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Building your confidence before you apply

You don’t need to have it all figured out. In fact, 36% of first-time buyers* felt nervous about applying for a mortgage when thinking about buying their first home. It's normal to feel overwhelmed and uncertain.

That’s why we've pulled together guides and tips on how to get ready to apply for a mortgage. If you've got more questions you can chat with us Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm, or leave us a message below and we can help.



What's a credit score?

Learn what your credit score means, how it’s calculated and what part it plays when you’re applying for a mortgage.

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What do lenders look at?

Lenders look at more than just your income. Find out what matters most when they assess your mortgage application.

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What's a decision in principle?

A quick look at what a decision in principle is, why it’s important, and how to get one before you apply.

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What is shared ownership?

Discover what shared ownership is and how it works. Find out the pros and cons of the scheme.

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More tips and guidance

Explore more tips to help you apply for your first mortgage. We cover topics including what documents you'll need to apply, defaults and CCJs, and what income you can use in your mortgage application.

More articles this way

Evie and Myles' story

Evie and Myles had previously had some missed payments on their credit card, but that didn’t stop them getting a mortgage.

Experts for first-time buyers

We know how difficult it can be to get out of renting, but you might be nearer than you think. We’ve been helping people apply for their first mortgage for over 175 years, it’s what we’re good at and we’ve even won awards for it.

We’ve been awarded First-Time Mortgage Buyers’ Choice at the Moneyfacts awards three years running. It's an award that's based directly on feedback from over 200,000 customers. So you can be sure you're in the right place to find answers and get the support you need to apply for your first mortgage.


Have any questions?

Get in touch with us on live chat between 9am and 5pm or drop us a message below and we’ll come back to you. And remember, there’s no such thing as a silly question. Everyone's situation is different, so however big or small your question, we're here to answer.

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* 36% of 109 respondents to our first-time buyer survey (Jun - Sep 2025)