Quick Answer Yes, self-employed borrowers can get a mortgage. Lenders typically assess your trading history, income, tax records, business performance, deposit, credit history and existing commitments. The key is that lenders use different criteria. One may decline your application while another accepts it, so choosing the right lender before applying can make a significant difference.…

Choosing a mortgage broker based on their fee alone might seem like a sensible way to save money. However, a real client scenario shows why the overall cost of your mortgage deserves just as much attention. An existing client recently returned to us to check a mortgage rate they had been offered through another broker.…

Quick Answer An offset mortgage could leave you better off if you have substantial savings and the interest you save on your mortgage outweighs the return you could earn by keeping that money in a separate savings account. A standard mortgage may be better if you have limited savings, can secure a lower rate or…

Quick Answer If you’re self-employed, you could typically borrow around 4.5 times your annual income, but this is only a starting point. The actual figure depends on how a lender assesses your income, your latest profits, trading history, debts, deposit, credit history and the lender’s own affordability rules. Different lenders can therefore offer different amounts…

Quick Answer An offset mortgage could make your savings work harder by using your linked cash to reduce the amount of mortgage debt charged interest. This can lower the interest you pay, help you clear the mortgage sooner or reduce your monthly payments, while allowing you to keep access to your savings. The benefit depends…

Quick Answer A self-employed buyer can strengthen their mortgage application by avoiding mistakes such as reducing taxable profit too heavily, mixing business and personal finances, applying before their accounts are ready, taking on new credit or choosing a lender without checking its self-employed criteria. Being self-employed does not automatically make a mortgage harder to get,…

Quick Answer What mortgage lenders look for on bank statements includes your income, regular expenses, existing debts, savings and general spending habits. Lenders may also look for things that could affect affordability, such as frequent overdraft use, missed payments, gambling transactions or large unexplained deposits. The exact checks and requirements vary by lender, so having…

Facts at a Glance AI & Mortgage Advice: What the Research Shows AI models wrong 57% of the time on financial questions · Error rate rises to 88% on complex questions · Tested across 18 leading AI models, 10,000+ responses (Saturn, 2026) · FCA: general-purpose AI tools are not FCA-regulated AI can answer a mortgage…

Quick Answer Choosing a first-time buyer mortgage broker can make the mortgage process easier to understand and manage. Everest Mortgages offers whole-of-market knowledge, specialist first-time buyer expertise and more than 14 years of experience. The business has arranged over 1,000 mortgages, is FCA regulated and CeMAP qualified, and operates independently with no lender ties. Everest…

Facts at a Glance Your First Home - Eligibility The scheme is announced for first-time buyers in England buying a new-build home from a participating developer. A household income cap will apply, but the exact figure has not yet been published. Local property price caps will apply and will vary by area, but figures have…

Facts at a Glance Your First Home:  The 2.5% Deposit A 2.5% deposit is one of the proposed headline features of Your First Home. On a £300,000 property, 2.5% is £7,500. A 2.5% deposit is not automatically the same as a 97.5% mortgage. A proposed government equity loan may also form part of the funding.…

Facts at a Glance UK Mortgage Rates: October 2026 Bank Rate: 3.75%, held on 17 September Next Bank of England decision: 5 November 2026 2-year fixed rate at 75% LTV: 5.74% average 5-year fixed rate at 75% LTV: 5.81% average 2-year variable rate at 75% LTV: 4.40% average Standard Variable Rate: 7.24% average Data checked:…