Know Your Options and Keep Them Open “Know your options and keep them open.” That was my advice to a client who recently called us for a second opinion on his remortgage. His existing fixed rate was due to end in around six months and, understandably, he was concerned...
Should You Use Savings to Reduce Your Mortgage Before Remortgaging? If you have savings available when your mortgage deal is coming to an end, there can be an obvious temptation. Pay a lump sum off the mortgage, reduce the balance and hopefully bring the monthly...
Should You Use Savings to Reduce Your Mortgage Before Remortgaging? If you have savings available when your mortgage deal is coming to an end, there can be an obvious temptation. Pay a lump sum off the mortgage, reduce the balance and hopefully bring the monthly...
Case Study: Turning 60 Didn't Mean Her Mortgage Options Had Disappeared Many homeowners approaching retirement assume that once they reach 60, their mortgage options become very limited. For those with an interest only mortgage nearing the end of its term, that...
The Tax Return Deadline Isn't Always the Mortgage Deadline For most self employed people, 31 January is the date they associate with completing their tax return. However, if they're planning to buy a property, move home or remortgage, there may be another deadline to...
Why One Year's Ownership Didn't Mean Waiting Another Year for a Mortgage Many business owners believe that if they've only owned their company for one year, they'll need to wait another year before they can get a mortgage. Sometimes that's true. However, sometimes the...
Why "No" from a High Street Lender Didn't End This First-Time Buyer's Journey One of the biggest misconceptions in the mortgage world is that if a high street lender says no, your plans have come to an end. In reality, that is often just the point where a different...
Case Study: A £93,000 Difference in Borrowing – Why the Right Advice Matters for Self-Employed Buyers Many self-employed buyers assume that once they've been told how much they can borrow, that's the end of the story. In reality, borrowing capacity can vary...
The Risk of Having a Shareholder Agreement Without Shareholder Protection Insurance Many business owners have taken sensible legal advice and put a shareholder agreement in place. Some have also gone a step further and signed a cross option agreement. At first glance,...
Case Study - What Should I Think About Before My Current Mortgage Deal Ends? If your current mortgage deal is due to end soon, it’s important to plan ahead. Waiting until the last minute could mean rolling onto your lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR), which...
Interest Only Mortgages: Why 2032 Could Be a Turning Point for Thousands of Homeowners Many homeowners with interest only mortgages are facing a challenge they may not have thought about for years. The challenge isn't the monthly payment. It's what happens when the...
When an Interest Only Mortgage Ends: Why Equity Release Isn't Always the Answer Many homeowners approaching the end of an interest only mortgage assume they have only two choices: Repay the mortgage in full Take out a lifetime mortgage (equity release) Sometimes a...
What is Shareholder Protection and Why Does It Matter? Many business owners spend years building a successful company with fellow shareholders. They invest time, money and effort into growing the business, supporting staff and looking after clients. What is often...
The Business Owner Who Thought He'd Get £126k of Borrowing, but Got £292k Many business owners try to work out mortgage affordability themselves before speaking to a mortgage adviser. On the face of it, that seems perfectly reasonable. If business profits increase,...
Should I Use a Limited Company for a Rental Property? When turning your home into a rental or buying a property to let, one of the biggest questions landlords face is whether to hold the property in their own name or through a limited company. Both routes can work,...
Company Director Mortgages: Why Your Income Isn’t Always What Lenders See Arranging a mortgage as a Company Director can be frustrating. Your income can look strong, but the borrowing offered doesn’t reflect it. You might feel like you’re doing everything right. Your...
Bank of Mum and Dad: Depositing Savings to Support a Mortgage For many parents, helping their children onto the property ladder is a priority. However, not everyone wants to give away their savings permanently. One alternative that some lenders now offer is a linked...
Bank of Mum and Dad - Regulated Buy to Let Many parents look at buying a property for their child to live in. On the surface, it can feel like a straightforward solution. Buy a property, let the child live there, and support them without needing to gift large sums of...
