Give yourself the best chance

Look at your income:

A lender will normally loan you about four times your income this is called your loan-to-income ratio. Maximizing your income means securing a bigger loan. Check your credit score

Credit scores are also key, so it’s worth making sure there are no mistakes on your credit report. Look at your savings and outgoings

Normally lenders will “stress test” you for any changes that might come up to make sure you can afford the payments. Savings, outgoings your general finances are important, so take some time and sit down with your bank statements.

How to get a mortgage

Directly from a lender:

Different banks and lenders have different criteria for their loans, so if you get rejected from one lender then you might still have luck with another.

Through a broker

A mortgage broker can fight on your behalf to try and not just get you a mortgage, but the best mortgage for you especially if you ’ re self-employed But that comes with a fee so you need to make sure it’s worth it. At Strike, we offer independent mortgage advice for free (because free is kind of our bag), with over 1,000 mortgage deals. You can find out more here.

Finding the right property

Finally, the fun part property hunting:

How do you find the right property for you? Well, it’s a balance between your head and your heart or maybe we should say it’s a balance between your wallet and your heart.

Firstly, look at your budget and the locations you are interested in Location is probably the biggest factor when it comes to price, so try to work out a location you love and that you can afford.

Looking at transport links, schools, local parks and amenities (and pubs, of course), can help you find your sweet spot.