First-time buyer
Understand your deposit, likely costs and the steps from early planning to applying.
Explore first-time buyer mortgagesUK mortgage advice
Buying your first place, reviewing your deal or planning a rental property? Count Ready helps you understand your options, the costs to consider and what needs checking before you apply.
A useful first conversation, even if you are still working things out. Fees may apply if you proceed; we agree them before chargeable work.
Start where you are
Choose the route closest to your plans. If more than one applies, we can talk through the whole picture.
Understand your deposit, likely costs and the steps from early planning to applying.
Explore first-time buyer mortgagesReview your current deal, switching costs and whether a new mortgage could fit your plans.
Explore remortgagesExplore borrowing for a rental property, a remortgage or a property portfolio.
Explore buy-to-let mortgagesSee how accounts, trading history and different types of income can affect an application.
Explore self-employed mortgagesUnderstand why the type, date and status of a credit issue matter alongside your finances.
Explore bad-credit mortgagesRead about residency, visa status and the evidence a lender may need to consider.
Explore visa mortgagesMoving home?Your next mortgage needs to work alongside your current one. Talk through the move, any early repayment charge and whether transferring your existing deal may be possible.
Discuss your move ↗How Count Ready helps
A mortgage has to fit your finances and your plans. The right conversation helps you understand the trade-offs and what happens next.
Tell us what you want to achieve and your timescale. We discuss the finances, property and any circumstances that could shape your options.
We assess your needs and explain any suitable recommendation, the lenders and products we can consider, and how we are paid. You can ask questions before deciding whether to proceed.
If you go ahead, we help with the evidence and application. The lender makes the final decision; approval depends on its checks and the property.
Count Ready is a mortgage broker, not a lender. Count Ready Limited is an Appointed Representative of Connect IFA Limited. You can check our details on the Financial Services Register (opens in a new tab). Some business buy-to-let and commercial borrowing is not regulated by the FCA.
Our initial mortgage evaluation is free. Fees may apply if you proceed, and we typically receive lender commission after completion. We explain and agree the fees for your case before chargeable work. Read the Terms of Business for fee stages, exceptions and refund details.
Put some figures around your plans
Explore a monthly payment, plan your deposit or compare remortgage scenarios. Bring your estimates to the conversation.
Calculators use the assumptions you enter. Results are illustrations, not a lending decision, a quote or a mortgage recommendation.
Explore the detail
Open a topic to find the relevant guides. Use them to prepare your questions, then get advice based on your own circumstances.
Later-life lending, equity release, property development and commercial finance have different features and risks. A guide cannot establish that a product is suitable for you.
For the wider website, visit our sitemap or mortgage insights.
Common questions
You do not need to know every mortgage term to start. These answers cover some useful first questions.
For independent information, read MoneyHelper’s mortgage advice guide (opens in a new tab).
Yes. An early conversation can help you understand your budget, the evidence you may need and the next steps. If you are buying, have a rough property budget and deposit figure in mind. If you are remortgaging, your balance, property value and current deal end date are useful starting points.
The amount depends on the lender’s assessment of your income, spending, existing commitments, credit history, deposit and the property. An income multiple or online calculator cannot confirm what you will be offered. A mortgage adviser can help you understand which factors need checking in your case.
There is no single deposit requirement for every borrower or property. The amount you need depends on the mortgage, lender criteria and your circumstances. Keep money aside for legal costs, any property tax and other buying expenses, as well as the deposit.
No. An agreement in principle is an initial indication of what a lender might lend, based on limited information and checks. A full application still needs the lender’s approval, including checks on your documents and the property. Ask whether a credit search will be soft or hard before proceeding.
A rate is only part of the decision. Fees, the mortgage term, early repayment charges, overpayment rules and what happens when the initial deal ends can all affect suitability and cost. Compare the mortgage illustration and the total costs over the period you expect to keep the deal.
There is no fee for our initial mortgage evaluation. If you proceed, advice and administration fees may apply, and we typically receive commission from the lender after completion. We explain and agree the fees for your case before chargeable work. Our Terms of Business set out the fee stages, exceptions and refund details.
Let’s talk about your mortgage
Tell us what you are hoping to do and what feels uncertain. We can explain what needs checking and how we may be able to help.
Start with a brief outline. Please wait for a secure method before sharing bank statements, identity documents or credit reports. Fees may apply if you proceed; see our Terms of Business.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
