Wait! 

This is that thing that might cause you a headache further down the line. 

Do your research! 

A Buy to Let is a great investment that creates additional income and capital appreciation, but it also too carries additional responsibilities. 

There are a number of questions you'll need to ask yourself when buying a property to let out.

Where are you going to buy? 

What are the idea tenants? 

If there isn't a tenant - can you cover the mortgage? Will it impact your lifestyle? 

Have you factored in any additional fees into your budget? 

What's the best interest rate you can achieve? 

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! 

We're with Sam McWilliams in this episode, talking all things buy to let and how you can get yourself in the best shape ahead of your next investment property. 

Now, you're probably wandering why you'd do that if you're still paying a mortgage but it's important to note that this type of finance is designed specifically for those over the age of 55. 

You can use the money you raise for just about anything (as long as it's legal!). This could include: 

• Home Improvements 
• Gifts to Family
• Additional Income 
• New Cars 
• To invest in another property 
• To buy an annuity 
• Holidays! 

The main difference is that the majority of Lifetime Mortgages are open ended, where a residential mortgage usually has a term associated with it! 

It gives you a little bit more freedom heading towards retirement. 

The affordability assessment is different to a normal mortgage too - these are based on your Age vs. the property value. 

The older you are, the more you can lend. 

Pretty straightforward right? 

Equity Release isn't for everyone, so you should absolutely make sure you're booked in with Lee to see if it's the right option for you or your family. 

All the good times shared and memories made, but the feeling of prosperity and new chapters ahead. 

Getting the right agent to help you on your way is one of the big decisions you'll need to make. 

Will you want to use a personal local agent?

Will you want to use an online agent that's out of town? 

Who will get the best features of your property  captured the best? 

But let's not forget, an estate agent can also be your best pal whilst you and your family make this next step. 

In the episode we cover off  number of frequently asked questions when it comes to selling your home, so sit back and take note, let's make sure your next purchase is a breeze. 

Let's be honest, there are also somethings a little more important than others, right? 

That's why we've sat down with Sam McWilliams to guide you though the world of insurances and as a First Time Buyer - what sort of things you should be considering. 

There are many types of insurance to consider, and we cover them off, with Life Insurance, Critical Illness Cover, Income Protection, Buildings & Contents, Private Medical Insurance, Dental Cover, Travel Insurance... the list is endless. 

Should you have a policy on a Level Term or Decreasing Term? 

How many years do you need insurance for? 

Whose the best provider to go with? 

Will it be expensive? 

After you've taken on Sam's top tips, you'll be confident in understanding which insurances can benefit you the most. 

Starting 6 months before your current deal ends, gives you plenty of time for you to plan what to do next! 

It's common practice to try and save on the interest your paying but people also look to use this event to make changes such as; 

• Home Improvements
• Debt Consolidation 
• Changing the mortgage term
• Providing a Gift
• Buying an additional property 

This might mean moving to a new lender that will accommodate what it is you're looking to achieve, or sticking with the current lender and restructuring with them - either way, we're looking to get the best deal possible. 

Sometimes though, our lives change and a remortgage to another lender is always achievable. 

Lee brings us up to speed with the entire remortgage process, options to consider and shares best practices to make it a straight forward process. 

Matt gives us his worst find inside a large bank! 

Surveys can be a confusing topic to get your head around with so many levels available that all provide you with something a little different. 

We start talking through what a lenders survey is, why a lender needs to carry out a survey and what you can do to further give you the peace of mind that the house you're buying is absolutely spot on.

Basic Valuation, Home Buyers Report or Buildings Survey? 

Don't worry, we cover it all.

Rising Damp, Asbestos, Japanese Knott Weed or structural movement - chances are you'll not have a clue!

A survey will help you pick out those quick fixes which could potentially leave you out of pocket when buying your home.

It's the process of buying, remortgaging or anything in-between, that's to do with property. It's the legal side, so the stuff the people don't see about a property. 

So it's making sure that you're checking things such  as if the house is in a flood risk area, there are the right building certificates in place, there's not a bankruptcy order on the house AND, if you're allowed to keep chickens on the land - yep, that's a thing!

The solicitor acting on your behalf also represents the chosen lender,  so they ensure that they're also happy to release the mortgage funds to the vendor's solicitor so you can get those keys to your new home. 

Rachael makes it easy to understand relevant topics such as Leasehold, Freehold, Ground Rent and restrictive covenants.

This episode is definitely not one to miss if you're looking to navigate through your first home purchase. 

But sometimes, we don't really know what they do! 

Tesh let's us in on how an Estate Agent is paramount to any home purchase. They present the properties, allow the viewings, have a wealth of knowledge about the home you're about to buy and are also there to make sure that the process is moving at a pace you're comfortable with. 

We also cover off the elephant in the room that's imposed significant changes to the housing market - coronavirus. Tesh shares his insights on how to stay ahead and not to get caught up in a bidding war where possible. 

Properties have been selling quicker than hot cakes.

Some are being sold without even hitting Rightmove! 

So, make sure that you stay ahead  in what is such an exciting time for First Time Buyers. 

Kensington are a specialist lender and support First Time Buyers and Homeowners that don't fit 'the bill' with the traditional standard high street banks like Lloyds or HSBC. 

They look to support clients that may have had a little something negative on their credit report, or have experienced a huge increase in profits and would like to maximise their mortgage affordability based on the increased income, where high street lenders may look to average this! 

We look under the hood at how interest rates are decided and the factors that can influence how much you'll repay on your mortgage payments and ways that lenders can be creative with criteria to support customers like never before. 

Phill also provides insights to the internal underwriting processes one the APPLY button has been hit to give you peace of mind that these guys are the real deal and are here to make sure you understand the homebuying process. 

Make sure you listen in to the end to find out the top tip you can hold onto when considering you're buying your first home. 

We're making it easier for First Time Buyers to understand the Home Buying Process which we will later spend more time on with additional industry experts. 

Here, we cover where you should start - Affordability. 

Understanding exactly the financial position you need to be in to make a start with your home research. 

Picking the right searches on the property portals. 

Understanding your income. 

How a lender assesses your maximum mortgage loans. 

It's go you covered. 

If there's anything specific that you'd want us to talk to you about, reach out to us:

www.warringotnmortgagecentre.co.uk

Believe it or not, Nationwide was started by a group of friends!

If you didn't know, Nationwide is a Building Society, which is operated in a different way to Bank and have different ways of raising money to lend to members to help them buy their homes. 

Nationwide have a huge offering for First Time Buyers with things like, free valuations, cash back and affordability enhancements where possible.

Darren provides us with key insights to their criteria which will be fantastic of those looking to buy their first home AND helps us understand their internal application process.