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Amanda Curd - Mortgage & Protection Adviser

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Ashwellthorpe
Amanda Curd - Mortgage & Protection Adviser

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Experienced mortgage & protection broker with 20+ years in the industry. Residential, buy to let, commercial, bridging & development finance. Norfolk | UK-wide

12/10/2026

🏡 IS IT A BUYER’S MARKET? COULD NOW BE THE TIME TO BAG YOURSELF A BARGAIN? 🔑

With all the doom and gloom in the news about inflation and rising mortgage rates, it’s understandable that some first-time buyers are thinking about putting their plans on hold.

But could now actually be a great time to buy your first home? 🤔

There are plenty of properties on the market, and in some areas, homes are taking longer to sell. Sellers need to be realistic with their asking prices, and that could mean opportunities for buyers who are ready to negotiate.

And here’s the thing…

As a first-time buyer, you’re potentially in a really strong position! 🙌

✅ No property to sell and no chain behind you.

✅ An Agreement in Principle shows sellers and estate agents you’ve taken steps towards arranging your mortgage.

✅ You may have room to negotiate, particularly on properties that have been sitting on the market for a while.

Of course, nobody has a crystal ball! 🔮

Mortgage rates could rise further, they could fall, and house prices could move either way.

But while everyone else is waiting to see what happens, could you be missing an opportunity to secure your first home at a really good price?

The important thing is making sure the figures work for YOU.

And that’s where I can help. 😊

If buying your first home feels a little overwhelming, why not have a chat with me?

We can look at how much you could borrow, what your monthly mortgage payments might look like, and put a plan in place so you’re ready when the right property comes along.

No pressure, no obligation. Just a friendly chat to help you understand your options.

📞 07832 952 891

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

09/10/2026

🏡 Is your fixed-rate mortgage deal coming to an end?

Are you worried about what your new monthly mortgage payments could look like?

With some lenders increasing their fixed mortgage rates, others reducing them, and rates continuing to fluctuate, it’s understandable if you’re feeling a little uncertain about what to do next.

My advice? Don’t leave it until the last minute!

I always recommend starting to look at your remortgage options around 6 months before your current deal ends.

Here’s why 👇

✅ Plan ahead – Get an idea of what your new monthly payments could look like, so you can budget and prepare.

✅ Secure a rate early – Depending on the lender, we may be able to secure a new mortgage deal several months in advance, giving you some reassurance.

✅ Keep your options open – If mortgage rates come down before your new deal starts, I can review your options to see whether there’s a better deal available.

✅ Don’t forget your existing lender – I’ll also look at what your current lender can offer. Some lenders won’t allow you to secure a new deal until around 3–4 months before your existing one ends, so we can explore other options in the meantime.

The important thing is to start looking now rather than waiting until your current deal is about to expire.

I know mortgages can feel confusing, particularly when interest rates are constantly changing. But that’s where I come in!

I’ll talk you through your options, explain everything in plain English and help you find the most suitable mortgage for your individual circumstances.

☕ Not sure where to start?

I’m always happy to have an initial, no-obligation chat about your options.

📞 Call me on 07832 952 891

Let’s get you prepared, rather than leaving everything until the last minute!

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

06/10/2026

🔑 Thinking about buying your first home?

There’s a lot to think about, but getting yourself mortgage-ready before you start seriously viewing properties can make the whole process much easier.

If you’re wondering how much you can borrow, or want to talk about the process and see where you stand, feel free to contact me on

07832 952 891

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

01/10/2026

If you’re new here, thank you for following me 👋

And if you’ve been here a while, here’s a little reminder of just some of the ways I can help.

Whether you’re buying your first home, moving, remortgaging, investing in property or your circumstances are a little more complex, I’m here to help make sense of your options.

I offer straightforward, honest mortgage advice, explain everything clearly and guide you through the process from start to finish.

If you’d like to have a chat about your plans, feel free to call, text or WhatsApp me on

07832 952 891

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBTS SECURED ON IT

30/09/2026

I wear a lot of hats in my role…

and occasionally I arrange mortgages too 😂🏡

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

29/09/2026

You may have noticed mortgage rates creeping upwards again recently, despite the Bank of England holding the Base Rate at 3.75%.

