# Ann Evans Mortgage Adviser (CeMAP) > First Time Buyers | Home Movers | Re-Mortgages | Property Investors | Specialist lenders – adverse credit | Protection | Life Cover | Critical illness Income protection | Family protection ## Posts - [What is Mortgage Protection and Why is It Necessary?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/what-is-mortgage-protection-and-why-is-it-necessary/): What is Mortgage Protection and Why is It Necessary? Many of us don’t want to stop and think about what would happen if our income suddenly stopped due to illness, injury or death. Mortgage protection helps to ensure peace of mind for those unexpected events in life. In this guide, I explain different ways to protect your mortgage, from Life Cover, Critical Illness and Income Protection to Family Income Benefit. Mortgage Protection and Life Insurance Life Cover pays out a lump sum if you or the policyholder dies within the specified term. It can help to support your family financially if... - [What Tax Relief Options Are Available for First-Time Buyers?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/what-tax-relief-options-are-available-for-first-time-buyers/): What Tax Relief Options Are Available for First-Time Buyers? People often ask what tax relief options are available for first-time buyers. If you’re buying your first home, the government has several ways to help people get onto the property ladder. In this guide, I explain different government schemes that are currently available. Stamp Duty Tax Relief for First Time Buyers First-time buyers don’t pay any Stamp Duty Tax Relief (SDLT) on the first £300,000 of a qualifying home. Above this threshold, you would pay 5% SDLT on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000 (there’s no relief above this amount). To be... - [Homebuying with Family Gifts: What you need to know - Ann Evans](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/homebuying-with-family-gifts-what-you-need-to-know-ann-evans/): Homebuying With Family Gifts: What you need to know With high property prices and big deposit gaps, many young people are still struggling to buy their first home. One increasingly popular way for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder is homebuying with family gifts. In this guide, I explore the different types of family-assisted mortgages available, including Helping Hand, Family Springboard and JBSPs. How Can Family Gifts Be Used Towards a Home Deposit in the UK? Many older parents are looking for ways to support the next generation without simply “giving away” their life savings. However, there are specific... - [Do You Need a Mortgage Capacity Report?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/do-you-need-a-mortgage-capacity-report-ann-evans-mortgages/): Do You Need a Mortgage Capacity Report? Are you a solicitor or barrister in need of a mortgage capacity report? Officially known as a Mortgage Capacity Assessment, this independent, court-ready report is an important part of the Family Court process. It needs to include detailed financial information on your client’s income, outgoings, and debts to determine affordability. I’ve provided answers to common questions if you need to obtain this report for a divorce or financial settlement. How to Arrange a Mortgage Capacity Assessment Firstly, it’s always recommended to use a qualified mortgage adviser with the experience and expertise to produce a... - [How To Find The Right Mortgage
](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/how-to-find-the-right-mortgage/): How To Find The Right Mortgage Are you thinking about moving house or changing your mortgage deal? As everyone’s circumstances are different, it’s important to find the right mortgage for your situation. Although many homeowners can port their current deal over to their new home, the lender still has to provide an agreement (or decision) in principle. I’ve shared some guidance on choosing a suitable mortgage, including fixed rate, variable and tracker mortgages. What Are The Different Types Of Mortgages? There are various types of mortgages, and they differ in terms of interest rates, repayment methods, and the purpose. I have... - [Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Buyers](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/step-by-step-guide-for-first-time-buyers/): Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Buyers When you are looking to buy your first home, getting onto the property ladder can be difficult and stressful. In my guide for first-time buyers, I explain what you need to know when it comes to the homebuying and mortgage process. How to Buy Your First Home Here are some simple steps for buying your first property: How much can you afford? Work out how much you can afford in terms of monthly mortgage payments and a deposit. You will usually need a deposit of around 5 to 10% of the total property price (except for... - [What Are The Benefits of Remortgaging?