Guides
Learn how to calculate what house you can afford, understand mortgage basics, explore buyer scenarios, and optimize your buying strategy.
Use our interactive calculator to see what you can afford based on your salary, deposit, and interest rate.
Open the CalculatorMaster the fundamentals: what LTV and LTI mean, how lenders test affordability, why your deposit matters, and the difference between fixed and variable rates. Perfect for first-time homebuyers.
Step-by-step walkthrough of the calculator with real examples. Learn what each input means and how to avoid common mistakes.
See how first-time buyers, self-employed, buy-to-let investors, and rate-locked buyers calculate affordability differently.
Stop believing the "4.5× salary" rule and calculator misconceptions. Learn what lenders actually test for.
Strategic guide for informed buyers: timing your purchase, optimizing deposit size, income optimization, and true cost planning beyond the monthly payment.
Master fixed, variable, tracker, and discounted mortgages. Learn how each type works, what the risks are, and which might suit your situation.
Understand how lenders view your credit score, what damages it, how to improve it, and the real impact on your borrowing power and rates.
Explore deposit tiers, LTV ratios, and why deposit size matters. See real cost examples and when mortgage insurance applies.
Discover government help: stamp duty relief, Lifetime ISAs, Shared Ownership, council programs, and other schemes for first-time buyers.
Understand how shared ownership works, staircasing to full ownership, affordability comparison with traditional mortgages, and eligibility requirements.
Master rental coverage ratios, deposit requirements, affordability testing, true costs, and break-even analysis for buy-to-let properties.
Calculate total purchase costs: SDLT rates by price point, surveys, legal fees, mortgage costs, and ongoing expenses with real examples.
Navigate documentation, income assessment methods, affordability testing, and strategies to maximize borrowing as a self-employed professional.
Understand joint income effects, ownership structures, liability, separation risks, and how employment mismatches impact affordability.
Learn when to remortgage, timing, portability options, moving home decisions, and how to calculate if a new mortgage is worth the costs.