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Speak to an Advisor 7 days, 8am - 10pm
If you’re buying your first home, getting mortgage advice early on can make a real difference.
What you can borrow depends on your income, regular expenses, and how much deposit you’ve saved.
Most lenders offer around four to five times your annual income, but it varies.
We offer clear, personalised mortgage advice in Leicester to help you understand your options.
An agreement in principle (AIP) is a document from a lender that shows how much they might be willing to lend you, based on a basic financial check.
It’s not a full offer, but it helps estate agents take your offer seriously.
Working with a mortgage broker in Leicester like ourselves means we can secure your AIP quickly, usually within 24 hours after your initial free initial appointment.
Most lenders require at least a 5% deposit, though more can unlock better rates.
Some buyers save more, while others use gifted deposits or schemes to help.
Our mortgage advisors in Leicester work closely with first-time buyers to match them with deals that fit their deposit and financial background.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
There may be a fee for mortgage advice. The fee is up to 1% but a typical fee is £495.
Yes, it’s possible, even if you’ve had missed payments, defaults, or a poor credit score.
Some lenders are more flexible than others, especially if the issues were in the past or you’ve worked to rebuild your finances.
As a mortgage broker in Leicester, we work with a wide panel of lenders, including those who specialise in mortgages for buyers with credit history issues.
We’ll look at your full situation and help you explore realistic options.
Getting a mortgage offer usually takes between 2 and 6 weeks, depending on how quickly you provide documents and how fast the lender works.
From offer to completion, the full buying process can take around 8 to 12 weeks.
Your dedicated case handler and mortgage advisor will stay in touch with lenders, estate agents, and solicitors throughout to make sure things keep moving without unnecessary delays.
Most first time buyers choose fixed-rate mortgages, which keep repayments steady for a set number of years.
There are also tracker and variable-rate mortgages, where payments can change based on interest rates.
The right type depends on how long you plan to stay in the property and how much certainty you want over your monthly budget.
We’ll talk through the pros and cons so you can decide with confidence.
It helps to check your credit report, avoid taking out new credit, and gather your paperwork in advance, including payslips, bank statements, proof of ID, and your deposit source.
Yes, many first time buyers in Leicester use a gifted deposit from parents or relatives.
The lender will usually ask for a letter confirming that the money is a gift and doesn’t need to be repaid.
This is a standard part of the process, and we’ll guide you through exactly what’s needed to make sure it’s accepted without issue.
You don’t need a full mortgage offer, but most estate agents will expect you to have an agreement in principle before they’ll take your offer seriously.
It shows you’ve spoken to a lender or broker and know how much you’re likely to borrow.
Having one in place can also speed things up once your offer is accepted.
Our Customers Love Us
5.00 Rating32 Reviews
Anonymous
Very professional. Kept me informed every step of the way. Explained the mortgage application process fully. Found me another lender immediately, after my first application got rejected.
2 months ago
Anonymous
I found Moneyman to be very professional and easy to work with. They explained everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and were always easy to contact. I especially appreciated the personal touch of having a video call, which...
6 months ago
Anonymous
Great and knowledgeable advisor, Leo has been helping every step of the way and was able to answer lots of questions and provide lots of advise. Highly recommend using Leicestermoneyman
6 months ago
Emma
Beyond happy with our experience with moneyman. Quick responses, helpful and friendly. Definitely went above and beyond our expectations. Wouldn’t trust anyone else. Thank-you!
7 months ago
Neil
Highly recommend Leo Shakespeare! Leo has been very helpful, approachable and informative - we will be recommending him to others who are buying a home.
7 months ago
Elizabeth
I approached moneyman with an urgent problem of remortgaging my property within a deadline of 2 months or I loose my property .I was professionally welcomed by Paula and her 2 other colleagues who gave me advice and options of what I can do ....
10 months ago
Simon
Brilliant service thank you for all your help
1 year ago
Dawid
Excellent
1 year ago
Grant
Very fast friendy service, any questions were answered throughly and quickly and the whole service from start to finish was smooth and stress free.
1 year ago
Lucy
Excellent service from start to finish! Chris kept us fully informed and answered all of our questions throughout. He took the pressure off us and was professional throughout! Highly recommend!!
1 year ago
Rebekah
Jo and Chris were extremely helpful. Got everything done so quickly!
1 year ago
Joanne
It was smooth, took all the stress of reseaching the best mortgage. Easy access to appointments. TOM was great and understanding
2 years ago
Bhaven
Very very good thank you
2 years ago
Zubair
Charlie was very easy to talk too and made things easy and simple to understand and explained our options in detail which really helped us through the process as first time buyers.
2 years ago
James
Jason and his colleagues at UK Moneyman have been amazing from the start. When we began the process of house buying and finding a mortgage we knew very little, but Jason explained much to us in a telephone consultation and outlined all our options....
2 weeks ago
Samantha
Very impressed, service was really good and efficient and anything g that needed explaining was done very clear. Would definitely recommend
2 weeks ago
Shelline
Leo Shakespeare and Stacey Jopling has work long side each other to made this entire journey extremely smooth and informative as a first time buyer. His service has been phenomenal. I had been rejected from many other brokers and banks and he...
