DS Financial

DS Financial Mortgage Broker & Protection Insurance Specialists

09/03/2026

Mortgage rates are rising again. Here’s why it’s happening and what it could mean for your monthly payments if you’re buying or remortgaging.






housebuying
mortgagetips

04/03/2026

If you own your home in your sole name, would the person you want to leave it to actually get it?

In this video I explain three simple things every homeowner should check: life cover to clear the mortgage, making sure the policy is written in trust, and having a valid will.
Many people also don’t realise that if you are not married, your partner does not automatically inherit your home under UK law.

Worth checking you’ve got these three things sorted.





03/03/2026

Can you remortgage and release equity for anything?

Not quite.

Here are the most common acceptable and unacceptable reasons lenders look at, including business use and debt consolidation.

Remember:
�Securing unsecured debt against your home may increase the total amount repaid and puts your home at risk if payments aren’t maintained.

Always understand the long term impact before raising funds.

homeowners propertyeducation

02/03/2026

Top 10 places for first time buyers to buy in the UK in 2026.

These areas are seeing the highest percentage of first time buyer activity right now, based on where new buyers are actually purchasing.

If you are trying to get on the property ladder this year, location choice matters more than most people realise.

02/03/2026

Where does the UK government actually spend the 1.23 trillion they collect in taxes? First, you should know that even that record amount isn’t enough to cover the outgoings.

To keep the lights on, they have to raise another 138 billion this year just to bridge the gap.

We are currently spending more on debt interest than we are on the entire education system. Is this sustainable or are we looking at a permanent fiscal shortfall?

03/02/2026

Santander are calling this a 98% mortgage for first-time buyers.
But once you look at the numbers, it’s not quite that simple.

The headline works at higher purchase prices, but for a lot of buyers the real loan to value is lower because of the £10,000 minimum deposit.

This isn’t a bad product, but it’s a good example of why you should always look past the headline and understand the maths before getting excited.

Mortgage education only. Always get advice.

03/02/2026

How much tax do we really pay in the UK?

This looks at income tax, National Insurance, VAT and other indirect taxes using official data from the OECD, ONS and HMRC.

Part 2 shows where the UK ranks globally and where the tax money actually goes.

29/01/2026

Work in construction and paid under CIS? This could make a huge difference to how much you can borrow.

Most lenders look at the wrong income figure for CIS workers, which often means smaller mortgages than you should qualify for. But some lenders assess CIS very differently and it can change everything.

If you’re self-employed under CIS and thinking about buying or moving, this is worth watching before you apply.

29/01/2026

Most people think their credit file only matters when getting a mortgage.
It doesn’t.

Your credit report is checked for car finance, personal loans, mobile phone contracts and more. And if something’s wrong on there, you usually only find out when it’s too late.

Late payments, defaults, CCJs or old accounts still showing as open can mean higher interest rates or straight-up declines. Often without you realising why.
That’s why checking your credit file regularly actually makes sense, not just when you’re buying a home.

One important thing most people miss: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion don’t always show the same information. If you’re checking your credit, you want to see all of it, not just part of the picture.

I explain why in this video.

Comment “credit” if you’ve ever been surprised by something on your report

Save this so you remember to check yours later

Follow for straight-talking money and mortgage info

creditfile mortgageadvice personalfinance firsttimebuyer carfinance loans financialhealth

28/01/2026

NatWest have officially joined the 6x income club.

Big headlines, big numbers but it’s not as simple as it sounds.

NatWest now at 6x income
Barclays at 6x
Nationwide Helping Hand
HSBC up to 6.5x
Metro Bank for professionals
Perenna using long term fixes to push affordability

Banks still deduct things like car finance, loans and childcare before applying these multiples.

If you want to see what you could actually borrow, check the lenders’ calculators or speak to a good mortgage broker.

Link in bio.

affordability homebuyers

27/01/2026

Leaseholders – this is BIG news (but let’s be clear about what it actually means).
The government plans to cap ground rent at £250 a year in England and Wales.
If you’re paying more than that, the intention is your ground rent would come down.

Why this matters:

High and doubling ground rents have caused massive problems for years.
Flats harder to sell.

Mortgage lenders saying no.
Expensive lease extensions and freehold purchases.
This change reduces the risk for buyers and gives lenders more confidence to lend.
It’s a big step towards fixing toxic leases.

BUT… this isn’t law yet.
It still has to go through Parliament and that means time.
Think years, not months.

Ground rent can’t just be scrapped overnight because it’s written into long legal contracts.

So the plan is to cap it first, then phase it out to a peppercorn over time.

Bottom line:
Lower costs.
Fewer mortgage and selling issues.
And clear confirmation that ground rent is on the way out.
Save this if you own a leasehold or are thinking of buying a flat.

Address

49 Station Road
Polegate
BN266EA

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+443302233310

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when DS Financial posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to DS Financial:

Shortcuts

Share

Category