We help many first-time buyers work out what is realistic before they start viewing homes. We can talk through your deposit, your monthly budget and the other costs of buying, including legal and valuation costs.

When you are ready, we explain what an agreement in principle means, prepare and submit your mortgage application, and liaise with the lender on your behalf.

A move may mean taking your existing mortgage to the new property, borrowing more or choosing a new deal. Whether you can transfer a deal depends on the lender’s rules and an assessment of the new property and your circumstances.

We can compare the options, including any early repayment charge, the cost of extra borrowing and the timing of your sale and purchase, so you can plan the move with a clearer picture of the costs.

The end of a mortgage deal is a good time to review your plans. We can compare a new deal with your current lender against a remortgage to a different lender, taking account of fees, the mortgage term and the overall cost.

If you want to change your borrowing or expect to move soon, we can also look at how that affects your options and whether an early repayment charge could apply.

For a property you plan to let, lenders may look at the expected rent as well as your deposit, existing commitments and the type of property. We can explain the borrowing options and the costs of the mortgage, including what happens if the property is empty for a period.

If you plan to let your current home while buying another, we can discuss both mortgages together and what permission or change to your current mortgage may be needed.

With shared ownership, you may have a mortgage on the share you buy, rent on the remaining share and service charges or other property costs. Looking at all of these together matters more than looking at the mortgage payment alone.

We can discuss your deposit and budget, the scheme’s requirements and mortgage options for the share you want to buy. We can also explain what to consider if you hope to buy more shares later.

Running a business, working on contracts or receiving several types of income can make an application less straightforward. Lenders can assess income differently and may ask for accounts, tax documents or other evidence.

We can look at how your income is made up, help you understand what paperwork may be useful and discuss suitable lender criteria before we submit your application.

If you are worried about a missed payment, an old credit issue or limited borrowing history, start by checking your credit report for accuracy. Lenders consider more than a single score, but their criteria differ.

We can talk through what happened, when it happened and your current position, then explain whether applying now or preparing further may be more sensible. We cannot guarantee that a lender will accept an application.

If you want to raise money against your home, the route matters. A further advance from your current lender, a remortgage or a second-charge mortgage may each have different rates, fees, terms and effects on your existing deal.

If you are considering using mortgage borrowing to consolidate debts, we will look carefully at the total amount repayable and explain the risk of securing previously unsecured debts against your home. We can compare the available routes and discuss whether another approach may be more suitable. Second-charge advice may involve a specialist referral.