3 months ago
Nafesa
I have been dealing with Wendy and Malcolm in regards to my house purchase and I could not recommend these enough. A true credit to the company. Very efficient with communication and solving any issues that needed to be addressed. Would highly...
5 months ago
Anonymous
Incredibly helpful, supported throughout whole process
5 months ago
Nazeef
Fantastic experience. Charlie helped me race through to secure the most suitable mortgage offer, best plan for life and critical illness insurance. Very approachable and responsive even with any queries I had after everything was completed.
6 months ago
Your first step is to speak with a mortgage advisor who’ll look at your income, deposit, credit history, and monthly outgoings.
From this, you’ll get an agreement in principle, which gives you a clear idea of your price range and shows sellers in Leicester that you’re serious about buying.
Once you’ve found a property, you can make an offer and start your full mortgage application.
Your advisor will handle this with the lender, help you prepare all the required documents, and make sure everything is submitted correctly and without delay.
The lender will review your application and carry out a valuation on the property.
Once approved, they’ll issue a mortgage offer.
At the same time, your solicitor will begin the legal checks and prepare the contracts for exchange and completion.
When the legal work is done and the completion date is agreed, your lender will release the funds.
Your solicitor will transfer the money to the seller, and once that’s confirmed, you’ll be able to collect your keys and move into your first home.
We’ve helped loads of first time buyers in Leicester get on the property ladder, and our reviews reflect the service we’re known for: clear advice, regular updates, and no pushy sales tactics.
Whether you’re just starting to look or already have a property in mind, we’re here to make the process feel straightforward from day one.
We’re not tied to any one lender.
That means we search across the mortgage market to find deals that genuinely suit your situation, whether you’ve got a small deposit, are using a gifted deposit, or need flexibility due to your income.
We’ll compare rates, criteria, and upfront costs to find the right match for you.
Our mortgage advisors in Leicester explain everything in plain terms, take care of the paperwork, and keep things moving behind the scenes.
You won’t be passed from one person to another; we stay with you from your first call through to completion, making sure you always know what’s happening and what comes next.
Getting a mortgage is just one part of buying your first home.
We’ll also help you understand the full process, including legal steps, insurance requirements, and timescales.
You’ll always have someone to speak to, chase updates with solicitors or estate agents, and make sure nothing gets missed along the way.
If you’re applying for a mortgage in your sole name, lenders will base their decision entirely on your income, credit history, and deposit.
This is common for single buyers or when one partner isn’t named on the mortgage.
You’ll need to meet the lender’s affordability criteria on your own, but you can still access competitive deals.
We’ve helped first time buyers applying solo understand how much they can borrow and which lenders are most flexible.
Applying jointly means your combined income can help increase your borrowing power.
Whether you’re buying with a partner, family member, or friend, most lenders will assess your application based on both incomes and credit profiles.
You don’t always need to split the deposit 50/50, and there are legal options to record different contributions if needed.
A poor credit history doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get a mortgage. Some lenders specialise in working with buyers who’ve had missed payments, defaults, or CCJs.
What’s important is how recent the issues were and how your finances look now.
We work with lenders who offer realistic options to first time buyers in Leicester with credit challenges.
We’ll help you understand what’s possible and how to prepare a strong application.
If you’re self-employed, the way lenders assess your income can vary.
Most will look at your last two years of accounts, while some may accept just one year if you have a stable track record.
You’ll typically need to show SA302s or tax year overviews to confirm your earnings.
Whether you’re a sole trader or run a limited company, we know which lenders are most suitable to self-employed first time buyers in Leicester and can help you present your case.
Many first time buyers in Leicester get help from family when it comes to the deposit.
A gifted deposit is usually accepted by most lenders, provided there’s a clear letter confirming it’s a gift and not a loan.
It’s important that the person gifting the money is traceable and that the funds are already available.
We’ll guide you through exactly what lenders need and help you make sure the process is handled smoothly, with no last-minute delays.
Some people buy their first home later in life, whether after renting for many years, relocating, or starting again after a change in circumstances.
If you’re in your 40s, 50s, or older, there are still mortgage options available, but lenders may shorten the mortgage term based on your expected retirement age.
We work with first time buyers across Leicester who are buying in their 50s or beyond and can help find lenders with flexible age limits and realistic repayment terms.
Read our 32 Reviews
Leicestermoneyman is a trading name of UKMM Limited, which is an appointed representative of Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
UKMM Limited is Registered in England, No. 16541342 | Registered Address: Capital House, Pride Place, Pride Park, Derby, England, DE24 8QR.
© Leicestermoneyman 2025.
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Leicestermoneyman is a trading name of UKMM Limited, which is an appointed representative of Mortgage Advice Bureau (Derby) Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
UKMM Limited is Registered in England, No. 16541342 | Registered Address: Capital House, Pride Place, Pride Park, Derby, England, DE24 8QR.
© Leicestermoneyman 2025.
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