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/what-are-the-benefits-of-remortgaging/): What Are The Benefits of Remortgaging? Are you thinking about changing your mortgage? Maybe you’re approaching the end of your current mortgage term? Whether you want better interest rates or to borrow more money, there can be various benefits of remortgaging your home. The key to finding a suitable mortgage is timing and getting the right advice before you commit to a new deal. What Does Remortgaging Mean? Remortgaging is when you take out a new mortgage with a different lender to replace your existing one. It involves paying off your old mortgage and starting a new agreement with a new... - [Moving House: Guide to a Smooth Move](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/moving-house-guide-to-a-smooth-move/): Moving House: Your Guide to a Smooth Move Are you getting ready to move house? There are a few things to be aware of in terms of practicalities and possible requirements from your mortgage lender before you exchange contracts. I’ve created a simple guide to prepare home movers for all eventualities. Quick Moving House Checklist Below is a list of what to consider when moving house: Clear out any clutter – if you haven’t moved house before or in a long while, it’s useful to get rid of any unwanted items as this could reduce your removal costs. If you haven’t... - [How Does a 100% or 95% Mortgage Work?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/how-does-a-100-or-95-mortgage-work/): In today’s challenging housing market, it can be hard for first-time buyers to get onto the property ladder. As a way of helping homebuyers struggling with affordability, some lenders are now offering mortgages with little or no deposit. Known as zero or low deposit mortgages, how does a 100% or 95% mortgage work? A 100% mortgage allows borrowers to buy a property without any deposit. Instead, you would borrow the whole loan value of the home. As a comparison, a 95% mortgage allows you to buy a property with only a 5% deposit. This is known as a 95% Loan-to-Value (LTV)... - [Choosing the Right Buy-to-Let Mortgage](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/choosing-the-right-buy-to-let-mortgage-ann-evans-mortgages/): Choosing the Right Buy-to-Let Mortgage It’s important to choose the right buy-to-let mortgage for your rental property, so you can look forward to better returns on your investment. It’s also worth being aware of how the Renters’ Rights Bill and new EPC regulations could impact your future rental income. I’ve shared a guide for landlords on buy-to-let mortgages and the upcoming legislation changes. Renters’ Rights Bill As a landlord, it’s important to get a good understanding of The Renters’ Rights Bill. Due to become law between October 2025 and January 2026, there are a lot of changes expected. Landlords will no... - [Your Home Movers Checklist](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/your-home-movers-checklist/): Are you looking to move house? There are a few things you will need to consider before you put your house on the market. I’ve shared a home movers checklist to help you prepare. Housing Market Update If you haven’t yet put your house on the market, recent reports are showing stable growth for UK house prices (June 2025). The average house price in the West Midlands is currently £250,000 (Gov.uk) with annual growth at 7.8%. Across the UK, the average rise is 1.6% compared to the same time last year and the highest number of sales for 4 years (Zoopla).... - [Is It The Right Time To Buy Your First Home](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/is-it-the-right-time-to-buy-your-first-home/): From changes to Stamp Duty to interest rate cuts, the UK housing market has been affected by various factors in recent times. If you are wondering whether it is the right time to buy your first home, then it’s worth getting advice to check your options. Over the past few years, the cost of buying a home has increased significantly. The current average house price in the UK is £268,000 (Zoopla). According to Barclays, first-time buyers are still struggling to save for a deposit, despite lower utility costs in recent months. Around 37% of renters report that their main barrier to... - [Challenges for First Time Buyers](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/challenges-for-first-time-buyers/): Last month’s cut in the Bank of England Base Rate, along with better job and growth prospects, offers a bit of hope for first-time buyers. However, the deep-rooted issues in the UK housing market are still very much alive. The UK has been grappling with a persistent housing crisis for decades—a crisis that, as the 2021 Census highlighted, is more severe in some areas than others. Supply remains a huge issue, making affordability the top concern for anyone trying to buy their first home. Earlier this year, a report by the BSA, supported by some of its largest members and the... - [What The General Election Means For Your Mortgage](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/what-the-general-election-means-for-your-mortgage/): Swap rates (the rates which influence mortgage interest pricing for most lenders) have moved regularly since January 2024. The good news is that it is less often than in May 2023. Due to the general election on July 4th, US inflation, and geopolitical events has affected the market. As we are only 4 weeks away from the election, we have seen evidence that SWAP rates have been increasing