Ready to get on the property ladder but don’t know where to start? Or maybe you’re thinking of moving on from your current home, but aren’t sure how to go about upgrading.
Don’t worry – your friendly Beewise mortgage advisors are here to help! We’re on hand throughout your homebuying process to guide you along the way.
From checking your credit to setting savings goals and getting that all-important mortgage in principle, we’ve got you covered.
With over 330 5 star Google reviews, there’s a reason why clients recommend us! Here’s just some of the ways we help you as standard:
• Accurate borrowing calculations, with maximum lending from the mortgage market
• Securing a mortgage in principle – often within 24 hours of getting your paperwork
• Advice on how much to offer, potentially helping you save thousands!
• Guidance on which mortgage, fixed deal and term suits you best
• Recommending trusted solicitors we’ll chase up regularly for you
• Seeing your mortgage through to completion with help at every step
• Keeping an eye on interest rates, and switching if they reduce
• Evening and weekend support via phone call, text, email or in person
If you’re looking for mortgage help right now, call us on 01934 204 841 or email us to arrange an appointment. Or, read on for our top tips on making that dream home purchase come true!

Have a clear idea of your finances
When it comes to working out how much you can borrow to buy a home, your Beewise mortgage adviser will need details of your income and outgoings.
And, while we’ll collect recent bank statements and go through everything for you, it’s good to know exactly what’s going in and out of your account.
Make sure you know what direct debits you have set up, and clear or cancel anything you don’t need, from gym memberships you never use to old credit cards that are still active.
You’ll also need to work out your deposit fund. If you’re a first time buyer, that could mean adding up your savings, or asking the Bank of Mum and Dad for a few extra pennies.
Bear in mind if you have a Help to Buy ISA, the bonus is paid on completion, so can’t be used towards your deposit fund. If you have a Lifetime ISA it can be included though!
If you’re looking to sell and move, the deposit often comes from equity in your home – the money left over from the sale price once your mortgage and other costs are cleared.
Your local Beewise advisor will calculate this for you, and either way we’ll advise how much you’ll need to put aside for other costs along the way, such as solicitors’ fees, surveys and stamp duty.
The temporary cut in stamp duty ends in April 2025, so we’ll work out both costs for the higher and lower rates, but if you act not you’ll have a better chance of beating the increase!
We’ll also let you know which fees are payable at what stage, so you’ll have a clear idea of the whole process.
Check your credit situation
All lenders will run a credit check on you when taking out a mortgage, so it’s good to get a copy of your credit report before applying for one.
That way, if there are any credit issues – missed payments, defaults or CCJs – you can let your Beewise mortgage advisor know and we’ll find the most suitable lender for you.
Getting your credit report is also a good way to check if you’re registered on the electoral roll at the right address – something that boosts your credit score.
And it’ll also confirm if your address is up to date with companies you’re linked to, such as bank accounts, credit cards and loans, as they’ll need to match on any background checks.
If you’re not sure on how to get hold of a copy of your credit report, ring us on 01934 204 841 for advice, or click here to arrange a call.
Or, for more on managing your money – especially around Christmas and new year – read our helpful post on what does and doesn’t affect your credit.
Discover how much you can borrow to buy a home
This next part is where your local Beewise mortgage advisor steps in! Once you’ve done that groundwork, we’ll give you a clear idea of how much you can get a mortgage for.
We wouldn’t recommend using online calculators as these don’t take into account the bigger financial picture – check out our blog post for more on what lenders look at.
Instead, your Beewise advisor will accurately work out how much you could borrow.
Banks and building societies all calculate affordability in different ways, so the amount you can get towards a mortgage depends from lender to lender.
We’ll compare what’s available to you, making sure to get the maximum borrowing figure from across the mortgage market.
And, we’ll get you a mortgage in principle – your provisional yes from a lender – often within 24 hours of you sending over your paperwork, so you can start viewing houses straight away.
By doing this you’ll know exactly what price range you’re looking at, plus we’ll give you an idea of monthly repayments, so you have a clear idea of your overall budget.
What if I can’t afford my dream home right now?
Getting Beewise to calculate your borrowing power is great as it means you have a clear idea of your current affordability.
But, if your potential mortgage amount and your current deposit don’t quite get you to that dream goal, there are a few options.
The first is to keep saving. Keep track of your spending through a budget planner or spreadsheet, as small purchases here and there can easily add up.
You could also try paying off credit cards or loans as this could potentially give you more borrowing. If this is an option, we'll let you know how much of a difference it would make.
If you’re a first time buyer, another option is to buy anyway! Sometimes we have a fixed idea of what we want our first home to be, but just getting on that property ladder is a great start.
Not only will your monthly payments be clearing off your mortgage and not your landlord’s, if property prices go up, so could the equity in your home.
Plus, your financial situation could change for the better over the next few years, meaning by the time you can afford that dream home, you’ll have even more funds behind you.
Are there ways to borrow more?
Yes, there are plenty of ways to boost your borrowing amount. This could be using a scheme such as shared ownership, or by asking a friend or family member to go on the mortgage.
By adding someone else onto the mortgage, you’ll be increasing the income a lender will consider, meaning you could buy that dream home after all!
Get in touch on 01934 204 841, or click here to arrange a call to chat through your options.
Do I need to sell my home before I start looking?
We get this question a lot from people looking to move home. Essentially no, you don’t have to, but we highly recommend getting yours on the market at least.
Beewise work with local estate agents so can give you recommendations, and having it up for sale puts you in a better position when it comes to making an offer.
If you see a house you love but you don’t have an offer accepted, there’s a chance the seller won’t move forward with your offer, or prioritise an offer from someone in a stronger position.
It’s always better to have a buyer that knows you’re still out looking, than to miss out unnecessarily!
The best way to make 2025 the year you buy your dream home? Contact Beewise
Now you know how invaluable we are when it comes to the home buying process, give us a call and we’ll get you on your journey.
Whether you’re ready to start looking, or want to know what you need to work towards it, we’re here to help.
Your Beewise mortgage broker won’t just save time, money and stress on your mortgage, we’ll help map out your homebuying journey with expert advice every step of the way.
To get in touch, click here or call 01934 204 841. We offer evening and weekend appointments to fit with your lifestyle, plus face-to-face appointments or video calls to suit you.
And we can help if you’re looking to remortgage, whether you just need to save time and money, or want to borrow more towards home improvements or debt consolidation.
Looking for more expert advice? Check out these other helpful blog posts!
Think carefully before securing your debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
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