Guides
Every South Wales home-buying guide we publish: first-time buyer walkthroughs, Land Transaction Tax, Welsh schemes and what salary buys what locally.
Or call 02922 820 840 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
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Getting started in South Wales
How to choose a mortgage adviser in South Wales
How to choose a mortgage adviser in South Wales: qualifications to check, FCA authorisation, whole-of-market vs panel, fee models, and questions to ask first.
Mortgages for NHS and public sector workers in South Wales
How lenders treat NHS Wales pay bands, overtime and shift pay for NHS and public sector workers in South Wales — no special scheme, just how income is assessed.
Self-employed mortgages in South Wales: sole traders, directors and contractors
How mortgage lenders read accounts and SA302s for self-employed South Wales buyers — sole traders, limited company directors and contractors — and what to prepare.
First-time buyer in South Wales: the step-by-step walkthrough
A guide for South Wales first-time buyers — deposit sizes at Cardiff prices, how the Welsh buying process differs from England, and schemes that can help.
What salary do you need to buy a house in South Wales?
How much income you need to buy in South Wales, by property type — verified Cardiff prices, deposit scenarios, and the income multiple lenders typically apply.
Areas and property types
Buying a home in Newport: prices, areas and what your money gets
Newport house prices average £232,000 (May 2026) — about £41,000 below Cardiff. What that gap means for your deposit, salary and LTT, and how the areas differ.
Buy-to-let and HMO mortgages in South Wales: student lets in Cathays and Roath
Student lets and HMOs in South Wales, focused on Cathays and Roath — Cardiff Council's HMO licensing, HMO planning, Rent Smart Wales and BTL rental-coverage tests.
Mortgages on leasehold flats in South Wales: what lenders look for
Mortgages on leasehold flats in South Wales — service charges, ground rent, lease length, cladding/EWS1 checks and the Welsh Building Safety Fund explained.
Buying a new-build in South Wales: developments, incentives and lender rules
A South Wales buyer's guide to new-build purchases — Cardiff's major developments, how builder incentives work, and where to find the lender-by-lender detail.
Moving to South Wales: areas, prices and commutes for buyers
Moving to South Wales? A buyer's guide to Cardiff's areas and commuter towns — local prices, commute times, and the schools, flood and leasehold checks to do first.
Welsh schemes and Land Transaction Tax
How shared ownership mortgages work
How buying a share works, the two affordability checks, deposit on the share, rent and service charge, and why lenders differ.
Homebuy – Wales: how the Welsh Government's 30% equity loan works
Homebuy – Wales gives an equity loan of around 30% towards an existing home. Who is eligible, how repayment works, and how it differs from Help to Buy – Wales.
Help to Buy – Wales: applications now close 31 March 2027 — what it means for South Wales buyers
Help to Buy – Wales has been extended: applications must be submitted by 31 March 2027. What the timing means, how the equity loan works, and the alternatives.
LTT on second homes and buy-to-let in South Wales: the higher rates explained
Land Transaction Tax's higher rates for second homes and buy-to-let in South Wales — current bands, worked examples, and when the surcharge does and doesn't apply.
Land Transaction Tax vs stamp duty: what Wales charges instead
Wales charges Land Transaction Tax (LTT), not stamp duty (SDLT) — with no first-time buyer relief. Rates, worked examples and how the two taxes really compare.
Low-deposit routes in Wales: 95% mortgages, shared ownership and Welsh schemes
First-time buyer schemes in Wales 2026 and the low-deposit routes: 95% mortgages, gifted deposits, Help to Buy Wales, Homebuy and Shared Ownership.
Credit issues
Your credit report before applying for a mortgage
A plain-English guide to checking your credit report before a mortgage application — the three UK agencies, what to look for, and how to fix errors in time.
How lenders actually read credit issues
How CCJs, defaults and debt management plans generally affect a mortgage application — why recency and severity matter, and what a realistic outcome looks like.
Mortgage after bankruptcy: what to expect
How bankruptcy affects a UK mortgage application: the discharge clock, the 6-year credit file window, typical deposit patterns, and what to do now.
Getting a mortgage after an IVA: what to expect
How lenders treat an active IVA against a completed one, why the credit file clock and a lender's own clock can differ, and what changes as time passes.
Should I pay off my CCJ or default before a mortgage?
What settling a CCJ or default changes for a mortgage application, the CCJ one-month rule, how to satisfy one, and when it's a judgement call worth discussing.
Bad credit mortgages in South Wales: realistic expectations
How CCJs, defaults and debt management plans generally affect a mortgage application in South Wales — how recency and severity matter, and realistic expectations.
Already own a home
Porting your mortgage when you move home in South Wales
How porting a mortgage works when you move home — what actually transfers, the fresh affordability check, top-up borrowing at today's rates, and when a new mortgage beats a port.
Second charge mortgages in South Wales: how they work and when people use them
What a second charge mortgage is, how it differs from remortgaging or a further advance, when South Wales homeowners use one, and the costs and risks to weigh.
Remortgaging in South Wales: when to do it and what actually happens
Remortgage in South Wales: when to do it, product transfer vs a full remortgage, what happens as your fix ends, exit fees to check, and realistic timelines.
Let's talk about your next move.
You can speak to Phillip before you have found a property.
Or call 02922 820 840 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
A free 20-minute phone call. No obligation, no credit check.