Helen Bowsher - Mortgage Adviser at Pennymatters

03/02/2026

New 98% mortgage launch for first time buyers!

Santander have launched an exciting product today called My First Mortgage.

- This mortgage can go up to 98% loan to value.
- A minimum £10,000 deposit is needed but this can be gifted from friends or family
- Maximum loan of £500k
- Only for employed applicants
- Not available for flats or new builds at present

19/12/2025

How will the base rate cut affect your mortgage?

If you are already on a fixed rate then there will be no change to your rate.

If you have an application in progress then I will be monitoring rates for you. However, the banks price their fixed rates according to swap rates rather than the Bank of England rate. The markets had predicted this cut and so it was already priced into the current fixed rates on offer. Therefore, we haven't seen any fixed rate adjustments really since the cut yesterday.

If you are on a tracker or applying for a tracker mortgage then your rate will fall by 0.25% in line with the decrease.

If you are on a discount rate then the bank may pass on the full 0.25% cut by decreasing their standard variable rate but they are not obligated too. Some decrease by a smaller margin and your rate will fall in line with the amount your individual bank cuts their SVR by.

If you have any questions you can reach me on [email protected]

25/11/2025

Speculation is rife about what may be in the budget this week – or may have already been announced by the time you see this – but the questions I’ll be looking for an answer to are…

❓Will Stamp Duty be restructured? Rumours suggest it could become either a tax paid by the seller, or replaced with an annual property tax instead.

❓Will Capital Gains Tax be changed? Speculation suggests owners of higher value homes could be subject to adjustments, especially those with properties worth over £1m.

❓Will Council Tax be reformed? Discussions are rumbling along around changing the system to be based on actual values rather than the bands that are currently used.

None of this is set in stone until the Chancellor stands up and reveals the details of the Government’s plans, but if you’ve got or need a mortgage right now, what’s going to make the biggest difference to you?

19/11/2025

Being energy efficient isn’t just good for the planet, it may save you money on your mortgage too…

Mortgage lenders are encouraging homeowners to invest in energy improvements to their properties by offering a few products that could save you money.

Some lenders offer lower rates for properties that have an A or B energy rating.

Some offer up to £10,000 cashback for clients to spend on improving energy efficiency of their property more energy efficient. The initial interest rate is slightly higher than a standard mortgage, but it may mean you can do necessary work immediately without having to borrow more in the future or delaying while you save up the funds.

And some lenders offer further advances for energy efficiency upgrades on an initial 0% rate for 2 or 5 years for loans from £5k - £20k.

So, if you’re thinking of borrowing for energy-efficient improvements, talk to a mortgage adviser to see if you are eligible for any of the lender schemes.

03/11/2025

Sometimes Monday's can be tough, but then something like this happens and you know the world's still full of magic.

21/10/2025

Struggling to get a deposit together to buy your next home? You may have more options than you realise…

If your dream of home ownership is being hindered by a lack of deposit, then don’t despair!

There are lenders out there who offer specialist schemes which may be able to help you achieve your goal, including:

- Lenders who will accept a personal loan as a deposit (subject to overall affordability)

- Lenders who will lend at 100% if you can show a 12-month history of paying rent on time

- Lenders who could put a 20% charge on your parents’ property as security and then lend at 100%. The parents can also be on the mortgage for affordability, but won’t be on the deeds. That means the extra income can be used, and the term is based on the younger applicant’s age.

If this is something you’re trying to navigate, speak to an adviser to see if there’s a solution out there that could work for you.

07/10/2025

Big thanks to Convey buddy for my champers this week. Always nice to get a surprise when the postman knocks with something other than a bill!

06/10/2025

Important information for self-employed people looking for a mortgage...

From today (Monday, 6 October), most lenders will no longer accept your 2023-24 tax calculations as the latest year because they are more than 18 months old.

Although the deadline for submitting your 2024-25 tax calculation to HMRC isn’t until the end of January 2026, if you are looking for a mortgage before then, you will need to get your 2024-25 return finalised to be able to provide your most recent tax calculation and tax overview (SA302).

This applies to mortgages AND remortgages.

If you're not sure about where this leaves you at the moment, make sure you speak to a mortgage advisor so they can point you in the right direction!

17/09/2025

Why on earth would anyone ever choose to pay more of their mortgage than they need to?

Well, because even paying small additional amounts on a regular basis can take a surprisingly big chunk out of your mortgage.

For example, if you have a £150,000 mortgage at 4.5% over 25 years:

Overpaying £100 more than you are due to each month would save roughly £20,000 in interest over the 25-year period, and bring your term to an end 4 years and 5 months earlier.

Even paying just £50 a month extra on top of your rate would save you over £11,000 and cut 2 years and 5 months off your term - that’s not bad for money you could easily lose track of otherwise.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind before you make an overpayment:

1. Check your lender's rules before you pay any extra – the last thing you want to do is incur a fee for overpaying too much.

2. Many fixed-rate mortgages allow you to pay up to 10% of the total balance due each year, without a fee.

3. Some variable-rate mortgages offer more flexible options still.

If you’re in a position to make mortgage overpayments, speak to your lender or a mortgage adviser to make sure it’s the right choice for you.

04/09/2025

The idea that university students could get a mortgage while they’re studying might seem far-fetched, but it’s more feasible than you think.

‘Buy for Uni’ mortgages enable students to own a property in their sole name, through a mortgage taken out jointly with their parent(s).

Up to 100% of the property value can be borrowed, but if you’re borrowing over 80% of the property’s value, a charge needs to be put against the parent’s property as security.

Affordability for the mortgage is calculated using potential rental income from the other rooms in the property, alongside parents' income.

While most people don’t know these mortgages exist, they’ve been available for nearly a decade.

So, if you’ve got a child at uni, or you’re expecting to have one starting there next year, speak to an adviser to find out more and see if you could qualify.

21/08/2025

I'm always so thankful when clients take the time to leave me a lovely review - thanks, Eamonn!

★★★★★ "Helen was a huge help with my mortgage. She supported me through the process of securing additional borrowing, took care of everything and made the process so easy. Helen was professional, friendly, and always quick to respond to any questions. She kept things clear and straightforw...

14/08/2025

Honestly, you go on holiday for a week, and the UK mortgage landscape does its thing to keep me on my toes now I’m back!

Here are a couple of things that may impact you…

1. The Bank of England cut the base interest rate to 4 % (7 August 2025)

The Bank of England reduced its main rate from 4.25 % to 4 %, marking the fifth reduction since mid‑2024, and putting it at its lowest level since spring 2023. For you, this could mean:

• Tracker mortgage holders: Your interest falls almost immediately. Think around £15–£30 less a month for every £100,000 of mortgage.

• Standard Variable Rate (SVR) borrowers: You’ll see a dip too, but less predictable, as it depends on your lender.

• Fixed-rate borrowers: Your payments stay the same until your deal ends, but when it does, cheaper options are likely if this trend continues. Lots of borrowers are watching and waiting.

A growing number of lenders have already dropped fixed-rate offers under 4 %, as they geared up for the base rate move.

2. Two-year fixed-rate mortgages are now cheaper than five-year ones

For the first time since 2022, the average two‑year fixed mortgage rate has slipped just below the five‑year rate: 5.00 % vs 5.01 %.

Why this matters: Shorter terms are now slightly more affordable than longer ones, a shift back to the norm, and helpful if your current deal ends soon and you’re weighing options.

These are both positive bits of news, and it’s definitely worth talking to a mortgage adviser for more info if you need to understand it in more detail!

Beachside restaurant pic courtesy of my daughter!