Mortgage guides
Everything on What If Guides about buying a home and living with a mortgage, set out in the order most people need it: from working out what you could borrow, through buying, to what happens when a deal ends.
Each guide answers its question in the first paragraph, links to GOV.UK and MoneyHelper for figures that change, and shows when it was last reviewed. The calculators run in your browser and nothing you enter is stored.
01
Before you buy
How mortgages work and what you might be able to borrow.
- What if I'm taking out a mortgage?How UK mortgages, rates and deal endings workRead the guide
- What if I want to know how much I can borrow?Income multiples, outgoings and what lenders checkRead the guide
- What if I'm saving for a deposit?Deposits, loan to value and other upfront costsRead the guide
- What if I want to know what I could borrow?Agreements in principle, credit checks and what happens nextRead the guide
02
Buying your home
The steps, the costs and protecting the commitment.
- What if I'm buying my first home?The steps, costs and Stamp Duty for first-time buyersRead the guide
- What if I have to pay Stamp Duty?Rates, first-time buyer relief and additional propertiesRead the guide
- What if I couldn't pay the mortgage?Life, critical illness, income and payment protection comparedRead the guide
- What if we've just bought a home?Financial considerations for new homeownersRead the guide
03
Once you have a mortgage
Deal endings, switching and paying it off sooner.
- What if my fixed rate is ending?The standard variable rate, your options and a timelineRead the guide
- What if I could get a better mortgage deal?Remortgages, product transfers, fees and timingRead the guide
- What if I paid off my mortgage faster?Overpayment allowances, interest savings and alternativesRead the guide
- What if I move during my mortgage deal?Portable mortgages, early repayment charges and borrowing moreRead the guide
04
Buying together, or with a smaller budget
Joint mortgages, ownership choices and buying a share.
05
Your situation
When proving income works differently, or an application is turned down.
Calculators
Free, educational estimates that run in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored.
- Mortgage CalculatorWork out the mortgage you would need, your loan to value, a monthly payment and what happens if rates rise.
- Mortgage Borrowing CalculatorGet a rough range for how much you might be able to borrow, and the price range that means with your deposit.
- Stamp Duty CalculatorWork out Stamp Duty in England and Northern Ireland, including first-time buyer relief and additional property rates.
- Mortgage Overpayment CalculatorSee how much interest a monthly overpayment or lump sum could save, and how much sooner the mortgage could end.
Looking for something else? Browse all guides.