Kevin McCarthy - Mortgage and Protection Adviser

30/05/2026

✨FIRST HOMES FUND ✨

Struggling to get a deposit for your first home??

Some exciting news from the Scottish Government who have announced they will be relaunching the First Home Fund at the end of June. This was an incredibly popular scheme a few years ago and many of our clients were able to secure their first home using it 💥

Here’s some initial information we know so far:

✅ Upto £10,000 shared-equity contribution towards your deposit

✅ Open to first-time buyers right across Scotland

✅ Property value is capped at £300,000

✅ The Scottish Government takes a proportional equity share (repaid when you sell the property or buy them out)

As always, any mortgage application will still be subject to affordability, property criteria and credit checks.

If you’re aiming to buy in 2026, this could be a key opportunity to help make it happen.

Read more about it below and contact us today to book in with one of our mortgage advisers 👌

https://www.gov.scot/news/first-homes-fund-open-by-end-of-june

📞Call us on 01355 206860 to book an appointment 📅

50,000 first-time buyers supported in this parliament.

22/04/2026

Hello👋👋👋

Lots happening in the mortgage world just now with lenders reviewing their products on a regular basis, so I have given a brief overview in my advice column of how things are looking🤔

Have a wee read and if you’re worried or uncertain about what to do, whether it be looking at new deal for your mortgage or buying/selling a property, just drop us a message or call in on 01355 457734😊

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/advice-column-lanarkshire-expert-state-37005554?fbclid=IwRlRTSARLB6xleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeQeJEGlgleBjS0eg1fa8vhzAG7Jknu6m3uhMh6UK11YXQH3gVGLW5VX-26ic_aem_L1ahShEX-bECm0evE2-4Jw

Due to the conflict in the Middle East recently, there has been significant changes daily in interest rates which has saw the average deals available with UK Lenders rise into the mid 5% mark.

01/04/2026

Hello👋👋👋

It’s been ages since I’ve posted because it’s been sooooo busy the first 3 months of the year, especially the last few weeks!🤪

Rates are creeping up due to the what’s going on in the world so if you’re deal is due this year, you should think about looking at your options sooner rather than later!🧐

April is here already, can you believe it!?🫣

Thanks for the continued support and got myself a new haircut…Turkey is always nice at this time of year😂😂😂

14/02/2026

Mortgages. Football. Tactics. Sweaty socks. There’s nothing I can’t do😂

Lucky to meet some actual professional footballers and give my boys some good hints and tips!⚽️⚽️⚽️

06/02/2026

Hello and Happy New Year (I know it’s late😂)

It’s been an incredibly busy start to the year with lots of enquiries, especially from first time buyers, but also from people who are due to review their mortgage for the first time🧐

So my first advice column this year gives an overview of the whole mortgage process🏡

Hope you find it useful😊

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/advice-column-lanarkshire-mortgage-expert-36648434?fbclid=IwZnRzaAPynqNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEe-jceqD3bFlJiipC_spgbj5pzlchVPRhGxeLF4J5X2VXpQ-ql-TxYx0_ZhAU_aem_TNaMihMpTV1wfkBdj8FFXQ

Most people Kevin speaks to have limited or no knowledge of what’s involved in getting a mortgage, and the steps an adviser will take to ensure everything runs smoothly.

24/12/2025

🎄Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!🎄

I would like to thank all our clients for making this year such a memorable and enjoyable year🙌🏼

Once again we’ve helped so many people in all sorts of scenarios over the year - I’m proud to say we do our absolute best with every case, every single time😊

Taking some time off now but will back raring to go in January😎

Have a good one and all the best!🥳

Ho Ho Ho!🎅🏻🎅🏻🎅🏻

03/12/2025

Hi everyone👋

Happy to share my latest advice column, in this one I talk about some simple things you can do to get ready for applying for a mortgage - have a wee read!😊

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/advice-column-lanarkshire-mortgage-expert-36331254

The countdown is well and truly on for the festive period, however you may already be looking ahead to the New Year and thinking about looking for a mortgage in the coming months.

01/10/2025

Hello there!👋👋👋

Over the last couple of months, we’ve had a large number of enquiries about the same issue, lack of, or no, deposit😏

But there are options out there!

🏠Here’s my monthly column giving some guidance on low deposit mortgages for first time buyers.

📰A must read.

📞If you'd like to chat about your mortgage, give us a call on 01355 457734

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/advice-column-lanarkshire-mortgage-expert-35965998?fbclid=IwY2xjawNJ1JBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHlEJKPTNai-57jQMBARYgYoRGG_VLIi4tvaW2bAtkKkLh35Y_I7NYfKBFTdo_aem_ocdwITscZGf1BqsDCiv2QQ

A handful of lenders available allow First Time Buyers to purchase a property with as little as 1% deposit.

10/09/2025

What a throwback!😎🤩☺️

I boldly contacted East Kilbride News years ago to explain how I could try and help local people understand more about the mortgage process and its in’s and out’s……5 years later I’m still writing these!!😊

What started off as a wee one off has become a regular monthly advice column and is now being published by the Daily Record itself and lots of local publications, across West/Central Scotland, hopefully it’s actually helped a few folk over the years!😊

If there’s anything specifically you want to know or write about in the mortgage world just let me know!🤓

Thanks for everyone’s support over the years with the likes, comments, shares and of course referrals, it’s greatly appreciated😬🙌🏼

5 years, madness!🤪

Delighted to share my first article which has appeared this week in my local paper, the East Kilbride News.

Hoping to make it a regular column and help people understand mortgages and the process a bit better! Have a read!😊😬🏘

27/08/2025

Hello folks, new advice column live now, all about reviewing your mortgage options, have a wee read!😊

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/advice-column-lanarkshire-expert-reviewing-35770959?fbclid=IwZnRzaAMbqfVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHuKs5doC_7tnIeuyWg9yRNUIbbIqjPHhdl2OvvdaVa2OGGx8TBpt0Q02dmQD_aem_k0dgj_7FjODbCK6TZMlYIA

This time of year traditionally sees a lot of people looking at reviewing their mortgage options as their current mortgage deal is coming to an end.