Ask the experts

About our experts...

At John Charcol, we are constantly asked for advice by borrowers on what they should do when it comes to mortgages.  As such, we created this section so that you can submit your questions to our experts.  The answers are provided by a number of people who have years of experience in the mortgage market.  The team is led by Peter Woodward who works in our technical department.  Peter spent his formative years as an underwriter with one of the major UK lenders so what he doesn't know, quite frankly, isn't worth knowing...

So please do submit your question and we will do all we can to answer it as quickly as possible

Please be aware that these answers can only be generic and no personal recommendations can be made.


Posted on 30 January 2010

My partner and I are first-time buyers looking at properties between £150,000 and £180,000. My partner is employed but I have been self-employed for just over one year. We would be able to supply a deposit of £40,000-£50,000. Do...

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Posted on 27 January 2010

I have recently separated from my partner who is in no position to pay any of our mortgage. I am struggling to work full-time with two young children but am not sure if I can afford to pay the mortgage if I work less. What can I...

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Posted on 27 January 2010

I am planning on buying my council flat and living in it for a short while on a Fixed rate mortgage, I then plan to let the property. Will I have to change my mortgage to a buy to let mortgage or can it run on a standard...

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Category: Buy-to-let


Posted on 26 January 2010

My partner and I are looking to move into a family home and want to keep our current home. I'm hoping the lender (Nothern Rock) will allow us to convert the existing mortgage into a buy to let. I suspect the existing mortage and...

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Posted on 26 January 2010

My girlfriend and I are saving for a deposit of around £30000 to purchase a house around the £300000 mark. Our combined earnings are £78000. Would we be allowed to add the stamp duty on to the cost of the mortgage?

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Posted on 21 January 2010

Hi, we have a UK mortgage of £180000 on a house value of £320000, combined income of £65000 and have other outgoings - car loans etc £400 month and credit cards totalling £15000. How much more could we realistically borrow on...

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Category: Holiday homes, Remortgaging, Second properties


Posted on 18 January 2010

I want to buy a house with my partner that costs £300,000 we earn about £50,000 together, how much would we have to put down as a deposit?

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Posted on 16 January 2010

I am putting the whole of the deposit in (£16k) on a property where the mortgage will be paid equally by myself and my partner. I want to ensure that if we were to split up and had to sell the property, the first £16k would go...

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Posted on 15 January 2010

I have my daughter husband and child living with us. They have been offered a property at a very good discount at £135k valued at £149k. I have a property worth about £250k with a mortgage of £140k. I would like to help them and...

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Posted on 13 January 2010

Similar to another post, I defaulted on a credit card when I was at uni (4 years ago) which I settled shortly afterwards. My girlfriend and I have a combined salary of £52,500, a deposit of £50,000 and hoping to borrow £160,000....

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Posted on 13 January 2010

Hello,

If I change my current mortgage to a buy-to-let is the price likely to increase?

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Category: Buy-to-let


Posted on 12 January 2010

HI, i have a tracker mortgage with bristol and west with my now ex partner. he will be moving out soon and i want to keep the mortgage and need to know if my father would be able to go as guarantor as i cant seem to get any...

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Posted on 12 January 2010

Hi, I own a property, which is currently tenanted (with agreement from the mortgage provider to rent out). A standard residential mortgage is affordable on my current salary (I have no other property to pay for , as the costs are...

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Posted on 12 January 2010

Hi,

Having recently split up with my wife and signed over ownership of our former marital home to her, I am now in the position to purchase a new home for myself. However I have little money set aside for a deposit, and I am...

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Posted on 9 January 2010

we have two mortgage free properties worth about 250k and wish to raise aprox: 75k to help my daughter buy a larger house as her family is getting bigger. We have an income of approx:£1,800p.m.and cash, shares and investments of...

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