Mortgage basics

Everything you need to understand how mortgages work

Mortgages can seem complicated and with so many different options to choose from, it’s not always easy to know where to begin. Working out how much you can afford to borrow, understanding which deals you’ll be eligible for, and how your circumstances might affect your options can all make the process seem daunting.

That’s where we can help. Our mortgage basics guides are designed to give you all the fundamental knowledge you need to get started.

If you’re looking for expert mortgage advice, you can speak to an independent mortgage broker with Unbiased. Every advisor you find through Unbiased will be FCA-regulated, qualified and unconnected to product providers – so they can offer you truly unbiased advice.

If you’re looking for mortgage rates available today or to get an idea of the sort of mortgage you might be able to afford – take a look at our free mortgage rates comparison calculator. Enter a few basic details to compare deals available from the whole of the market today. Update your options as you go, if you’d like to try out a few different scenarios.

When you apply for a mortgage, lenders will want to see proof that you’ll be able to comfortably afford your mortgage payments, both now and if interest rates rise. We explain what sort of information you’ll need to provide and look at some of the costs and fees you may need to pay.

Our mortgage affordability calculator gives you an idea of what you could borrow, based on your income and outgoings.

Mortgages and deposits

Your deposit is the amount of savings you need to put down when buying a home or, if you’re remortgaging, it is the amount of equity you own in your property (along with various other criteria) which will determine which mortgages you have access to. Here, we explain how much you’re likely to be able to borrow, some of the ways you might be able to boost your deposit, and how to pay down your mortgage. 

Mortgage news

Stay updated about the latest happenings in the world of mortgages here.  Whether it’s what’s happening to interest rates, changes to government schemes, or the general state of the property and mortgage market, we’ve got it covered.

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