Protection5 min read
Protection for First-Time Buyers
The cover you actually need when you’re buying your first home — life, income, and what you can skip.
Insights
Clear, practical guidance for confident decisions.
Plain-English guides on every stage of buying, moving and remortgaging — written for real people, not industry insiders.
8 min read
Featured Guide
The First-Time Buyer Roadmap
From the moment you start saving a deposit to the day you pick up the keys, here’s every step laid out in plain English — lender choices, affordability, surveys, solicitors and exchange. The same roadmap we walk every first-time buyer through.
- Step 1 — Honest affordability check before you view a single home.
- Step 2 — Decision in principle, structured for the lenders most likely to say yes.
- Step 3 — Offer, survey, solicitors and the small print that catches buyers out.
- Step 4 — Exchange, completion and the keys-in-hand moment.
All Guides
Plain-English answers, no jargon.
Six core guides covering the questions Marc hears every week from buyers and homeowners across Essex and the South East.
Protection
Affordability6 min read
How Much Can I Borrow as a First-Time Buyer?
Affordability, deposits and what lenders look for in 2026 — with worked examples from real applications.
Process7 min read
Conveyancing Made Easy
What conveyancers do, what they cost and the five most common reasons completions get delayed.
Essentials5 min read
First-Time Buyer Essentials
Schemes, surveys and the small print that catches buyers out — from Help to Buy ISAs to stamp duty thresholds.
Checklist4 min read
The Mortgage Check-Off Guide
A simple, printable checklist to stay on top of every document, deadline and decision in your application.
Remortgage6 min read
Should You Remortgage in 2026?
When to switch, when to product transfer, and how to time your remortgage around the Bank of England base rate.
Browse by topic
Six topics. Every question covered.
01
First-Time Buyers
Deposits, schemes, affordability and every step from offer to keys.
02
Home Movers
Porting, equity, chains and timing your sale and purchase.
03
Remortgaging
Switching lender, releasing equity, and avoiding the SVR trap.
04
Buy-to-Let
Rental coverage, limited company structures and tax considerations.
05
Protection
Life, critical illness, income protection — what fits your family.
06
The Process
Conveyancing, surveys, searches and what actually happens between offer and completion.
FAQ
The questions we hear most.
Can’t see your question? Marc will reply personally — no call centres, no chatbots.
How much deposit do I really need?+
Most lenders want at least 5%, but 10% opens up sharper rates. For first-time buyers in the South East, we’ll model both and show you the monthly difference.
Do you charge a broker fee?+
Marc will always quote any fee upfront in your first conversation — never a surprise. Many cases are arranged on lender commission only.
How long does a mortgage application take?+
From decision in principle to offer, typically 2–4 weeks. From offer to completion depends on the conveyancing chain — usually 8–12 weeks total.
Can I get a mortgage if I’m self-employed?+
Yes — we work with lenders who understand sole traders, limited company directors and contractors. Usually two years of accounts, sometimes one.
What’s the difference between a broker and going direct?+
A direct lender shows you their products only. We compare 90+ lenders, handle paperwork, chase solicitors and stay with you through completion.
Next step
Got a specific question?
Marc will reply personally — no call centres, no chatbots.