Getting a mortgage is one of those moments in life that feels both exciting and overwhelming. You’ve found a home you love, or you’re starting to look, but the path from first viewing to mortgage offer can feel like a maze.
This guide walks through the process step by step, explaining who’s involved, what happens when, and how to keep things moving smoothly.
Step 1: Check your finances
Before talking to lenders, take a clear look at your finances.
How much deposit do you have? What’s your monthly budget once bills and travel are covered?
Lenders will assess three main things:
- Your income and regular expenses
- Your debts and credit record
- The size of your deposit compared to the property price
It’s worth checking your credit file with one of the UK’s free agencies (Experian, Equifax, or TransUnion). Fixing small errors early can make a big difference later.
Step 2: Speak to a mortgage adviser
Before you start viewing homes, have a chat with a qualified mortgage adviser.
Most advisers don’t charge for an initial conversation, and it can save weeks later by preventing applications that would otherwise be declined.
A mortgage adviser can:
- Work out how much you could realistically borrow
- Flag any issues with income, credit, or deposit size
- Explain which lenders are most flexible for your situation
- Arrange a Mortgage in Principle when you’re ready
Need help finding a mortgage adviser?
We have made it easy to search for advisers who could be an excellent fit for your situation:
Step 3: Get a Mortgage in Principle (MIP)
A Mortgage in Principle, sometimes called an Agreement in Principle, is a short pre-check from a lender. It gives you an idea of how much you could borrow and shows sellers you’re serious.
You can get one online or through your adviser. It doesn’t tie you to a lender and won’t affect your credit score if it’s a soft search.
Having a MIP in hand before you start viewing homes can save time and make your offers stronger. A MIP is usually valid for 6 months, provided your circumstances remain unchanged.
Step 4: Find a property and make an offer
Once you’ve found a property you want to buy, you’ll make an offer through the estate agent. When it’s accepted, things move quickly, this is when your mortgage application really begins.
Tell your mortgage adviser straight away. They’ll confirm whether the property type (for example, a flat above a shop or a leasehold home) could raise any red flags with lenders.
It’s also the right moment to instruct a conveyancer, a solicitor who handles the legal work.
Before you commit, check they’re on your lender’s approved panel. If they’re not, your lender might require you to use (and pay for) a second firm, doubling costs and slowing the process.
Need help finding a conveyancer?
Use UK Property Looker’s matching tool to find a conveyancer for your house purchase.
Step 5: Submit a full mortgage application
Your adviser or lender will now gather all the necessary information for a complete application.
That usually includes:
- Payslips and proof of income
- Recent bank statements
- ID and proof of address
- Details about the property and the agreed purchase price
The lender’s underwriters review this information carefully.
It’s normal for them to ask for extra documents or clarifications, respond quickly to avoid delays.
Step 6: Valuation and underwriting
Next comes the lender’s valuation. This isn’t the same as a home survey (read more about that in our blog posts related to surveying), it’s mainly to confirm that the property is worth what you’ve agreed to pay.
If the valuation comes back lower, you have a few options:
- Renegotiate the price with the seller
- Increase your deposit
- Switch to another lender with different criteria
Once the valuation is approved and underwriting checks are complete, your lender can issue a formal mortgage offer.
Step 7: Receive your mortgage offer
Your mortgage offer sets out the amount, rate, and conditions of your loan. It’s normally valid for three to six months, giving time for the legal work to finish.
At this stage, your solicitor will go through the contracts, carry out searches, and agree on a completion date with the seller’s solicitor.
Keep your adviser in the loop, they’ll help make sure all lender conditions are met before exchange.
Step 8: Exchange and completion
When everything’s ready, you’ll exchange contracts.
At that point, you pay your deposit and the sale becomes legally binding.
On completion day, your lender releases the mortgage funds to the seller’s solicitor, and the property officially becomes yours. You collect the keys and can move in.
Keeping the process on track
A few small habits make the process easier:
- Avoid changing jobs or taking on new debt while applying.
- Reply quickly to requests from your adviser or solicitor.
- Keep copies of all your documents in one place.
The more prepared you are, the smoother it all feels.
The outcome
By the time you complete, you’ll have gone through several rounds of approval, financial, legal, and property-related. Each step builds confidence between you, your lender, and your new home.
It’s not about rushing to the finish line. It’s about understanding each step so nothing catches you off guard.