Mortgage & Protection Guides

Found a property that needs so much work a normal lender will not mortgage it? Here are the main UK mortgage, bridging and refurbishment finance options to consider.

Around half of the first-time buyers we help at Drummonds Finance Group have some family money in their deposit, and the proportion keeps rising as prices in areas like Oxford and Bicester stay well above the national average. Lenders are entirely comfortable with gifted deposits. What trips people up is not the gift itself but the paperwork and checks around it, which tend to arrive as a surprise partway through a purchase. This guide explains what actually counts as a gift,

If you are self-employed and trying to get a mortgage, you have probably heard something along the lines of "it is harder for you than someone who is employed." That is partially true, but it is also a bit misleading. The reality is that self-employed mortgages are not harder; they are just different. The lender is doing the same assessment; they just need to look at your income differently. And how they do that varies enormously from one lender to the next. This guide explai

These are the questions we get asked most often at Drummonds Finance Group. Some are from first-time buyers just starting out. Some are from landlords, people coming off fixed rates or borrowers who have hit a wall somewhere in the process. We have tried to answer each one properly rather than just giving you a vague two-line response. If your specific situation is not covered here, call us and we will give you a straight answer. 1. How much can I borrow? Most lenders use a m

Getting onto the property ladder has never been easy, and for a lot of young buyers right now, it is genuinely hard. Mortgage affordability is tight, property prices in areas like Oxford and Bicester are well above the national average, and saving a deposit while paying rent takes years. Many parents want to help, but going on the deeds of their child's property brings its own complications. A joint borrower sole proprietor mortgage, which solves this problem neatly, lets you

If your mortgage deal is coming to an end, you are in good company. Thousands of homeowners across Oxford, Bicester and the wider UK are facing the same decision right now: do you fix again, jump on a tracker, or sit tight and see what happens? It is one of the most common questions we get at Drummonds Finance Group, and the honest answer is that it depends on your circumstances. But there is a lot we can explain about the current market and what each option actually means fo

House viewings are exciting, especially if it’s your first time buying or investing. But it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and overlook important details. Whether you’re viewing properties in Oxford, Bicester or beyond, asking the right questions can help you avoid costly surprises and make a more informed decision. Here’s a helpful list of thoughtful questions to ask during any property viewing 1. Why is the owner selling? This can give you insight into how motivated

Buying a home is exciting, but it can also feel confusing with all the jargon you come across. Two phrases that often cause a bit of head scratching are Mortgage in Principle and Full Mortgage Offer. They sound similar, but they mean very different things, and it is worth understanding the difference so you know where you stand in the buying process. What is a Mortgage in Principle? A Mortgage in Principle, sometimes called an Agreement in Principle or Decision in Principle,

Drummonds Finance Group is a Mortgage Broker Firm based in Oxford and Bicester. We want to provide you with some developments happening all around Oxfordshire. Hopefully, this will help you decide what area might be a good or bad property investment. Oxfordshire is experiencing a significant wave of residential, commercial, infrastructure, educational, healthcare, and innovation-driven development. Here's a sector-by-sector overview of the most impactful projects: 🏡 Major Ho

Whether you're a first-time buyer, moving home, or remortgaging, one of the first questions you're likely to ask is: "How much can I borrow for a mortgage?" In 2026, with interest rates still fluctuating and lenders tightening affordability criteria, understanding how borrowing capacity is calculated is more critical than ever. In this blog, we explain what lenders look for, how much you could borrow, and how to maximise your mortgage options, with expert guidance from Drummo