Mortgage guides & news
Plain-English guides to mortgages and protection in Northern Ireland, from the team at McDowell Financial Services.
Case study: 100% bridging finance for a landlord in Essex
How a landlord in Essex bought another rental property with no cash deposit, using a £900,000 bridging loan secured on two existing rentals.
Read the guide →Case study: £1.2m rebridge to stop a repossession in London
How we arranged a £1.2 million rebridge in 2 weeks to repay a defaulted bridging loan, stop a repossession and finish a London development.
Read the guide →Case study: bridging loan to buy a children’s home in London
How we arranged an £800,000 bridging loan in 4 weeks for a client buying a London property to convert into a children's home.
Read the guide →Gifted deposits in Northern Ireland: how they work
A gifted deposit is money from family you don't pay back. What lenders in Northern Ireland ask for, the gift letter, tax points and other ways...
Read the guide →Mortgage payment protection vs income protection: what is the difference?
Mortgage payment protection covers your mortgage payments for 12 to 24 months if you cannot work. Income protection pays a share of your income for longer....
Read the guide →Mortgage protection in Northern Ireland: do I need it?
Mortgage protection is life insurance that pays off your mortgage if you die. How it works in Northern Ireland, decreasing vs level cover, and the mistakes...
Read the guide →What is critical illness cover, and is it worth it?
Critical illness cover pays a tax-free lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness listed in your policy. How it works, how often claims...
Read the guide →How much life insurance do I need?
Add up your mortgage, your other debts and the income your family would need. Here is how to work out your figure, the main types of...
Read the guide →How much can I borrow for a mortgage in Northern Ireland?
Most lenders will lend around 4 to 4.5 times your income. Here is how lenders work out what you can borrow in Northern Ireland, with examples,...
Read the guide →Interest rates rise to 4%: what it means for NI mortgage holders
The Bank of England has raised interest rates to 4%. What it means for tracker, variable and fixed-rate mortgages in Northern Ireland, with example payments and...
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