Written by a working adviser, reviewed and dated. No filler, no sales pitch, just the answers people actually ask us.
An honest comparison of using a mortgage broker versus going direct to your bank. What each does well, what it costs, and when going di…
Read the guide →How mortgage brokers get paid, what a typical fee looks like, when it is payable, and how to work out whether a fee-free broker is actu…
Read the guide →The full cost of a mortgage beyond the rate: arrangement fees, valuation, legal, stamp duty, broker fees and early repayment charges, …
Read the guide →Fixed vs tracker mortgages compared: how each works, the pros and cons, early repayment charges, and which suits you depending on your …
Read the guide →How stamp duty works when buying in Essex: the current bands, first-time buyer relief, the second-home surcharge, and how it's calculat…
Read the guide →The complete first-time buyer mortgage guide for Essex: deposit, borrowing, agreement in principle, stress tests, stamp duty & schemes.…
Read the guide →How much deposit you really need to buy a home in Essex: the 5% minimum, why 10% is better, gifted deposits, and the cash you need beyo…
Read the guide →How much you can borrow for a mortgage explained: income multiples (~4.5x), affordability, stress tests, and what quietly reduces your …
Read the guide →The first-time buyer schemes that can help you buy in Essex: Lifetime ISA, Shared Ownership, First Homes, 95% mortgages and new-build d…
Read the guide →How to get a mortgage, start to finish: eligibility, agreement in principle, documents, application, valuation and offer, plus what le…
Read the guide →What an agreement in principle is, how to get one, how long it lasts, and whether it affects your credit score. The first real step to …
Read the guide →The full mortgage documents checklist: ID, proof of address, payslips, bank statements, deposit evidence, plus what the self-employed …
Read the guide →How self-employed mortgages work in Essex: how sole traders, company directors and contractors are assessed, how many years of accounts…
Read the guide →How remortgaging works in Essex: when to do it, the process, costs, releasing equity, early repayment charges, and when a product trans…
Read the guide →When to remortgage: start 3–6 months before your deal ends, avoid the standard variable rate, and know the moments that make remortgagi…
Read the guide →Product transfer vs remortgage explained: a product transfer stays with your lender and is quick; a remortgage moves lender for a bette…
Read the guide →Free, no obligation, and we'll tell you honestly if we can't help. We reply the same working day.