So why is that happening?

The important thing to understand is that fixed mortgage rates aren’t based solely on the Bank of England Base Rate.

Lenders also have to consider the cost of funding their mortgages and what financial markets expect interest rates to do in the future. Those expectations can change quickly, which means mortgage rates can move even when the Base Rate hasn’t changed.

So, what does that mean if you’re due to remortgage?

It means it’s worth looking at your options early rather than trying to predict where rates might be in a few months’ time.

If your current fixed rate is ending within the next 6 months, I can look at what’s available now, secure a deal where appropriate, and then keep an eye on the market while we wait for your existing deal to end.

If things improve, we can review your options again. If rates move the other way, you’ve already started planning ahead.

If your fixed rate is coming to an end, feel free to message me or call me on 07832 952 891 and we can have a chat about your options.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

28/09/2026

🏡 First-time buyers… could a 2.5% deposit be enough to buy your first home?

The Government has just announced plans for a new first-time buyer scheme called Your First Home.

We don’t have all the details yet. They’re due to be confirmed in the Budget on 28 October, but this could be particularly interesting if saving a big enough deposit is what’s currently holding you back.

So, what could it actually look like?

Let’s take a £250,000 home as an example:

🏡 £6,250 deposit from you (2.5%)
🏡 £50,000 government-backed equity loan (20%)
🏡 £193,750 mortgage

To put that into perspective, a 5% deposit on the same £250,000 home would be £12,500.

So under the proposed scheme, the amount you’d need to save yourself for your deposit could potentially be half that at £6,250.

There are, of course, a few important things to know.

The scheme hasn’t launched yet and we don’t have all the rules. It’s expected to be available to eligible first-time buyers purchasing new-build homes from participating developers, and there will be limits around income and property prices.

And importantly, that 20% is an equity loan. It isn’t free money.

There are also other mortgage options already available for first-time buyers with smaller deposits, so you don’t necessarily need to wait for this scheme to find out what you could afford.

But if saving a deposit has been the thing making you think buying your first home is still a long way off, this could be a really interesting development to watch. 👀

If you’re thinking about buying your first home, even if you’re not sure whether you’ve saved enough yet, and you’d like to have a chat with me about your options, feel free to get in touch.

📞 07832 952 891

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT

28/09/2026

🏡 Is your mortgage deal ending in the next 6 months?

Don’t wait until the last minute.

Mortgage rates have been moving upwards again recently, and you might be wondering why, particularly when the Bank of England Base Rate hasn’t increased.

The simple answer is that fixed mortgage rates aren’t based solely on the Base Rate. Lenders also price their mortgages based on their own funding costs and what financial markets expect interest rates to do in the future.

And those expectations can change very quickly.

So, if your current mortgage deal is coming to an end in the next few months, now is a good time to start looking at your options.

In many cases, we can secure a new mortgage deal several months before your existing one ends. That gives you some protection if rates continue to rise, rather than leaving everything until the last minute.

And if rates improve before your new deal starts? Depending on the lender and your circumstances, I can keep an eye on things and see whether there’s a better option available.

You don’t need to try to time the mortgage market yourself. That’s what I’m here for.

If your mortgage deal ends within the next 6 months, feel free to message me or call me on 07832 952 891 and we can have a chat about your options. 🏡

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

03/09/2026

One of the questions I get asked all the time is “How much deposit do I actually need to buy a house?”

And there really isn’t one answer that fits everyone.

A lot of people still assume they need to save 10% or even 20% of the purchase price before they can think about buying. That simply isn’t always the case.

There are mortgages available with much smaller deposits. Depending on your circumstances, that could mean a deposit of just a few percent of the purchase price, a product with a set minimum cash deposit, or potentially even a 100% mortgage with no deposit at all.

So why doesn’t everyone just choose the mortgage with the smallest deposit?

Because your deposit is only one part of the picture.

Whatever size deposit you have, a lender will still need to make sure the mortgage is affordable for you. They’ll look at things such as your income, how much you’re looking to borrow, your existing financial commitments, your credit history and whether you’re employed or self-employed.

