Your first home, without the guesswork.
Deposits, decisions in principle and the costs nobody warns you about. Free advice from people who will explain the whole thing rather than just quoting you a rate.
Mortgage repayment calculator
See what a given loan would cost each month.
An illustration only, based on the figures you enter. It is not a quote or an offer of credit. Actual rates depend on your circumstances, the lender's criteria and the loan-to-value.
- Free initial advice
- No credit check to talk
- FCA regulated
- No obligation
What nobody tells first-time buyers
The monthly payment is the number everyone focuses on, and it is the one that matters least at the start. What catches people out is completion day: stamp duty, legal fees, searches, the valuation, and removals all landing at once, several thousand pounds beyond the deposit you have been saving for years.
The second thing is the decision in principle. Getting one before you view properties does two jobs. It tells you what you can realistically offer, so you do not fall in love with something out of reach, and it makes your offer materially stronger against a buyer who has not bothered.
The third is that the rate on a comparison site is usually not the rate you will get. Advertised rates assume a large deposit and a clean file. What you are actually offered depends on your loan-to-value, your credit history and how the lender reads your income.
What matters here
- Five per cent is the usual practical minimum deposit, though more unlocks better rates
- A decision in principle is free, takes about a day, and strengthens your offer
- Budget several thousand pounds beyond the deposit for stamp duty, legal fees and searches
- First-time buyer stamp duty relief in England and Northern Ireland disappears entirely above 500,000 pounds
- Scotland and Wales have completely different rules, and Wales has no first-time buyer scheme
- Gifted deposits from family are common and perfectly acceptable, but lenders need the paperwork done properly
- Your credit file matters more than your credit score, and we can tell you what lenders will actually see
Four steps, no surprises
Most people come to us unsure what they are even allowed to ask for. This is how we take it from there.
We listen
A free call, at a time that suits you. We ask what you are trying to achieve and what is worrying you. No jargon, no pressure, no obligation to go further.
We research
We look across the lenders and providers available to us and work out what is genuinely open to you, then explain the options in plain English, including the ones we would rule out and why.
We recommend
You get a written recommendation setting out what we suggest, what it costs, and the risks. You decide whether to proceed. Nothing happens until you say so.
We see it through
We handle the application, chase the lender and solicitor, and keep you updated until completion. You always know who to ring.
Judge us on what people actually said
We do not advertise on television. Our reputation is the only thing speaking for us.
Incredible professional support right through the process. I wish our solicitor met this exemplary standard. Peter was always available even at weekends, responding almost immediately to our requests. My wife and I have no hesitation in calling on his services again.
Great service from start to finish. Very polite at all times. Kept up to date with the process. Nothing to complain about.
Excellent from start to finish. I thought I was pretty good at looking after my finances, but the great help I had from the people I dealt with showed me otherwise. Their expertise in all matters financial was second to none.
Let us find out what is actually open to you
One free call. No credit check, no obligation, and a straight answer about what is realistic.
What happens when you call
- You speak to a qualified adviser, not a call centre
- We ask what you are trying to achieve, then listen
- You get an honest view of what is realistic
- No pressure and no obligation to go further
Questions we hear a lot
If yours is not here, ring us. We would rather answer it properly than leave you guessing.
How much deposit do I really need?
Five per cent of the purchase price is the usual practical floor, and there are schemes and guarantor arrangements for people with less. The important thing to understand is that deposit size drives your interest rate. Getting from 5% to 10% typically moves you into a materially cheaper rate band, so if you are close, waiting a few months can be worth more than it costs you in rent.
What is a decision in principle?
It is a lender's initial indication of how much it would be prepared to lend you, based on the information you provide and usually a credit check. It is not a formal offer and it is not binding on either side, but estate agents take offers from buyers who have one far more seriously.
Can my parents help?
Yes, and it is extremely common. A gifted deposit is straightforward provided the paperwork is right: lenders will want a signed letter confirming it is a gift rather than a loan, and they will want to see where the money came from. There are also guarantor and joint borrower sole proprietor arrangements where a parent supports the affordability without going on the deeds.
What are all the costs?
Beyond the deposit: stamp duty where it applies, solicitor's fees and searches, a valuation or survey, any lender arrangement fee, removals, and the immediate cost of furnishing a place. We will give you a written estimate of the lot at the outset so there is nothing waiting for you at completion.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Tell us what you are trying to do
One short form. A real adviser will call you back, usually the same working day.