Category: Independent Mortgage Brokers

Northern Ireland Independent Mortgage Brokers. We have Mortgage Advisors throughout Northern Ireland. Appointments available to suit you. Telephone and home appointments available.

Best Mortgage Broker Northern Ireland | January 2026 Rate War Update

UK Mortgage Price War 2026: What Northern Ireland Homebuyers Need to Know This Week

The UK mortgage market has kicked off January 2026 with a massive “price war,” following the Bank of England’s recent decision to lower the base rate to 3.75%. For homeowners and buyers in Northern Ireland—from Belfast to Enniskillen—this week brings some of the most competitive rates we have seen in over two years.

As your local Northern Ireland mortgage experts, we’ve broken down the top news and how it impacts your wallet.

1. Rates Drop Below 3.5%: The New Benchmark

This week, the UK’s “Big Six” lenders triggered a series of rate cuts, making it an ideal time to compare mortgage deals.

  • The Big Winners: Lenders like Nationwide and Lloyds have introduced 2-year fixed rates as low as 3.47% (60% LTV).
  • HSBC & Santander: Significant reductions have been applied to 5-year fixed terms, perfect for NI families looking for long-term stability.
  • NI Impact: With local house prices often more accessible than the UK average, these lower rates mean monthly repayments for a typical semi-detached home in Co. Antrim or Co. Down are becoming significantly more affordable.

2. A “Booming” Market: Product Choice at an 18-Year High

According to recent data, there are more mortgage products available right now than at any point since 2008.

  • 74% Surge in Activity: Buyers are flooding the market to lock in rates before the spring rush.
  • Lender Confidence: With the UK economy showing 0.3% growth and inflation cooling, banks are eager to lend. If you’ve been waiting on the sidelines, the current “January Sale” on interest rates provides a strong entry point.

3. Major Boost for Northern Ireland First-Time Buyers

Getting on the property ladder in Northern Ireland just got easier this week thanks to new lending criteria:

  • Higher Income Multiples: Nationwide and Metro Bank are now offering up to 6x income for qualifying professionals, helping you bridge the gap in competitive areas like South Belfast or Derry/Londonderry.
  • 100% Mortgages: On January 13, 2026, new “track record” mortgages were launched specifically for renters, allowing some buyers to secure a home with a 0% deposit.
  • Low-Deposit Rates: 90% LTV rates (requiring only a 10% deposit) have dropped to roughly 4.06%, the lowest level in years.

4. Expert Advice: Should You Fix Now?

With the Bank of England base rate at 3.75% and rumors of a further cut to 3.5% in February, the big question is whether to “fix” now or wait.

While rates are falling, the best deals often disappear quickly as lenders hit their targets. To see how much you could save or to get a mortgage Agreement in Principle, contact a local broker today.

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Barclays Cuts Mortgage Rates: New Offers Below 4%

Barclays has announced it will be reducing rates across its residential purchase and remortgage range, with some product mortgage rates below 4%.

The residential purchase only green home five-year fixed, with a product fee of £899 will be lowered from 4.13% to 3.99%.

The residential purchase remortgage only premier two-year fixed rate with a fee of £999 at 60% LTV has been reduced from 4.46% to 4.20%.

Barclays will also introduce a residential purchase only five-year fixed with a rate of 3.99%. This comes with a product fee of £899 at 60% LTV, minimum loan is £5k and maximum loan £2m.

The mortgage rate changes at Barclays will come into effect from 13 February.

Get in touch with a local Mortgage Broker

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Understanding the Halifax First-Time Buyer Boost

When selecting a first mortgage, factors beyond interest rates must be considered, including associated costs and process simplicity. The Halifax First Time Buyer Boost enables borrowing up to 5.5 times income for first-time buyers with a minimum income of £50,000, subject to credit profiles and specific criteria.

When choosing a first mortgage for your client, there are more things to consider than just the interest rate. You also need to consider all the associated costs involved, and how easy the process will be – from application to completion.

When it comes to helping first time buyers, we know that the main obstacles are size of the deposit and being able to borrow the amount needed to buy the home.

The Halifax First Time Buyer Boost offers an increased 5.5x loan to income. The following criteria applies

At lease one applicant is a first time buyer
Total income on application is £50,000 or more
Maximum borrowing is 90% of the property value
The First Time Buyer Boost is not available where the mortgage is on shared equity or shared ownership schemes.
For applications with any element of self-employed income the loan to value boost will not apply
Subject to applicants credit profile.

Get in touch with a local mortgage broker.

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Skipton make life easier for first time buyers

With all the challenges facing first-time buyers, Skipton Building Society felt it was time to act, to bring the ladder closer to first time buyers and remove some of the upfront costs and barriers that stand in their way.

They have introduced the first-time buyer range, a selection of products and offers designed to give purchasers more opportunity to realise their dream of buying their first property.

Up to £1,500 cashback on selected products. Minimum loan size is £125,00.
Up to 5.5x loan to income on up to 90% LTV for incomes >£100,000
Extra £250 cashback for Skipton Lifetime ISA customers. (Terms and conditions [PDF] apply.)
Up to 40 year terms available.
Income Booster (Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor).
Free standard valuation for mortgage purposes.
No completion fee on our first-time buyer exclusive products.
Up to 95% LTV (including new build houses and flats).
Fixed rate options.

Our Track Record mortgage offers first-time homebuyers with a recent 12-month track record of paying rent up to 100% LTV, to help them buy their own home (eligibility criteria apply).

Income Booster mortgages (Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor) – we allow up to 4 applicants and supporting borrowers don’t have to be related to the main applicant to qualify.

Products available for major government schemes including Shared Ownership.

