Michael Ridings - Mortgage Adviser

01/09/2026

🏡 You've saved the deposit… but have you budgeted for actually moving?

This is something I always try to discuss with first-time buyers, because getting the keys isn't the only expense involved.

It's very easy to concentrate on:

💰 The deposit
🏡 The purchase price
📈 The mortgage payment

…and forget about all the other costs that can suddenly arrive at roughly the same time.

Depending on your circumstances, that could include:

⚖️ Solicitor/conveyancing costs
📊 Survey or valuation costs
🚚 Removals or van hire
🏠 Stamp duty, where applicable
🔑 Rent and mortgage overlap
💷 Council tax and utilities
🛋 Furniture
📺 Appliances
🌐 Broadband and other set-up costs

And then there's the inevitable first trip to IKEA/B&Q where you somehow go in for one thing and leave £300 poorer. 😂

When I'm helping someone prepare for a mortgage, I'm not just interested in whether a lender says they can afford it.

I want them to feel comfortable with the whole move.

Buying your first home should be exciting — and a little planning beforehand can help make sure the first few weeks aren't spent staring at your bank balance wondering where it all went! 😂🏡🔑

⚠️ Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

28/08/2026

☀️ Surely this is what summer weekends are supposed to look like?

BBQ fired up.

Something cold to drink.

Sunshine.

Friends and family.

And one person repeatedly cutting open the chicken because they're absolutely convinced it's still pink in the middle. 😂

Running a business means completely switching off isn't always easy.

There's normally an email to answer, a case I'm thinking about or something I suddenly remember I need to do on Monday.

But I'm getting better at remembering that weekends are important too.

The mortgages will still be there on Monday.

The sunshine in Britain definitely isn't guaranteed to be. 😂☀️🍺

Hope everyone has a brilliant weekend!

25/08/2026

🧩 Mortgage broking is basically solving puzzles for a living.

And strangely, that's probably the part of the job I enjoy most.

A client comes to me and something doesn't quite fit…

Maybe it's:

🏡 The property
💷 The income
📄 Employment history
📉 Previous credit issues
🌍 Visa status
🔑 Or simply finding a lender whose criteria fits the situation

Then the detective work starts. 🔎

I've been doing this long enough to know that when the obvious answer doesn't work, it doesn't necessarily mean there isn't an answer.

Sometimes you've just got to keep looking for that missing piece.

And anyone who's followed this page for a while will know I'm not particularly good at putting a tricky case down until I've worked it out. 😂

It's probably why I still genuinely enjoy being a mortgage broker after all these years.

Every case is a slightly different puzzle. 🧩🏡

⚠️ Mortgage lending is subject to individual circumstances, affordability and lender criteria. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

24/08/2026

You never want to think about Christmas too early!

But if you are wanting to be in a new home for Christmas 🎄 🏡 now is the perfect time to start looking at your options

Want to Be in Your New Home Before Christmas?

August has arrived, and if moving before Christmas is your goal, **now is the perfect time to get the ball rolling.**

A typical house purchase can take **around three months or longer**, depending on things like:

🏡 Whether there's a chain
📑 Your income or personal circumstances
🔑 Selling your current home
⚖️ Legal enquiries and searches
🏢 Leasehold or shared ownership properties

Every purchase is different, and some move much quicker while others take a little longer.

If you'd love to be putting up the Christmas tree in your new home this year, don't wait until autumn to start.

Get your Agreement in Principle, understand your budget, and be ready when the right property comes along.

📩 If you're thinking about moving before Christmas, let's start the conversation today.

*Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.*

24/08/2026

🏡 One of my favourite things about this job isn't actually mortgages.

It's hearing what people plan to do once they've got the house.

The decorating ideas.

The new kitchen.

Which room is going to become the office.

Where the Christmas tree will go.

The argument over who gets which side of the wardrobe… 😂

As a mortgage broker, I spend my days talking about rates, affordability, deposits, criteria and paperwork.

But nobody really gets excited about owning a mortgage.

They get excited about owning their home.

That's quite an easy thing to forget when you're staring at numbers on a screen all day.

The mortgage is simply the bit I help with.

