Buying your first home brings new terminology, paperwork and decisions. Ann Evans provides personal mortgage advice to help you understand affordability, deposits, applications and the steps between an initial conversation and completion.
This page is for people preparing to buy their first home, whether they are saving a deposit, viewing properties or ready to discuss an application. You may be employed, self-employed, buying alone or with somebody else, or receiving help with a deposit.
Mortgage availability depends on income, commitments, credit history, the deposit, the property and lender criteria. Ann will review your circumstances before making any recommendation; an initial discussion does not guarantee that a mortgage will be available.
Ann will discuss your plans, review the information relevant to affordability and explain suitable mortgage options. If you decide to proceed, she can help prepare the application, explain the documents requested and keep you informed while the lender assesses it.
Advice includes explaining important costs and features, not simply looking at an initial interest rate. Depending on the product, you may need to consider arrangement fees, valuation costs, legal work, early-repayment charges and how the monthly payment could change.
Ann’s own advice fee depends on the circumstances and is discussed and agreed at the earliest opportunity. See the fees and charges page for the current published information.
Discuss your deposit, income, commitments, timescale and any concerns.
Ann considers the information available and explains realistic next steps.
You receive an explanation of the recommendation, costs and documents before deciding.
Ann follows the application and helps you understand requests and updates.
The exact requirements vary, but lenders commonly ask for proof of identity and address, bank statements, evidence of income and the source of the deposit. Self-employed applicants may need business accounts or tax documents. If part of the deposit is a gift, the lender may ask for evidence and confirmation from the person providing it.
Do not email sensitive documents until Ann has explained the secure and appropriate way to provide them.
There is no single fixed timescale. Preparation, property searches, valuations, legal work and lender processing can all affect progress. Criteria can also change, so information should be checked at the relevant time rather than treated as permanent.
If you are still saving, an early conversation can help identify what to prepare. If you have found a property, tell Ann about any deadlines, but avoid making financial commitments based only on a general estimate.
No. You can discuss preparation, affordability and likely documentation before finding a property. A recommendation and application will depend on your circumstances and the property at the relevant time.
Ann can discuss a gifted deposit and explain the evidence a lender may request. Acceptance depends on the lender’s criteria and the source of funds.
Self-employed applicants can obtain mortgages, but the evidence and assessment can differ. Ann can explain what information may be needed based on your business and income history.
It may be appropriate to consider how mortgage payments or household finances would be affected by death, serious illness or loss of income. Protection products have conditions and exclusions; see the protection overview and ask Ann for advice.
Learn more about mortgage advice in Knowle, read about Ann’s experience and regulatory relationship, or review the general mortgage FAQs.
Arrange an initial conversation about your circumstances and the next steps.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.