First Time Buyer

Northern Ireland remains the UK’s most affordable path to homeownership. First-time buyers can benefit from the Co-Ownership scheme and Stamp Duty relief on homes up to £300,000. With local house prices averaging below the UK average your dream home is more attainable here. Take the first step toward your own front door today.

First Time Buyer mortgageWith so many mortgage products on the market and numerous incentives for the first time buyer, it is vital to obtain the services of a Mortgage Broker.

We have specialist Mortgage Brokers throughout Northern Ireland with expert knowledge of all the mortgage options.

Contact us using the form below to request a call back.

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By submitting this form you agree to being contacted by a regulated mortgage broker to assist with your query.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or any other debt that is secured on it.

First Time Buyer Mortgage

If you are planning on buying your first home talk with a local mortgage broker before you start viewing properties. This will give you an idea of how much you can borrow based on your income, the amount of deposit saved and your credit rating.

Your local advisor will also guide you on the other costs involved in buying a property such as solicitor’s fees, surveys and insurance and stamp duty.

The information provided on this website is for information and guidance purposes only and does not represent financial advice. Financial advice is provided by our partner advisers who are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

First Time Buyers

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House prices not affordable except in Northern Ireland

The average cost of a home in England was £298,000 in the 12 months to the end of March last year, equal to 8.6 years of average household income, the latest official data shows.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) calculates this affordability level on an annual disposable household income of £35,000 during the period. An acceptable level of house price affordability is at five years of household disposable income.

It adds that since 1999 “house prices have increased twice as quickly as household incomes in England; house prices in Wales and Scotland have also increased more rapidly than incomes, but the differences are more moderate”.

The department points out that average house price to disposable household income ratios were 5.8 years in Wales – based on homes priced at £205,000 and £35,000 average incomes.

In Scotland, the ratio is 5.6 years – based on homes priced at £185,000 and £33,000 average incomes.

While in Northern Ireland the ratio is 5 years — based on homes priced at £160,000 and £32,000 average incomes.

The ONS says for low-income households, average-priced homes in all four countries have been “unaffordable” since 1999, when it began collecting data in this series.

It says only the 10% of highest-income households in England could afford an average-priced home with fewer than five years of household income in the financial year to 2023.

This is in comparison to Northern Ireland where an average-priced home was affordable with an average household income.

Contact us to discuss your mortgage options

Income Plus multiples for First Time Buyers

Income plus affordability for first time buyers. Leeds Building Society

A range of new mortgages and improvements in assessing borrowers affordability to repay will result in Leeds Building Society offering first-time buyers up to £66,000 more on average.

The Income Plus mortgages could result in aspiring homeowners with a minimum household income of £40,000 to borrow up to 5.5 times their earnings, compared to 4.5 times on the Leeds BS standard lending.

These changes will result in the average first-time buyer being able to borrow a maximum of £356,000 through Income Plus compared to £290,000 under its standard lending.

Single and joint borrowers, including those who are self-employed, are eligible for Income Plus mortgages which are available at up to 95% loan to value, including new build houses (new build flats 85% loan to value).

They can also be combined with the society’s existing green affordability benefit which enhances the affordability on a new build home with an Energy Performance Certificate of A or B.

Income Plus will be available via the society’s intermediary partners only.

Rates on the seven Income Plus mortgages range from 4.40% at 75% LTV (£999 product fee) to 5.15% (£999 product fee, £500 cashback) and 5.19% (no product fee, no cashback) at 95% LTV. All of the mortgages are fixed for five years and include a standard home valuation survey.

Income plus will support the increasing number of first-time buyers facing affordability constraints.

To discuss your mortgage options contact us.

Reduction in 5 year fixed rates

The average five-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.66%, down from 5.33% 12 months ago according to the Rightmove weekly mortgage tracker

The data shows the average two-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.92%, down from 5.76% a year ago. A significant reduction of 0.84%.

The property portal calculated that the average monthly mortgage payment on a typical first-time buyer type property when taking out an average five-year fixed, 85% loan-to-value (LTV) mortgage, is now £1,093 per month, down from £1,159 per month a year ago.

Meanwhile, the average 85% LTV five-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.69%, down from 5.40% a year ago, while the average 60% LTV five-year fixed mortgage rate is now 4.05%, down from 4.91% a year ago.

To discuss your mortgage options contact us.

First time buyer rates still low amid turbulence

Rightmove has released its weekly mortgage report.

The current average asking price of a typical first time buyer property is £225,340.

For someone taking out an average five-year fixed, 85% LTV mortgage, the average monthly mortgage repayment on this type of home is now £1,104 per month if repaying over 25 years, compared with £1,138 per month a year ago (when the average first-time buyer property asking price was £223,426).

The average rate for a 95% loan to value mortgage fixed for 2 years is 5.65%. The larger deposit a buyer can put towards the purchase the lower mortgage rate that can be sourced.

For example the average 2 year fixed rate for a buyer with a 25% deposit is 4.85%. The average 5 year fixed rate is 4.74%.

To discuss your mortgage options get in touch with a local broker through Best Mortgage Services.

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Mortgage rate cuts from Virgin and Co Op

The Co-operative bank for intermediaries has relaunched selected mainstream and buy-to-let (BTL) products for new business and retention products while Virgin Money has launched seven-day specials and reduced selected rates.

The co-operative bank for intermediaries has cut selected two- and five-year fixes by up to 0.32% in its residential range across new business and internal product switches.

Meanwhile, Virgin Money has launched three seven-day specials, which will be available until 22 July.

These include

75% LTV remortgage five-year fix at 4.40%
80% LTV purchase five-year fix at 4.46% with a free valuation
90% LTV purchase five-year fix at 4.75% with a free valuation
All three come with a fee of £995.

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