Mortgage guides

Our guides gives you the facts so you can make an informed choice when you compare mortgage products and providers.

100% mortgages

What do you do if you could afford a loan for a house but don't have any savings? find out about buying a house without a deposit.

10 year fixed rate mortgages

Buy-to-let mortgages

A buy-to-let deal could be for you if you're planning to invest, to remortgage an investment property, or to let out a house you can't sell.

Buy-to-let mortgages

Buying at auctions

Buying a property at auction? Read on to find out more about taking out a mortgage.

Buying at auctions

Five-year fixed-rate mortgages

Whether you’re on the first rung of the property ladder, or have an extensive property portfolio, a fixed-rate mortgage might just be the right way to help you buy a new house.

Five-year fixed-rate mortgages

Fixed-rate mortgages

Compare fixed-rate mortgages for two years, five years and other terms, with the chance to speak to a fee-free adviser to decide if it's the right deal for you.

Fixed-rate mortgages

Government mortgage schemes

Understand the different Government housing schemes including the Help to Buy, Shared Ownership and Right to Buy. Find out all you need to know about the gov schemes available for first time buyers in the UK.

Government mortgage schemes

Guarantor mortgages

A guarantor mortgage could help if you're struggling to buy a home or move. Speak to a fee-free adviser or read our guide to find out more.

Guarantor mortgages

Holiday home mortgages

Read our guide to find out more about the types of holiday home mortgages for your situation. Options include holiday home-specific products or a second mortgage in addition to your main home.

Holiday home mortgages

Joint mortgages

Compare joint mortgages for two to four borrowers and speak to an adviser to find the right fixed or variable rate for you.

Joint mortgages

Let-to-buy mortgages

Let-to-buy mortgages can help you simultaneously buy your next house and let out your former home - but there are plenty of risks to consider first.

Let-to-buy mortgages

Lifetime mortgages

Lifetime mortgages allow you to borrow money, tax-free, against your home, with nothing to repay until you die or go into long-term care.

Lifetime mortgages

Mortgages for ex-local authority properties

Compare mortgage deals for buying ex-local authority houses and flats and get fee-free mortgage advice.

Mortgages for ex-local authority properties

Mortgages for flats

Compare mortgages for flats, including leasehold and share of freehold apartments, with the chance to speak to an expert, fee-free adviser.

Mortgages for flats

Mortgages for homes of unusual construction

Whether you want to buy a concrete home or invest in a high storey flat, getting a mortgage for a non-traditional home can be tricky.

Mortgages for homes of unusual construction

Mortgages for houses with a history of subsidence

Find out more about subsidence and how it affects your chances of getting a mortgage.

Mortgages for houses with a history of subsidence

Mortgages for properties with Japanese knotweed

Find out more about how Japanese knotweed can affect your mortgage application and what you can do.

Mortgages for properties with Japanese knotweed

Mortgages of 30 years or longer

Longer-term mortgages can make your monthly repayments more affordable, but you need to consider how they could cost you a lot more over the lifetime of the loan.

Mortgages of 30 years or longer

Mortgages on leasehold properties

Find out the difference between leasehold and freehold properties and how it can affect the value of your property and ability to get a mortgage.

Mortgages on leasehold properties

Mortgages on new-build homes

New build homes can be an attractive option with incentives from the builder, but you could find your choice of mortgages more restricted than with older houses.

Mortgages on new-build homes

Negative equity mortgages

Negative equity is when you owe your mortgage lender more than your home is worth. This can happen when property prices fall and your house drops in value after you’ve bought it.

Negative equity mortgages

Offset mortgages

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.

Offset mortgages

Remortgaging to buy a rental property

Could you remortgage your house to purchase a buy-to-let property, or to fund the deposit for such a rental home?

Remortgaging to buy a rental property

Right to Buy mortgages

Compare Right to Buy mortgages from across the UK market and get fee-free advice on using your discount as a deposit.

Right to Buy mortgages

Second charge mortgages

Find out more about the advantages and risks of a second mortgage - a secured loan which can be an alternative to remortgaging.

Second charge mortgages

Self-build mortgages

If you're up for the challenge of creating your dream home from scratch then a conventional house loan simply isn't suitable. You'll need a specialist self-build deal. So what do you need to know?

Self-build mortgages

Variable-rate mortgages

Compare variable-rate mortgages, which often have the lowest interest rates and fees... but come with uncertainty over possible interest rate rises.

Variable-rate mortgages

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