgage retention for damaged homes
Mortgages and insurance
Taking out a mortgage is a huge financial commitment - what are the related insurance products you should be thinking about?
Mortgages and insurance
Porting your mortgage
An offset account can link mortgage debt to savings and current account balances, offering the potential of significant benefits if managed in the right way.
Porting your mortgage
Service charges and ground rent
Find out more about service charges and ground rent on leasehold properties, including what they'll be used for and how you can object to unfair fees.
Service charges and ground rent
Shared ownership schemes
Shared ownership schemes could offer a step onto the property ladder for the cash-strapped.
Shared ownership schemes
Should first-time homebuyers use a mortgage broker?
You could do the research on multiple lenders and apply for a mortgage yourself, or you can use the services of a mortgage broker to do the legwork and secure a good deal for you.
Should first-time homebuyers use a mortgage broker?
Stamp duty and the additional property surcharge
Stamp duty can be a costly part of buying a house and, since April 2016, property investors, accidental landlords and holiday home buyers have had extra stamp duty to pay. Find out more.
Stamp duty and the additional property surcharge
Switching your mortgage lender
Remortgaging with another provider could save you money.
Switching your mortgage lender
Tenants in common
Properties owned by up to four people can be owned by ‘tenants in common’ - this is when each co-owner owns a distinct share of the property.
Tenants in common
Title indemnity insurance
If your house sale is being held up by problems with the planning permission or other legal issues, title indemnity insurance may allow the transaction to complete.
Title indemnity insurance
What to do if you're a mortgage prisoner
Mortgage prisoners are those who want to remortgage but who find themselves trapped in their current deal. Find out what you can do to improve equity and affordability and get out of this trap.
What to do if you're a mortgage prisoner