slightly. Unfortunately, the announcement of the general election had an adverse response from the money markets. The markets are anticipating what each Party’s manifestos will be and how they will impact on the... - [The Housing Market in May 2024](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/the-housing-market-in-may-2024/): There is a mixed message from Agents, however they are more positive about the prospect for both activity and asking prices. Due to recent interest rate rises over last 3 months, the house prices have started to fall again, according to Nationwide index they dropped a further 0.4%. It is not expected that they will fall further, especially as interest rate expectations are predicted to fall again in Quarter 3. First Time Buyers have disappeared mainly due to affordability and valuations being 20% too high. Landlords are being forced to sell off their properties due to them struggling with higher interest... - [All you need to know to get on the property ladder](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/all-you-need-to-know-to-get-on-the-property-ladder/): I have listed below top tips to prepare for buying your first home. Register onto Right Move and research property prices in the area that you want to live. Find out how much you can afford to borrow as a First Time Buyer. Find out what rates are available for First Time Buyers and how much the monthly payments would be. In addition to the above steps, you will need to provide evidence of deposit and source of funds. If you are lucky enough to get help from a family member, you will be asked to provide identification and bank statements... - [The role of first time buyers on the UK economy](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/the-role-of-first-time-buyers-on-the-uk-economy/): Since Covid pandemic, First time buyers have experienced considerable challenges, soaring inflation and rising interest rates and dealing with difficult hurdles to buying a home. However, the good news is latest research from Coventry Building Society in collaboration with the Centre for Economics and Business Research reveals more than a quarter (29%) of all UK residential property transactions in the last 5 years were carried out by First Time Buyers. The research shows that the average age of a FTB has only risen by one year from 33 to 34 since 2022. And average house prices vary widely across the UK,... - [The new mortgage charter](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/the-new-mortgage-charter/): You may have heard from the media that most lenders have signed up to The Mortgage Charter and are wondering what it means to me to you? The aim is to help residential mortgage customers who are worried about higher mortgage interest rates or are facing financial difficulty. Most lenders have agreed to offer the following support: Switch to interest only payments for 6 months Extend their mortgage term to reduce their monthly payments with the option to revert to their original term within 6 months without an affordability check. If you are worried about your mortgage payments and want to... - [Help from Parents for first time buyers](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/help-from-parents-for-first-time-buyers/): Research demonstrates in 2020, nearly 50% First Time Buyers under 35 got help from their parents to purchase their homes. The mortgage market has responded and there are plenty of ways mum and dad can help. Please get in touch for more information Gifting from immediate family / grandparents / uncles / Aunts. Family offset mortgage, linking savings to mortgage. Taking our joint mortgage / sole proprietor. Equity release, Retirement Interest only mortgages. - [Challenging few weeks for home buyers](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/challenging-few-weeks-for-home-buyers/): It has been a challenging last few weeks for home buyers with so much going on with the economy and media, it’s hard to know what to do. In reality, due to lack of properties on the market and demand, properties are still selling above asking price. Rising Interest Rates Cost of Living Crisis Value of House Prices Predicted to Go Down The good news is that mortgage interest rates have been falling and there are competitive 2-year tracker rates on the market with no early redemption fees, this gives you the option to switch to a fixed rate if base... - [Property Sale Slump](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/property-sale-slump/) - [First 100% mortgage loans since 2008](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/first-100-mortgage-loans-since-2008/): Skipton building society aims products at renters who cannot save enough for a deposit. According to Rupert Jones from the Guardian, Skipton Building Society are getting ready to launch a mortgage targeting those “trapped in rental cycles” and who do not have access to “the bank of mum and dad” and so are unable to save up for a home deposit. According to a report in The Times, the new product will be available up to 100% , and the borrowers will need to evidence a history of paying rent comparable to mortgage repayments for up to 2 years, with the... - [Why is it important to have a protection