The amount you can borrow depends mainly on your income, outgoings, and credit history.

Most lenders will offer between 4 to 4.5 times your annual income, although some may go higher in certain situations, particularly if your finances are strong and you’ve got a healthy credit file.

If you’re applying on your own, the calculation is usually based on your single income. If you’re applying jointly, lenders will look at your combined earnings.

They’ll also take into account regular expenses like loans, credit card balances, childcare, and even subscription services, as these all affect how much you can comfortably repay each month.

As your mortgage broker in Bolton, we’ll run a full affordability check with you upfront.

That way, you’ll know what kind of figure to expect before starting your property search, so you don’t waste time looking at homes outside your budget.

In most cases, the minimum deposit is 5% of the property’s purchase price.

So, if you’re buying a home for £200,000, you’d need at least £10,000 saved.

That said, putting down a larger deposit, say 10% or more could help you access better interest rates and reduce your monthly repayments.

Your credit history and the type of mortgage you’re applying for will also play a part.

Some specialist lenders may ask for a bigger deposit if you’ve had credit issues in the past.

There are also some ways to top up your deposit.

Gifted deposits from family members are accepted by many lenders, and schemes like shared ownership or First Homes can help reduce how much you need upfront

We’ll explain all the options and help you plan based on what’s realistic for you.

Yes, it’s definitely possible, and it’s something we deal with often.

Having bad credit doesn’t mean a mortgage is out of reach, but it may limit which lenders are open to your application and what kind of deal you can get.

Bad credit can include missed payments, defaults, CCJs, or even past bankruptcies. Some high street lenders might say no, but there are others, including specialist lenders who take a more flexible approach.

They’ll look at the full picture, including how long ago the issues happened, how serious they were, and what your finances look like now.

We’ll go through your credit report with you and talk honestly about what’s realistic.

Our job is to match you with a lender who understands your background, and who’s willing to look beyond just your credit score.

Your appointment is completely free and all about getting to know your situation.

You can book in online for a time that suits you, whether that’s during the day, in the evening, or over the weekend.

We’re open seven days a week to make things as easy as possible.

During your chat, one of our mortgage advisors in Bolton will ask about your income, deposit, and what you’re hoping to do whether you’re buying, moving, remortgaging, or looking at something more specialist.

We’ll explain how things work, what the next steps would be, and answer any questions you’ve got.

There’s no pressure and no obligation, just clear advice based on your circumstances.

From there, we can move forward with a Decision in Principle if you’re ready.

Once your mortgage application is submitted, the time it takes to get a formal offer usually ranges between two to four weeks.

Some lenders work faster, especially when all the required documents are provided upfront and there are no complications.

The process includes a valuation on the property (either in-person or online), an assessment of your documents, and checks on your credit and affordability.

If anything’s missing or needs further explanation, that can slow things down, but we’ll manage all the back-and-forth and keep things on track.

We stay in touch with the lender on your behalf and give you regular updates, so you’re never left wondering what’s going on.

Our aim is always to keep things moving smoothly and spot any delays early.

Lenders want to see that your income is steady and your finances are in good shape.

The standard documents include proof of ID (like a passport or driving licence), proof of address (such as a recent utility bill or bank statement), and evidence of income.

If you’re employed, this usually means your last three payslips and a P60.

If you’re self-employed, you’ll likely need your last two or three years of accounts or SA302s, plus tax year overviews from HMRC.

You’ll also need to show recent bank statements to confirm your income and spending patterns.

We’ll give you a full list tailored to your situation and check everything before sending it to the lender, to avoid any delays or back-and-forth later on.

A fixed-rate mortgage keeps your interest rate, and your monthly payments, the same for a set period, typically 2, 3, or 5 years.

This gives you stability and helps with budgeting, as you know exactly what you’ll pay each month.

A variable-rate mortgage, on the other hand, can go up or down depending on market rates or the Bank of England base rate.

This type includes tracker mortgages and standard variable rates (SVRs).

Your payments could fall if rates drop, but they could also rise.

We’ll explain the pros and cons of each and help you choose what fits best with your income, risk comfort, and future plans.

Absolutely, the key difference is how lenders look at your income.

Rather than a payslip, they’ll want to see business accounts or SA302s to check your earnings are consistent and sustainable.

You’ll usually need at least one to two years of accounts.

Some lenders accept just one year, while others may want more history.

They’ll also want to see how your income has changed over time, stability or growth usually works in your favour.

We work with a range of lenders who understand the realities of self-employment.

Whether you’re a sole trader, limited company director, or contractor, we’ll find an option that reflects how you actually earn.

Yes, remortgaging before your current deal ends is often possible and sometimes sensible, if it saves you money.

But it’s important to weigh up any early repayment charges (ERCs) or exit fees from your current lender.

If you’re coming to the end of a fixed-rate period, we can help you line up a new deal so that there’s no gap or move onto a better rate before switching to the standard variable rate, which is often more expensive.

We’ll help you figure out whether remortgaging early is worth it, and guide you through the process from start to finish.

When your mortgage deal ends, your lender will usually move you onto their standard variable rate (SVR), which is often higher than the rate you were on before.

This can lead to your monthly payments going up.

That’s why many people choose to remortgage before this happens, to lock in a better rate and avoid paying more than they need to.

We’ll help you check what’s available and move you onto a deal that keeps your payments manageable.

It’s always a good idea to start this process a few months before your current deal runs out, so you’ve got everything in place in time.