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Buy a home

Buying? Elena finds the right lender first time.

Whether it's your first home, your next home or your next investment — Elena screens 90+ UK lenders against your exact profile in under 60 seconds.

AI summary

Buying a home in the UK falls into three mortgage categories: first-time buyer (up to 95% LTV, 4.5–5.5× income, scheme access), home mover (porting or new purchase, equity-funded deposit), and buy-to-let purchase (20–25% deposit, 125–145% rental cover). Mortgage.ai's AI assistant Elena models each lender's affordability and criteria rules — income multiples, LTV bands, deposit source, property type — and returns three matched products with indicative rates and a 0–100 approval confidence score.

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Key facts

The numbers, at a glance.

Max LTV (FTB)
95%
Rates from
4.19%
Lenders compared
90+
Eligibility check
60 sec
Explore

Choose your purchase type

First-Time Buyer

5% deposit options, 4.5–5.5× income, Lifetime ISA and shared ownership routes.

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Moving Home

Port your rate or switch lender, bridge a chain gap, and time both transactions.

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Buy to Let Purchase

Personal name or SPV, 125–145% ICR, HMO and multi-unit freehold blocks.

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FAQ

Questions, answered.

How much deposit do I need to buy a home in the UK in 2026?

First-time buyers can borrow at 95% LTV (5% deposit) with Nationwide, Skipton, Yorkshire BS and Accord. Home movers typically put down 15–25% using equity from their sale. Buy-to-let purchases need a minimum 20–25% deposit, and rates improve materially at 75% LTV and below.

How long does it take to buy a home in the UK?

From offer accepted to completion the UK average is 12–16 weeks. A mortgage offer takes 5–15 working days once a full application is submitted. Mortgage.ai's AI pre-checks lender criteria before you apply, which removes the most common cause of delay — an application sent to the wrong lender.

What is the difference between buying, moving and buy-to-let?

First-time buyer mortgages are affordability-led with high-LTV and government-scheme access. Home mover mortgages usually involve porting an existing deal or a new purchase plus sale, with equity as deposit. Buy-to-let mortgages are assessed on rental cover (typically 125–145% ICR) rather than personal income.

Can I get a mortgage agreement in principle without affecting my credit score?

Yes. Most UK lenders run a soft search for an Agreement in Principle, which is not visible to other lenders. Elena's eligibility check is entirely credit-search free — it models lender criteria rather than pulling your file.

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