review?](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/why-is-it-important-to-have-a-protection-review/): At the time you completed your mortgage, you probably took out life cover to protect your original mortgage. Please do not think that you do not need to review this and have another conversation because your circumstances may have changed, and new policies are more competitive may have enhanced cover, including children’s critical illness. Here are 5 top reasons to review your protection needs. You might be raising more funds on your mortgage and your original cover does not meet the increased amount or term, therefore there may be a shortfall. Your job or income has changed, you may be earning... ## Pages - [Mortgage Capacity Assessments](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/mortgage-capacity-assessments/): Court-appropriate mortgage capacity assessments for divorce cases. Fixed-fee, independent reports prepared for Family Court and FDR hearings. - [Book an Appointment](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/book-an-appointment/) - [Website Terms & Conditions](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/website-terms-conditions/) - [Family Protection](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/family-protection/): Protect your family’s future with expert insurance advice. Ann Evans offers independent cover for life, illness and income to ensure your loved ones are financially secure. - [Income Protection](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/income-protection/): Worried about losing income due to illness or injury? Ann Evans provides independent advice on income protection insurance with tailored cover from top UK insurers. - [Critical Illness Cover](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/critical-illness-cover/): Get critical illness cover tailored to your needs. Ann Evans offers whole-of-market protection advice to help you stay financially secure if serious illness strikes. - [Life Cover](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/life-cover/): Protect your mortgage and your family with life cover advice from Ann Evans. Independent, experienced support to help you choose the right cover from across the market. - [Protection Services](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/protection-services/): We are dedicated to making the will making process as simple and stress-free as possible, guiding you through each step with care and professionalism. - [Specialist Lenders – Adverse Credit Mortgages](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/specialist-lenders-adverse-credit-mortgages/): Struggling with bad credit? Ann Evans offers expert mortgage advice with access to specialist lenders who consider CCJs, defaults, and missed payments. Over 35 years of experience. - [Fees & Charges](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/fees-charges/) - [Property Investor Mortgages](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/property-investor-mortgages/): Get expert mortgage advice for property investment. Ann Evans helps landlords access buy-to-let, HMO, limited company and portfolio mortgage deals from 90+ lenders. - [TESTIMONIALS](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/testimonials/) - [Remortgaging](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/remortgaging/): Looking to remortgage? Ann Evans offers expert mortgage advice with access to 90+ lenders, giving you a greater choice in rates. Helping you to borrow more or consolidate debt with confidence. - [First Time Buyer Mortgages](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/first-time-buyer-mortgages/): Looking for your first mortgage? With 8 years of experience helping customers with mortgage and protection, Ann Evans helps first-time buyers find mortgage deals from over 90 lenders. Personal, expert advice every step of the way. - [Mortgages](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/mortgages/): Looking for expert mortgage advice? Ann Evans offers independent guidance with access to 90+ lenders. Over 35 years of experience helping first time buyers, movers, and landlords. - [404 page not found](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/404-page-not-found/) - [GDPR & Privacy Policy](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/gdpr-privacy-policy/) - [Cookie Policy](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/cookie-policy/) - [Home Mover Mortgages](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/home-mover-mortgages/): Moving home? Ann Evans offers expert home mover mortgage advice with access to 90+ lenders. Get help with porting, remortgaging and finding your next deal with confidence. - [FAQs](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Latest News](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/latest-news/) - [Home](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/) - [About Ann](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/about-ann/): Meet Ann Evans – an experienced, independent mortgage adviser helping first-time buyers, home movers and the self-employed secure the right mortgage with confidence. - [Contact](https://annevansmortgages.co.uk/contact/) [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)