What comes afterwards is the exciting part. ❤️🏡

⚠️ Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

21/08/2026

🐶 Sometimes you've just got to know when to let go…

Unfortunately, nobody has explained that concept to this dog. 😂

And actually, mortgages can be a little similar.

I regularly speak to people who are determined to stay with their existing lender because it feels like the easiest option.

Sometimes that's absolutely the right thing to do.

But sometimes, it's worth letting go and seeing what else is available.

When your mortgage deal is coming to an end, I can look at staying with your existing lender and compare that against options across the wider market.

Because loyalty is a fantastic quality in a dog…

I'm just not convinced it's always the best mortgage strategy. 🐶😂🏡

⚠️ Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

19/08/2026

😇 Just Came Across This Again Today…

I received this message from a client a while ago and stumbled across it again today.

“You’re a mortgage angel” 😂

I’ve been called many things during my years in financial services… but that one still makes me smile!

Behind every mortgage application is someone trying to buy a home, move their family, improve their circumstances or simply get something important sorted.

Knowing that we’ve made that process a little easier for someone is what makes the job worthwhile. 🏡

Still not sure about the wings and halo though… 😂😇

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

14/08/2026

Well… that nearly finished me off! 😂🚨

Just putting the kids to bed, nice and peacefully, when suddenly EVERY PHONE IN THE HOUSE starts making that noise! 😳

For approximately 2 seconds I assumed:

🔥 The country was on fire
☄️ An asteroid was incoming
🧟 The apocalypse had begun
🏦 Or, possibly even worse… a lender had changed their criteria at 7pm on a Friday.

Thankfully, it was a wildfire warning due to the extremely dry conditions.

A serious message and definitely one worth paying attention to — but I think my heart rate has only just returned to normal! 😂

So, no disposable BBQs, firepits, fireworks or anything else likely to start a fire.

And perhaps a small warning before the next emergency alert would be nice…

“Mike, we’re about to make your phone scream. Brace yourself.” 😂🚨

Stay safe everyone — and enjoy the sunshine responsibly! ☀️

12/08/2026

Well… that didn’t quite go to plan! 🌘😂

Like many people today, I was looking forward to seeing the partial solar eclipse.

I even had my eclipse glasses ready…

The result?

📸 Picture 1: What I was expecting.
📸 Pictures 2, 3 & 4: What my phone actually managed to capture!

Safe to say my photography career isn’t taking off anytime soon! 😂

It did get me thinking though…

Buying a house can feel a bit like watching an eclipse.

From the outside, it looks simple.

But behind the scenes there’s a lot going on that you don’t always see:
☀️ Mortgage applications
📄 Underwriting
🏡 Valuations
⚖️ Solicitors
📞 Estate agents
💰 Lenders

When everything lines up, it’s a brilliant moment.

And when it doesn’t… well, it can sometimes look a bit like my eclipse photos! 😆

Thankfully, unlike my photography skills, helping people navigate the mortgage process is something I’m much better at.

Did anyone manage to get a better eclipse photo than me? Please tell me someone did! 🌘📸

⚠️ Remember, never look directly at the sun without appropriate eye protection.

30/07/2026

🎉 Good News for Homebuyers and Homeowners!

The Bank of England has announced that the Base Rate will remain unchanged at 3.75%.

While some people were hoping for a rate cut today, there's still plenty of positivity to take from the announcement.

✅ Stability brings confidence.

For buyers, movers and homeowners, a stable Base Rate helps create a more predictable mortgage market. It also allows lenders to continue competing for business, which is exactly what we've been seeing over recent months.

We've already witnessed many lenders reducing mortgage rates and introducing new products, despite today's Base Rate remaining the same.

If you're thinking about:

🏡 Buying your first home
🔑 Moving house
💷 Remortgaging
📈 Reviewing your current deal

Now is still a fantastic time to explore your options.

Remember, the Bank of England Base Rate is only one factor that influences mortgage pricing. The best mortgage for you depends on your individual circumstances and the products available across the market.

As a whole-of-market mortgage broker, we're here to help you find the right solution—not just today's headline.

📩 If you've been waiting to see today's announcement before making your next move... consider this your sign to start the conversation.

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.