01Beginner
How mortgages work
Understand the basics — what a mortgage is, how repayments work, and what lenders look for.
Read guideMy Tools
Mortgage guide
Everything you need to know about getting a mortgage — in plain English.
Getting started
Your complete mortgage guide
From your very first question to advanced strategy — clear guides with no jargon.
02Beginner
How much can I borrow?
Learn how lenders calculate your borrowing capacity and what affects the amount you're offered.
Read guide03Intermediate
Fixed vs tracker rates
The key differences between fixed, tracker, and variable rate mortgages — and when each makes sense.
Read guide04Intermediate
Understanding LTV
What Loan-to-Value means, why it matters, and how a bigger deposit can save you money long-term.
Read guide05Advanced
When to remortgage
How to time a remortgage perfectly — early repayment charges, rate lock-ins, and the product transfer option.
Read guide06Advanced
Buy to let explained
The full picture on BTL — rental yield calculations, stress tests, limited company structures, and tax.
Read guideJargon buster
Mortgage glossary
The terms you'll come across — decoded.
AIP / DIP
Agreement / Decision in Principle — an indication of how much a lender will lend before a full application.
LTV
Loan to Value — the percentage of the property's value you're borrowing.
SVR
Standard Variable Rate — the default rate you revert to when a deal ends.
ERC
Early Repayment Charge — a fee for leaving a mortgage deal before it ends.
Conveyancing
The legal process of transferring property ownership.
Stamp duty
A tax paid on property purchases above certain thresholds in England and Wales.
Interest-only mortgage
A mortgage where you only repay the interest each month — the full loan balance is due at the end of the term.
Capital repayment mortgage
The standard mortgage type where each payment reduces the loan balance and pays interest.
Fixed rate mortgage
Your interest rate is fixed for a set period (e.g. 2 or 5 years), giving certainty on monthly payments.
Tracker mortgage
Your interest rate tracks the Bank of England base rate, so payments can go up or down.
Still have questions?
Our advisors can walk you through anything in plain English.
This guide is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.