Home Buying With Ease

15/10/2026

Weaker demand for fixer-upper homes
Research suggests that many buyers’ priorities have shifted, as they no longer look for properties requiring major renovation.

A survey found that 53% of buyers would not take on a property that needed major work. Meanwhile, only 6% said they would actively look for a property that needs renovation. Some (41%) buyers were willing to consider taking on a project, provided that the asking price was reflective of the work that was required.

First-time buyers (FTBs) have traditionally been attracted to fixer-upper properties because they offer a way to buy in a preferred location at a lower price. According to Nationwide, this is because it can enable new homeowners to buy in their preferred location and shape the home to their own taste. However, the survey by LRG indicates that FTB behaviour is changing, with only 5% saying they would seek out a home that needs renovating. The typical renovation project costs £85,000 or more, with 75% of FTBs carrying out more DIY on their new home than expected. The findings suggest that buyers may still be willing to renovate but are increasingly looking for the purchase price to reflect the cost and effort involved.

We can help you – get in touch for mortgage advice.

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

Sources:
https://thenegotiator.co.uk/news/uk-housing-market-news/no-desire-for-doer-uppers-as-buyers-seek-certainty/
https://thepropertyai.co.uk/property-news/buyers-turn-away-from-renovation-projects-lrg-survey-finds?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Photo by Roselyn Tirado on Unsplash

A survey by LRG finds most UK buyers are avoiding major renovation projects, with only 6% actively seeking doer-uppers and first-time buyers showing even less interest.

13/10/2026

Getting the price right

Thinking of putting your house on the market? Getting the asking price right is essential to attracting a buyer. Here are some things to consider.

Market update
It was a slow summer for the housing market, as affordability pressures took their toll on buyer confidence. The number of sales agreed fell annually by 9% in July, according to Zoopla. This is likely due to raised mortgage rates, which have added about £125 to monthly repayments for the typical buyer. Although the short-term outlook is uncertain, there is hope for sellers, as homes that are priced appropriately still have a chance of getting a buyer.

A buyer’s market
Buyers currently have a lot of choice; the number of available homes increased in eight out of 11 regions when compared with last year. This has given buyers greater negotiating power, so sellers need to price competitively.

Common pitfalls
In current market conditions, it is risky to be overly ambitious with your pricing. You should therefore do your market research and decide a price based on recent sold prices, rather than focusing on advertised asking prices.

It may be tempting to go for a high asking price knowing that you can adjust it later. But this approach will likely take you longer to sell. In July, 30% of homes that had been on the market since quarter two were still unsold, without any price reduction. But research from Savills shows that a seller who gets the price right from the outset can achieve an agreed sale within 28 days. However, if there is one price cut, it could take over three months to receive an offer. This time could extend to nearly five and a half months if there are two price adjustments.

Know your area
While it’s useful to know what is going on in national markets, it’s essential to understand the conditions in your area. 76% of local markets recorded a fall in agreed sales between May and July; however, about a quarter of areas saw stable or increasing activity during that time. For example, Warrington, Hull and Dundee have experienced strong house price growth and a rise in sales. Meanwhile, Bath, Oxford and Harrow have recorded a slowdown in sales and weakening price growth. You should therefore speak to a few local estate agents to get their advice on a reasonable price for your property type in your own area.

Seek advice
If you’re looking to move home this autumn, get in touch with us. We can help you ascertain what you can reasonably afford, so you can enter your property search in the best possible position.

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

Sources:
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/property-news/is-now-a-good-time-to-sell-your-house-heres-what-really-matters-in-2026/
https://www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/property-news/house-price-index/
https://www.ft.com/content/24a8adf9-8103-44b3-92e8-350ef897dc2a?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Photo by Daniil Korbut on Unsplash

Pitching too high can disproportionately lengthen the time it takes to agree a sale

15/08/2026

31/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 8 #

Self-employed people can't get mortgages

Not true. While self-employed people don’t have access to documents such as payslips to prove their income, they can still provide evidence of their income to support a mortgage application.

A self-employed person can access alternative types of documents to prove their income. For example:

If they have an Accountant, lenders may consider asking for an Accountants certificate to show the income and trading figures for their business.
Alternatively they could produce a form called an SA302, a brief summary of the income that you’ve reported to the HMRC after you’ve submitted your self-assessment tax return.
So while the process might be different than it would be if you were in regular employment, it’s not impossible.

29/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 7 #

You can only get a mortgage if you can pay a big deposit

While lenders will ask for a deposit when you buy a property, some may ask for just a small percentage of the purchase price, sometimes as little as 5%.

Yes, paying a larger deposit would mean you don’t need to borrow as much money, and you could be offered a lower rate of interest. But if you can’t pay a big deposit, that doesn’t mean your mortgage application will be rejected.

26/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 6 #

You can't change mortgage lenders

You can. Even if you’ve taken out a mortgage that lasts for decades, you’re not obliged to stick with the same lender. You can remortgage your property so you can pay off the original lender and move to a new company and potentially take advantage of more favourable rates . It should be worth noting that if you have a product rate that lasts for a certain length of time, there may be early repayment charges.

23/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 5 #

a personal loan can help if you're struggling to get a deposit

If you’re struggling to save up for a deposit, it could be tempting to borrow some money. But that doesn’t always play well with mortgage lenders, as you’ll be paying off two big loans and they might legitimately wonder if you’re able to meet your financial obligations.

We should stress, however, that this doesn’t apply to gifts, for instance if your parents have given you money to put towards a deposit, as you’re not always expected to pay that back. Nevertheless, you should let your lender know the source of this money, as it’s always good to be open and transparent.

20/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 4 #

mortgage brokers are a more costly option

Another myth. Mortgage brokers actually have access to a wider selection of options than banks, who are limited only to the specific mortgage products they offer.

So there’s every chance you could actually get a better deal by working with an independent mortgage adviser.

15/05/2026

Mortgage Myth 3 #

mortgage brokers don't offer the same financial protection as banks

Not true. Mortgage brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) just like banks. That means you can be sure brokers have the expertise to advise you, and that you can go through a proper complaints process if you’re unhappy with the service they offer.

12/05/2026

Mortgage Myth #2

Every mortgage is the same

On the face of it, all mortgages are the same as they're all loans you can use to either buy or refinance a property, so you could lose your home if you don't keep up with the repayments.

But that's a very simplistic summary of what mortgages are, as there are many different types on offer. For example, a tracker mortgage changes in line with interest rates set by the Bank of England, while a fixed rate mortgage offers set monthly payments for a specific period of time.

Or you could be on a standard variable rate mortgage, which can change in line with market conditions, or an interest-only mortgage, where your monthly payments only cover the interest on the sum you borrowed.

Since there are so many different types of mortgage on offer, it’s worth getting financial advice from an expert in this area. This way you can find the home loan that best suits you and your circumstances.