BoE base rate at 4.25% in May 2026 with cuts expected. Should you fix at ~4.2% for 2 years or track the base rate at ~4.65% and ride cuts down? Full break-even maths on a £250,000 mortgage.
UK conveyancing guide 2026: typical 12–16 week timeline, solicitor fees £1,500–£3,000, searches, exchange vs completion, gazumping, and how to speed up the process.
From exchange of contracts to completion day: what to expect in the final weeks of buying your first home, including building insurance from exchange, the completion statement, booking removals, and final checks.
Shared ownership UK 2026: buying 25–75% of a home, how staircasing works, SDLT on every purchase, service charges, lease extension costs, resale restrictions, and when it actually makes financial sense.
What UK lenders check when assessing how much you can borrow in 2026, how the affordability stress test on a higher rate works, and how debts and childcare reduce your limit.
The typical buy-to-let deposit in 2026, how rental cover (ICR) stress tests cap your loan, and why higher-rate landlords often need a 25% deposit or more.
Work out the right level of life cover for your mortgage, income and dependants in 2026, with the difference between level term, decreasing term and whole-of-life explained.
The real cost difference between interest-only and capital repayment mortgages in 2026, who qualifies for interest-only, and how the repayment vehicle requirement works.
Whether the price premium on UK new-build homes pays off in 2026, weighing warranties, energy efficiency and lower bills against resale value and snagging risks.
How mortgage porting works in 2026, when it saves you early repayment charges, the re-affordability check involved, and when a fresh deal beats taking your old rate with you.
How self-employed and freelance borrowers prove income for a mortgage in 2026, how many years of accounts or SA302s lenders want, and how to maximise your borrowing.
How divorce financial settlements work in England & Wales 2026: pension sharing vs earmarking, clean break orders, the 50/50 myth, CETV calculations, mortgage implications.
