Fowler Smith Mortgages & Protection

09/09/2026

Got a bit of spare cash and wondering whether to throw it at the mortgage? One of the most common questions we get, and the honest answer is: it depends. 💷

First, the how.

Many mortgages let you overpay a set amount each year without penalty, often up to 10%, but the limit, how it's worked out and when it resets all vary. Go over it during an early repayment charge period and you could trigger a charge, so check your mortgage offer first.

Now the trickier bit, whether you 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱...

👉 Overpaying cuts the interest you pay overall, and depending on how your lender applies it, can either shorten your term or lower your payments. On a big balance, that adds up fast.

👉 But if it leaves you with no emergency fund, it's probably not the right move. Cash you've overpaid isn't always easy to get back.

👉 Got more expensive debt like cards or loans? Clearing that usually comes first.

There's no universal right answer here. It comes down to your rate, your safety net, and what else that money could be doing.

Worth a think before your next payday. 🙂



Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

08/09/2026

Bought at auction, or thinking about it?

Here's the question that matters more than the hammer price: what's your exit? 🔨

It's easy to fixate on getting finance in place fast.

Short-term finance can move quickly when a tight deadline's looming (often around 28 days). Always check the legal pack; it's set by the contract, not a fixed rule. Also remember, that's the bridge, not the destination.

The real plan is what comes next: refinancing onto a longer-term mortgage once the property's in a mortgageable state. For a lot of investors, that means moving onto a buy-to-let, or a Limited Company buy-to-let, once any refurb work's done and the numbers stack up.

Map that exit out before you bid, and the whole thing gets far less stressful and a lot more predictable. Go in without one, and even a great buy can turn into a headache.

Eyeing up an auction lot?

Talk to us early. We'll help you plan the finance and, just as importantly, the way out.

www.fowlersmith.co.uk/contact



Bridging and development finance are arranged via referral to specialist third-party providers. Some buy-to-let mortgages are not regulated by the FCA.

04/09/2026

Barclays launches fast-track remortgage service:

Barclays has launched a fast-track remortgage service which will provide eligible customers with a mortgage offer within 24 hours.

03/09/2026

About to apply for a mortgage? A few small slip-ups in the run-up can trip up an application, and most people have no idea they're doing them. 🏡

Here are the big ones to avoid.

If you're unsure, just ask us!

02/09/2026

"I'm single with no kids, so I don't need protection."

We hear it a lot, but it usually isn't quite true. 🤔

Protection isn't only about leaving money behind for a family. Being single just changes what's worth looking at.

Start with the risk that actually affects you: what happens to your income if illness or injury stops you working?

👉 Statutory sick pay and any employer cover only stretch so far, but the rent or mortgage keeps coming.

👉 Income protection can replace part of your earnings (often around half to two-thirds) after a set waiting period, if you can't work. That's usually the one that matters most when no one else depends on you.

Life cover can still be worth having, but for specific reasons rather than by default, for example:

👉 You've got a joint mortgage, or someone's guaranteed your borrowing (those debts can pass to them).

👉 Someone would genuinely be worse off financially if you weren't around.

👉 You simply want to leave something behind.

What you'll pay depends on your age, health, whether you smoke, your job and the cover you choose. So the only way to really know is a proper look rather than a guess.

If you've never looked at it because you assumed it wasn't for you, it might be worth a quick chat.

www.fowlersmith.co.uk/contact



As with all insurance policies, terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

02/09/2026

HSBC cuts mortgage rates by up to 0.11%

HSBC UK has reduced rates across its mortgage range by up to 0.11%, with the changes taking effect from today.

01/09/2026

Freehold or leasehold? It's one of the easiest things to skim past when you're buying, and one of the most important to actually get your head around. 🏡

The two aren't just legal jargon. They change what you own, what you pay, and sometimes how easily you'll sell later on.

Swipe through for the plain-English version: what each one really means, the costs that catch people out, and why a shorter lease can affect the cost, whether you can mortgage it, and how easily you'll sell.

Any questions about how it affects your mortgage, we're always happy to help.



Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

25/08/2026

Your fixed deal has an end date. Do you know what actually happens when it arrives? 🤔

For many homeowners, it's a bit of a mystery until the letter lands, and suddenly there's a decision to make.

Swipe through to see how the remortgage process actually works, start to finish.

Coming up to the end of your deal? Let's have a look at your options together.

https://www.fowlersmith.co.uk/contact



Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

24/08/2026

We spend a lot of time building the life we want, a home, a family, a career.

But how many of us spend the same amount of time thinking about what would happen to all of that if something went wrong? 🤔

Protection, life insurance, critical illness cover and income protection aren't the most exciting part of financial planning. But it's the part that holds everything else together.

We've put together a plain-English guide covering:

📌 What each type of protection actually covers, and pays out for

📌 The gap most people don't see until it's too late

📌 Why it's almost always more affordable than people expect

📌 When to review your cover as life changes

Have a read here:

https://www.fowlersmith.co.uk/post/protection-insurance-should-be-a-key-part-of-your-financial-planning

If it raises any questions, we're just a message away.



Protection products are subject to terms and conditions. Always ensure any policy meets your individual needs.

20/08/2026

If you've got clients running their business through a limited company, you'll know their income doesn't look like a standard payslip, and that's exactly where most high street lenders start to struggle.

Salary plus dividends. Retained profits are left in the business for growth. Directors who pay themselves modestly for tax efficiency but are, in reality, comfortably well-off.

A mainstream lender working from a rigid template can easily undervalue all of that, and a client who's perfectly mortgageable ends up being told no.

A specialist broker looks at the full picture instead:

📊 How the business actually performs, not just what's drawn as salary

📊 Which lenders will consider retained profits or net profit before dividends

📊 How to present a case so it reflects the client's real financial position

For your Ltd Company clients, that difference can be the gap between a declined application and an approved one, and for you, it means referring with confidence rather than crossing your fingers.

If you'd like a straightforward point of contact for these cases, we'd be glad to work with you.

https://www.fowlersmith.co.uk/mortgages