Dewar & Partners Mortgage & Insurance Advisers

06/09/2026

At least every 75 seconds, someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer.

It’s a statistic that puts into perspective just how many families are affected by cancer every day.

When somebody receives a serious diagnosis, having access to the right specialists and the right treatment options can be incredibly important.

Aviva Global Treatment is an additional benefit available with certain Aviva protection policies, providing eligible customers with access to expert medical treatment overseas for certain serious illnesses, including cancer, where appropriate.

It means that if you ever face a serious illness, your treatment options may not necessarily be limited to those available here in the UK.

If you already have an Aviva protection policy and would like to know whether Global Treatment is included, or you would simply like to understand more about the cover available, please get in touch.

05/09/2026

Could buying your first home be more achievable than you think?

A lot of first-time buyers assume they either will not be able to borrow enough or will need a much bigger deposit than they actually do.

Here is one simple example:

• £40,000 income
• £218,500 mortgage
• £230,000 purchase price
• £11,500 deposit
• 35-year term

That is just a 5% deposit.

Some lenders are currently offering higher income multiples and products for buyers with smaller deposits, which can make a real difference to what is possible.

And the £40,000 income does not necessarily need to come from one person. It could be a single applicant or the combined income of two applicants.

If you have assumed homeownership is out of reach because of your income or deposit, it is worth checking properly before ruling yourself out.

The amount you can borrow will depend on your own circumstances, commitments, credit history, mortgage term and lender affordability.

If you are a first-time buyer and want to know what you could realistically borrow and how much deposit you may need, send us a message.

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

A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.

04/09/2026

Coming off a low fixed rate can be a shock.
A mortgage that felt comfortable at 1.5% can look very different when the next deal is closer to
4.5%.
In this example:
£200,000 mortgage
25 years remaining
At 1.5% — around £800 a month
At 4.5% — around £1,110 a month
That is roughly £310 more every month — without borrowing any extra.
If your current fixed rate is ending in the next few months, it makes sense to review your options
early rather than wait until the last minute.
Depending on your circumstances, that could mean a new deal with your existing lender, a
remortgage elsewhere, or simply understanding what your future payment is likely to be so you
can plan for it.
The figures shown are illustrative only and actual payments will depend on the mortgage
amount, term, rate and repayment basis.
A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your
circumstances.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

03/09/2026

If you have a mortgage then you really should be thinking about protecting it with life insurance.

02/09/2026

The kids have been back at school in Scotland for a couple of weeks now, and routines are starting to settle down again.

New term, new timetable, new costs — uniforms, clubs, childcare, school trips and everything else that comes with family life.

But while we plan for all of that, it is worth thinking about the income that pays for it.

Life Cover
Would your family be able to maintain their home and lifestyle if you died?

Critical Illness Cover
Would you have enough financial support if you were diagnosed with a covered serious illness?

Income Protection
If illness or injury stopped you working, how would you continue paying the household bills?

Your income helps provide the home, opportunities and lifestyle your family relies on.

So while the school bags are packed and everyone gets back into routine, it is a good time to make sure your protection is still doing the job you need it to do.

If you have not reviewed your cover for a while, get in touch and we can look at what you already have in place and whether it still suits your circumstances.

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

The Scottish Borders remains one of the more affordable property markets when compared with many other parts of the country — but the latest figures show that growth has clearly cooled.

According to Zoopla’s July 2026 House Price Index, property prices in the Scottish Borders increased by 1.4% over the past year, adding around £2,700 to the value of the typical home.

The average property price now sits at £197,800, which remains well below the UK average of £272,800.

Terraced homes have performed strongest over the past year, with values up 5.2%, while detached and semi-detached homes have seen a fall of 1%.

For buyers, this reinforces the importance of understanding affordability properly before making a move. For homeowners, it shows that the local market is still holding up, but performance is now more varied depending on property type.

Source: Zoopla House Price Index, July 2026

Office. 01896 758081
WhatsApp. 07980 572 443
Email. [email protected]

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

A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.

31/08/2026

There’s nothing better than hearing that we’ve helped make what can be a stressful process feel that little bit easier.

Buying your first home is a huge milestone, and it was a pleasure helping Craig and his partner through the mortgage process and seeing their plans become reality.

Thank you, Craig, for the fantastic review — and congratulations again on your new home.

If you’re thinking about buying your first home and aren’t sure where to start, we’re here to guide you through the process from beginning to end.

Dewar & Partners
Mortgage & Protection Advice



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

A fee may be charged for mortgage advice. The exact amount will depend on your circumstances.

30/08/2026

Got a mortgage or insurance question? Ask us!

Mortgages and insurance can sometimes seem more complicated than they need to be. If there’s something you’re unsure about, send us your question and we’ll answer it.

It could be anything from:

* “How much can I borrow?”
* “Can I get a mortgage with a default?”
* “How much deposit do I need?”
* “What happens when my fixed rate ends?”
* “What does income protection actually cover?”
* “How much life insurance do I need?”

Send your question by comment or private message, and we’ll answer as many as we can in future posts and videos.

Chances are, if you’re wondering about it, somebody else is too.

You ask. We’ll explain.

28/08/2026

SELF-EMPLOYED? WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU CAN’T WORK?

When you work for yourself, your income depends on you being able to do the job.

An illness or injury could stop you working — but it won’t stop the mortgage, household bills, business costs or everyday expenses from coming in.

And if you’re self-employed, there’s no Statutory Sick Pay from an employer to fall back on.

That’s where Income Protection can help.

It can provide a regular income if illness or injury prevents you from working, helping you keep on top of your financial commitments while you recover.

For many self-employed people, their ability to earn is one of their biggest financial assets.

So ask yourself:

If you couldn’t work for the next 6 months, how long would your finances cope?

If you’re self-employed and want to know how Income Protection could help, get in touch.