Guides and calculators
Mortgage, equity release and protection guides
Plain-English guides, answers and calculators from The Mortgage Hive, grouped by what you are trying to do. Read up first, then speak to us about your own circumstances.
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Buying a home
First home or next move
Deposits, affordability, agreements in principle and the buying process, whether it is your first home or your next one.
Guides
- First-time buyer mortgages explainedDeposits, affordability, lender checks and the buying process.
- Mortgage decision in principle explainedWhat a DIP is, what lenders check and why it is not a mortgage offer.
- Gifted deposits and family supportHow family help works and the evidence lenders ask for.
- Home mover mortgages explainedSelling, buying again, timing and moving-home checks.
- Porting your mortgageTaking your current deal with you, or arranging a new one.
- New build mortgagesReservations, incentives, deadlines and lender checks.
- Shared ownership mortgagesPart buy, part rent: how rent and service charges affect affordability.
- Large loan mortgagesHigher-value borrowing, income and what lenders look at.
Deal ending
Switching or borrowing more
Compare staying with your current lender against moving to a new one, and check the costs before you switch or borrow more.
Guides
Buy-to-let
Landlords and investors
Rental calculations, deposits, limited company purchases and the criteria lenders use for landlords.
Guides
Self-employed and complex income
Income that needs explaining
How lenders look at accounts, salary and dividends, day rates, construction income and mixed earnings.
Guides
- Self-employed mortgage guideAccounts, net profit, tax calculations and trading history.
- Newly self-employed mortgagesOptions when your trading history is short.
- Contractor mortgagesDay-rate income, contract history and lender criteria.
- Freelancer mortgagesIrregular project income, contracts and evidence.
- Company director mortgagesSalary, dividends, retained profit and company performance.
- Limited company director mortgagesLimited company income, accounts and how lenders calculate it.
- CIS mortgagesConstruction Industry Scheme income and how lenders assess it.
- Complex income mortgagesBonuses, overtime, dividends and several income streams.
Credit problems
Past credit issues
How lenders view defaults, CCJs, missed payments, debt management plans, IVAs and bankruptcy, and what affects your options.
Guides
- Bad credit mortgagesDefaults, CCJs, missed payments, IVAs and DMPs.
- Default mortgagesHow the date, amount and status of a default matter.
- CCJ mortgagesCounty Court Judgments, deposits and lender criteria.
- Debt management plan mortgagesDMP history, affordability and lender appetite.
- IVA mortgagesMortgage options during or after an IVA.
- Bankruptcy mortgagesDischarge dates, credit history and deposit size.
Key workers
Shift pay and allowances
How shift pay, overtime, allowances and contract types are assessed for NHS staff, teachers, emergency services and other key workers.
Equity release and later life
Equity release, explained clearly
For homeowners aged 55 and over. How lifetime mortgages work, what they cost, how they affect inheritance and benefits, and the alternatives to consider first.
Guides
- Is equity release a good idea?Pros, cons, risks and alternatives for homeowners aged 55 and over.
- How does a lifetime mortgage work?Ownership, interest roll-up, repayments and what happens later.
- How much equity release can I get?Age, property value, health and lender criteria explained.
- Equity release interest ratesFixed and capped rates, what affects them and how interest compounds.
- Equity release costs and feesLender, valuation and legal costs, and the cost of interest over time.
- Is equity release safe?Regulation, safeguards, advice rules and the risks that remain.
- Equity release and inheritanceHow releasing equity may affect your estate and family plans.
- Equity release and benefitsHow it may affect Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits.
- Equity release and care costsPaying for care at home or in a care home, and what to check first.
- Alternatives to equity releaseDownsizing, remortgaging, RIO mortgages, savings and family support.
Your plans and questions
Types of plan and later-life options
Common questions
Protection
Protect your home and family
Life cover, critical illness cover and income protection, and how they fit around your mortgage and family.
Calculators
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Our office is on Wimborne Road in Winton, Bournemouth. We advise clients across Bournemouth, Poole, Christchurch and Dorset, and across the UK by phone and online.
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Equity release advice in Bournemouth and Poole
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Read the guides, then talk it through
Guides explain the options in general. An adviser looks at your income, credit history, property and plans before recommending anything.
- No advice feeLender, valuation and legal costs may apply.
- 100+ lendersAccess to over 100 lenders.
- 5.0 on GoogleFrom 59 Google reviews.
- FCA authorisedFirm reference 844138.
- Equity Release CouncilWe are a member.
- Face to faceAt our Winton office, or by phone and online.
707B Wimborne Road, Winton, Bournemouth BH9 2AU
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