Some of the low and no-deposit mortgage options also have additional rules about who can apply, so although they’re available, they won’t necessarily be an option for everyone.

Your deposit can also affect the mortgage rates and products available to you, so having a larger deposit can sometimes give you more choice and potentially access to a better rate.

The important thing is not to assume you need to reach a particular savings figure before you speak to someone.

If buying a home is something you’re thinking about, finding out how much you could potentially borrow and what deposit you would actually need is a really sensible place to start. You might find you’re ready sooner than you thought.

If you’d like me to look at your circumstances and talk you through the options, give me a call on 07832 952 891.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBT SECURED ON IT

02/09/2026

🏡 Mortgage application submitted… what happens next?

Getting your mortgage application submitted is a big step, but there’s still quite a bit that happens behind the scenes before you finally get those keys 🔑

So here’s a simple guide to what happens from mortgage application through to completion.

Mortgage application submitted

Once we’ve chosen the right mortgage for you, I’ll submit the full application to the lender along with the supporting documents they’ve requested. This could include payslips, bank statements, accounts or tax documents if you’re self-employed, evidence of your deposit and any other information needed to support your application.

The valuation

The lender will arrange a mortgage valuation to make sure the property is suitable security for the mortgage.

It’s important to remember that the lender’s valuation is primarily for their benefit and isn’t the same as having your own more detailed survey carried out.

If you’d like an additional survey on the condition of the property, this is a good time to arrange one.

Underwriting

The lender will then assess your application, income, credit commitments, supporting documents and the valuation.

Sometimes they’ll have further questions or ask for additional documents. That’s perfectly normal.

I’ll liaise with the lender throughout this stage, answering anything I already have the information for and coming back to you if there’s anything further we need.

Meanwhile, the legal work is happening too

While your mortgage is being assessed, your solicitor will be progressing the conveyancing.

They’ll be dealing with things such as the draft contract, searches, title checks and enquiries with the seller’s solicitor.

Replies will be reviewed and sometimes those replies lead to further enquiries, so there can be quite a bit of back and forth during this stage.

Mortgage offer issued 🎉

Once the lender is satisfied with the application, supporting documents and valuation, your formal mortgage offer can be issued.

This is a huge milestone, but we’re not quite at the keys yet!

And importantly, my job doesn’t stop when your mortgage offer arrives.

I’ll continue to keep an eye on your mortgage rate while the legal work progresses. If your lender reduces its rates and there’s enough time before completion, I’ll look at whether it’s viable and beneficial to switch you onto a lower rate.

I can also liaise with the lender, estate agent and solicitor where appropriate, help with mortgage-related queries and generally keep an eye on things as you move towards completion.

⚠️ One really important thing during this period…

Try to keep your financial circumstances as stable as possible.

Avoid taking out new loans, credit cards, car finance or other significant borrowing without speaking to me first.

Your lender can carry out further checks before completion, so if anything changes with your job, income, credit commitments or financial circumstances, please let me know.

Getting ready to exchange

Once your solicitor is satisfied with the searches, enquiries and legal documentation, they’ll report back to you and arrange for the necessary documents to be signed.

They’ll also advise you about your deposit and when your buildings insurance needs to be in place.

Exchange of contracts ✍️

Once contracts are exchanged, the purchase becomes legally binding and your completion date is agreed.

At this point, you finally know exactly when you’ll be getting those keys!

Completion day 🏡🔑

Your solicitor receives the mortgage funds from your lender and transfers the money required to complete your purchase.

Once completion has been confirmed, the estate agent can release the keys.

And just like that… you’re a homeowner!

There are lots of moving parts between submitting a mortgage application and picking up the keys, which is why my job isn’t simply to find you a mortgage and submit the application.

I’m there throughout the journey, helping you get from application to completion.

If you’re thinking about buying a property and would like some help understanding the mortgage or buying process, feel free to get in touch.

📞 07832 952 891

YOUR HOME MAY BE AT RISK IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP WITH THE REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY DEBTS SECURED ON IT

Address

The Street
Ashwellthorpe
NR161AA

Telephone

+447832952891

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