Expert Blogs

The Budget has confirmed Your First Home: a 20% government equity loan on new-build homes with deposits from 2.5%. Here's what's confirmed, what isn't yet, and what it means in Sheffield.

How long does a UK mortgage application take? From Mortgage in Principle to completion — a full stage-by-stage timeline with tips to speed up the process.

What are UK mortgage rates doing in 2026? Our expert guide covers the Bank of England base rate, forecasts, and whether to fix now or wait.

The minimum deposit for most UK residential mortgages is 5%, but the size of your deposit changes the rate you are offered. Here are the LTV bands that matter, what first-time buyers actually put down, and how to build a deposit faster.

Let's be honest – insurance isn't exactly the most exciting topic. It's not up there with planning your next holiday or treating yourself to something special. But here's the thing: having the right protection in place gives you something truly valuable – peace of mind.

Review your mortgage before January. Discover 3 common mistakes costing homeowners thousands and how to fix them before the new year starts.

This comprehensive guide covers everything first time buyers need to know about purchasing property in 2026, from understanding your eligibility and accessing government support to managing the mortgage application process and budgeting for additional costs.

Stop relying on confusing forum advice or vague assumptions. At Friends Capital, we believe that clarity is the foundation of confidence. That’s why we’ve designed a powerful, yet simple, mortgage calculator tool that can transform your understanding of your financial potential in less than two minutes.

You can usually remortgage six months after buying, and you should start looking six months before your current deal ends. Here is the timing, the costs, and how to tell whether it is worth it.

Explore the different types of mortgages available in the UK. Learn how each works, who they suit, and which may be right for you. Speak to Friends Capital for tailored advice.

Commercial finance is assessed on the business, the asset and your experience rather than salary. The main types, what lenders look for, deposits, timescales and personal guarantees.

Four worked examples showing how bridging loans are used in practice: buying before selling, auction purchases, refurbishment projects and raising funds against a property.

Moving credit cards and loans onto your mortgage lowers what you pay each month and usually raises what you pay in total. A worked example showing both, what lenders will allow, what protections you give up, and what to try first.

The lowest advertised rate is often not the cheapest deal once fees are counted. What actually determines the rate you are offered, and how to compare the true cost of a mortgage.

There are three ways to get at the money tied up in your home, and they are not alternatives for the same job. A worked example comparing what a bridging loan, a remortgage and a lifetime mortgage each cost on the same amount, and how to tell which one you actually need.

Learn how secured loans work in the UK, when to use them, and how they compare to other borrowing options. Speak to a Friends Capital adviser for tailored guidance.

An Agreement in Principle is a lender's estimate of what it would lend you. Here is what it is, how to get one quickly, what it does to your credit file, and where it stops being useful.

Discover expert tips to increase your UK property's value, from loft conversions to energy efficiency upgrades. Speak to our mortgage advisers to explore your options.

Learn how auction finance works in the UK and why it’s key for auction property purchases. Discover how Friends Capital’s expert advisers and relationships with specialist lenders help you secure fast, flexible funding—making your auction experience smooth and successful.

Explore how Standard Repayment Mortgages can now extend beyond age 80. Learn how this option works, who it’s for, and how Friends Capital can help you secure the right deal.

Explore retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgages, also called later life interest-only, for borrowers aged 55 and over. Discover how they work, who they suit, and what to consider when applying.

Explore Interest-Only Arrangements in detail. Learn how they work, who they’re suitable for, and the pros and cons from Friends Capital Mortgage Advisers.

A plain-English guide to lifetime mortgages (equity release) for homeowners aged 55 and over. Friends Capital refers equity release to a qualified specialist partner.

Explore Blended Mortgage Solutions with Friends Capital. Learn how combining repayment and interest-only mortgages can offer flexibility for borrowers aged 55 and over.

A starter home is a first home that's affordable to buy. Here's what they cost, how to buy one, why the 2015 Starter Homes scheme never launched, and the schemes first-time buyers can use now.

Discover how the Shared Ownership Scheme can help you buy a home in the UK with a smaller deposit. Learn how it works, who’s eligible, and the pros and cons from Friends Capital Mortgage Advisers.

Right to Buy discounts were cut sharply in November 2024. The current regional caps, who qualifies, how the discount works as your deposit, and what lenders look for.

Looking to buy your first home? Learn how a Lifetime ISA could help, with a 25% government bonus of up to £1,000 per year. Friends Capital breaks it down for you.

Lenders do not treat adverse credit as one thing. A late payment, a satisfied default, an unsatisfied default, a CCJ, an IVA and a bankruptcy each do something different to your options. This guide takes them one at a time, explains why the age of the problem usually matters more than its severity, and sets out what genuinely improves your position before you apply.

Investing in property can be a smart way to build wealth, and buy-to-let mortgages are the foundation of many successful property portfolios. But these loans differ from standard residential mortgages in key ways. Whether you're considering your first rental property or expanding your investments, here’s what you need to know.

It’s easy to focus only on the interest rate when comparing mortgages—but the true cost of a mortgage involves much more. Understanding all the related costs helps you avoid surprises and choose the deal that’s genuinely best for your situation.

Lenders read your bank statements line by line and your credit file going back six years. Here is what they are looking for, which red flags cause declines, and what you can do about each.

A mortgage appointment is your opportunity to move one step closer to securing a new home or remortgaging your current one. Being well-prepared can make the process faster, smoother, and more productive. Here’s how to get ready and make the most of your time with a mortgage adviser.

Yes, you can get a mortgage when you are self-employed. Lenders just assess your income differently. Here is what sole traders, company directors and contractors need to prove, and where the flexibility is.

Bridging finance is fast and flexible but expensive, and it lives or dies on the exit strategy. When it makes sense, when it does not, what it costs, and how to choose a broker.