Cardiff & South Wales
Residential mortgages
Buying your first home in South Wales, moving up the ladder, or remortgaging — we compare lenders whose criteria fit your situation and manage your application through to offer.
Last reviewed 12 October 2026.
Or call 02922 820 840 · Mon–Fri 9am–5:30pm
A free 20-minute phone call. No obligation, no credit check.
How we help
Every lender reads your income and circumstances differently. We place your case with the lender whose criteria actually fit, from across the whole of the market — not just a familiar name — and manage the application through to offer.
Based in Cardiff, we know the South Wales market: which developments lenders are cautious about, how Welsh schemes interact with mainstream lending, and what local prices mean for your loan-to-value.
Appointments are by phone. Your first call is free and takes about 20 minutes.
Buying your first home
Help taking your first step onto the property ladder, from your budget to your application.
How Phillip can help
- Working out a realistic budget at South Wales prices before you start viewing.
- Explaining what’s different in Wales: Land Transaction Tax instead of stamp duty, with no first-time buyer relief.
- Checking whether a Welsh scheme could help, such as Help to Buy – Wales, Homebuy – Wales or Shared Ownership – Wales.
- A Decision in Principle where appropriate, so you can show estate agents what a lender might lend.
- Handling your application through to offer, and keeping you updated.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- Evidence of your deposit (a statement, or a gift letter if it’s from family)
- A rough idea of the areas and the price range you’re looking at
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Moving home
Advice for your next move, whether you’re upsizing or downsizing.
How Phillip can help
- Comparing porting your current deal with taking a new mortgage, including any early repayment charge.
- Working out the cost of any extra borrowing, which is usually a separate product at today’s rates.
- Planning the timing around your sale, your purchase and the end of your current deal.
- Dealing with the lender’s questions while your chain moves.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- Your current mortgage details: the lender, the balance, the rate and when your deal ends
- A rough idea of your sale price and the price you’re looking to pay
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Remortgaging and product transfers
Explore your options for a new deal when your current one is coming to an end.
How Phillip can help
- Comparing a product transfer with your current lender against a full remortgage to a new lender.
- Checking for early repayment charges, and comparing the total cost of each option, not just the rate.
- Starting in good time: most lenders let you secure a new rate 3–6 months before your current deal ends.
- Aiming to have your new deal ready to start when your current one ends.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- Your current mortgage details: the lender, the balance, the rate and when your deal ends
- Your latest mortgage statement or offer, so any early repayment charge can be checked
If you want to borrow more against your home, a further advance from your current lender or a second charge mortgage may be alternatives to remortgaging. We’ll talk you through the options; second charge mortgages are referred to a specialist.
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Buying a new-build home
Help with the parts of a new-build purchase that work differently: builder incentives, exchange deadlines and how long a mortgage offer lasts.
Phillip has extensive experience of new-build purchases.
How Phillip can help
- Checking how lenders treat the builder’s incentives, the type of build and the warranty.
- Working to get your mortgage offer in place within the builder’s deadline, which is often around 28 days from reservation on a completed or nearly completed plot.
- Planning for an offer that may need extending if an off-plan home is finished later than expected.
- Checking whether Help to Buy – Wales could help. It’s open to applications until 31 March 2027.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- The development, the plot and the builder’s reservation details, including any incentives
- The builder’s deadline for exchange, if you’ve already reserved
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Self-employed mortgages
Being self-employed doesn’t rule you out of a mortgage. Lenders assess your income differently from an employee’s, usually from your last two to three years of accounts or tax returns.
How Phillip can help
- Looking at how lenders would read your income, whether you’re a sole trader, a limited company director or a contractor.
- Explaining which figures lenders are likely to use, such as net profit, salary and dividends, or a day rate.
- Checking your paperwork before it goes to a lender, so questions about one-off items in your accounts are answered up front.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- SA302 tax calculations and tax year overviews for the last two years (some lenders ask for three)
- Company accounts, if you trade through a limited company
- Business bank statements, typically for the last 3–6 months
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Credit issues
A County Court Judgment (CCJ), a default or a debt management plan in your credit history doesn’t automatically rule you out of a mortgage, but it does generally narrow your options. Lenders that will consider you may charge higher rates or fees, or ask for a bigger deposit.
How Phillip can help
- Looking at your credit history the way lenders do: the type, size and age of each issue, and whether it’s settled.
- Matching your circumstances with lenders whose criteria may consider them.
- Telling you honestly if your case isn’t placeable yet, and what would need to change.
- No credit check to have the conversation.
What to have ready
Nothing is needed for the first call. When you go ahead, it helps to have:
- A copy of your credit report from one or more of the main credit reference agencies
- The dates and amounts of any CCJs, defaults or arrangements, and whether they’re settled
We advise on mortgages, not on debt arrangements such as IVAs or debt management plans.
If you’re worried about debt, you can get free, confidential debt advice from MoneyHelper (opens in a new tab).
Read the guides
Or call 02922 820 840
Documents you'll need
Nothing is needed for the first call. Once you go ahead, lenders usually ask for:
- Photo ID (passport or driving licence)
- Last 3 months' payslips — or, if self-employed, your last 2 years' SA302s and tax-year overviews
- Last 3 months' bank statements
- Evidence of your deposit (a statement, or a gift letter if it's from family)
- Your address history for the last 3 years
- A rough list of monthly credit commitments (loans, car finance, cards)
We'll tell you exactly what your lender wants; it varies from lender to lender.
Our fees
There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and the precise amount will depend on your circumstances, this could be up to £499 but a typical fee would be £199.
We also receive a commission from the lender.
The first call is always free.
Equity release and second charge mortgages
Questions people ask
Do I need a property in mind?
No. You can speak to Phillip before you have found a property. It often helps to understand your options, and what lenders may ask for, before you start viewing.
Will you credit-check me?
No. An initial conversation involves no credit check at all. If you later apply for a mortgage, the lender will run one — and we'll tell you exactly when that happens.
Do I need documents ready?
No. If you’d like a Decision in Principle straight afterwards it helps to have the documents above to hand, but the call itself needs nothing.
Can you help with shared ownership?
Yes. Phillip has extensive experience of shared ownership and can advise you on a shared ownership mortgage, including how lenders look at the share you’re buying, your deposit and the rent on the part you don’t own.
How do you get paid?
Your first call is free. There may be a fee for arranging a mortgage and the precise amount will depend on your circumstances, this could be up to £499 but a typical fee would be £199. We also receive a commission from the lender. Any fee and the commission are disclosed in writing, and you'll see them in your illustration.
Ready to talk it through?
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.