25/10/2026
Rock, paper, scissors, first time buyer edition.
Every losing hand in this post is something I see all the time, and none of it comes from being careless. It’s just what happens when nobody walks you through the order of things before you start.
A few things worth knowing behind the winning hands:
A low rate on a quote is only part of the picture. Fees, the loan type and how long you plan to keep the rate all change what the loan really costs.
View a house first and you could end up disappointed. An agreement in principle means your income and credit have actually been reviewed.
The paperwork gets a lot lighter when you know the whole list up front and send it together. A complete file usually moves faster, and you spend less time answering follow up emails.
Which round would you have lost? Be honest, I won’t judge.
I’m Alex you’re go to mortgage adviser, contact me if you’re at the start of your mortgage journey but, don’t really know where to start 📧☎️
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage