LTV, APR, DTI... it's enough to make your head spin. Let us break it down for you. Dig into our content to learn more about house hunting, first-time buyer mortgages, interest rates and so much more.
Fixed Rate ISAs are a popular choice for savers who want a guaranteed return and tax-free interest. But how many Fixed Rate ISAs can you have? And what happens if you’re a few months into a fix and you find a better rate elsewhere? Here’s everything you need to know about how many Fixed Rate Cash ISAs you can have, and how to make the most of your annual ISA allowance
Read more
Fixed Rate ISAs are a popular choice for savers who want a guaranteed return and tax-free interest. But how many Fixed Rate ISAs can you have? And what happens if you’re a few months into a fix and you find a better rate elsewhere? Here’s everything you need to know about how many Fixed Rate Cash ISAs you can have, and how to make the most of your annual ISA allowance
Read more
If you’d like to buy a house in 2025, the chances are you’ll need a mortgage to buy the home. So how do you get started and what should you expect? In this guide, we’ll cover off exactly how to get a mortgage, from start to finish.
Read more
Knowing how much equity you have in your home can make it easier to plan for the future. So how do you find out how much equity you have and is it worth taking equity out of your home? Find out in this guide.
Read more
If you’re saving for a house, one of the first decisions you’ll probably make is where you’ll put your money. With the right bank account, you can reach your savings goals faster and even pay less tax. But with so many accounts to choose from, including ISAs, LISAs and easy access accounts, what’s the best option for saving for a house?
Read more
Today, 26th March 2025, Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented her first highly anticipated Spring Statement to parliament. If you're a first-time buyer or saving for big life goals, understanding how these changes might affect you is crucial. Here's a breakdown of the key announcements and what they mean for you.
Read more
Today (20th March 2025), the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted to hold the base rate at 4.5%. This was widely expected by the market, with the committee voting 8-1 for the rate to stay at its current level. Now, the next base rate cut isn’t expected until May, with inflation expected to increase off the back of uncertainty in the global markets, the upcoming Spring Statement, supply chain disruptions and other economic factors.
Read more
As of 4th March 2025, we’ve increased the interest rate on our Cash Lifetime ISA and Cash ISA from 4.55% to 4.6% AER (variable). This means not only are our ISA rates above the Bank of England’s base rate, but over 5 years our savers will earn hundreds more in interest vs saving with competitors. If you’ve got a Cash ISA or Lifetime ISA with another provider, this increase could be a welcome change if you’ve seen your current rate drop and are considering switching.
Read more
If you’d like to buy a home and you can’t afford to pay for it in cash, you may need a mortgage. But how do mortgages work? And are mortgages good or bad and what can stop you from getting one? Find out in this guide.
Read more
An Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a type of savings account that lets you save or invest for the future without paying tax on your interest or profits. But how do they actually work and how much can you save in one?
Read more
The age we achieve life’s biggest milestones is changing, with the millennials getting married, having children and buying their first home much later than previous generations. So what age are most first-time buyers and how can you get on the ladder sooner?
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away money for a set period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for a fixed time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike funds saved in a normal savings account.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away a set amount of money for a fixed period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for the set time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike if you saved into a normal savings account.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a savings account where you put away a set amount of money for a fixed period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for the set time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike if you saved into a normal savings account.
Read more
A Fixed Rate ISA is a type of savings account where you put away money for a set period of time, usually 1-3 years. In return for locking away your money, you’ll receive a guaranteed interest rate for a fixed time period. Because it’s an ISA, your interest will also be tax-free, unlike funds saved in a normal savings account.
Read more
If you need a remortgage, it can be tempting to stay with whichever lender you are currently with — especially if you’ve had a mortgage with them for many years. Or if you’re a first-time buyer and you have a savings or current account with your local bank, you might be tempted to go to them when you need a mortgage. But what are the advantages of sticking with the same provider? And does loyalty pay when it comes to mortgage rates?
Read more
Almost 800,000 first-time buyers have used a Help to Buy ISA to buy a home, but over the last few years, many savers have decided to switch these accounts over to newer alternatives, like a Lifetime ISA. If you’re wondering if you should close your Help to Buy ISA or keep paying into it, here’s what you need to know.
Read more
Free-lancing or owning your own business can be an amazing way of earning an income (who doesn't want to be their own boss!?) it can sometimes also introduce some unique challenges when it comes to taking out a mortgage. This guide breaks down everything self-employed buyers need to know—from the best self-employed mortgage options to the step-by-step process of securing one.
Read more
When it comes to saving for your future —whether it’s a first home, a holiday, a wedding or simply some financial protection for a rainy day — finding the right savings account can make all the difference. As 2025, we're thrilled to introduce the new Tembo Cash ISA, offering a competitive 4.55% AER (variable) interest rate. This is the latest addition to our growing range of savings products, following the successful launch of our market-leading Lifetime ISA (LISA). With this new Cash ISA, your money isn’t just sitting in savings collecting dust - it’s actively working harder for you.
Read more
One of the most stressful things to happen when you’re buying a home or selling one is for the home purchase to fall through. Not only can it be disappointing, it can be expensive too. It’s also extremely common, with 35% of house sales falling through. If you’re going through this experience yourself, this guide is for you.
Read more
If you want to buy your first home, saving a deposit is only half the battle. You could spend years scrimping and saving your way to a 10% or even 20% deposit, only for your salary to get between you and your dreams of homeownership. So what salary do you need to buy a house in the UK? And what can you do to increase your chances of getting a mortgage? Find out in this guide.
Read more
If you’re planning on buying your first home sometime soon, once you’ve saved up a deposit it’s time to start looking at mortgages. But if you’ve never bought a property before, it can be confusing how much you could borrow for a mortgage. While 4-4.5x your household income is the typical figure you might hear, there are ways to borrow more than this! In this article, we’ll cover how much a first-time buyer can borrow, including ways to get a bigger mortgage.
Read more
When you look at how some stocks have grown in value over time, you might be tempted to jump right in and start investing there and then. Or you might want to wait for prices to fall before you invest. But which method is this a good idea and when is the best time to invest? Keep reading to find out.
Read more
Property prices and interest rates have risen significantly over the last few years, making it more important than ever to consider what is realistic to allocate to your mortgage costs, whether you’re looking at buying your first home or remortgaging onto a new deal. So what percentage of your salary should go towards your mortgage and what should you consider when choosing a mortgage term length? Let’s get into it.
Read more
Investing in the stock market can be one of the easiest ways to build wealth and reduce the impact of inflation, but how much should you invest? Some people recommend investing 10%, 15% or even 20% of your income, but the right figure for you will depend on your income, goals and attitude to risk.
Read more
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates have changed this year, making it that little bit more expensive to buy a home in England or Northern Ireland for some. For home buyers hoping to get on the ladder or move up it, this news could put a spanner in the works if you need to cover a higher Stamp Duty bill than you were expecting. You can’t put Stamp Duty on a credit card or spread the cost with regular instalments, but can you add Stamp Duty to your mortgage? If you’re hoping to buy a house in 2025 and you’re worried about the costs, here’s what you need to know.
Read more
How does LTV work, how does it affect your ability to buy a house and what’s the lowest LTV on a mortgage you can get? Find out everything you need to know about LTVs here.
Read more
Adding someone to your mortgage can give you more financial stability and even get you a bigger mortgage. But how do you add someone to your mortgage? And do you need a solicitor? Keep reading as we’ll break down how the process works and what costs you need to consider.
Read more
Deciding whether to buy a property is a huge decision. The financial landscape, housing market conditions, mortgage rates, and even rental prices all influence whether purchasing a home will make sense for you. To help you weigh your options, we’ve outlined key factors to consider when deciding if you should buy a house in 2025.
Read more
2024 was a bit of a whirlwind in mortgage land. The average two-year fixed-rate mortgage deal fell from 5.93% to 5.62% over the course of the year. But there were plenty of ups and downs in between as the economy rode the waves of inflation falling from 4.0% in January to 1.7% in September and then back up to 2.3% in October. Not to mention the general election and the first Budget from a Labour government in 14 years. There were some milestone moments too - the Bank of England cut its base rate for the first time since 2020, and mortgage rates below 4% made a reappearance. And this year is set to be as eventful. Borrowers should expect mortgage rates to continue to come down in 2025, while house prices are expected to go up. The first part of the year is expected to see a flurry in housing activity as home buyers try to complete before Stamp Duty changes in April. While rents are predicted to increase following more Buy to Let properties being sold off, reducing supply.
Read more