First-Time Buyer Mortgage Advice

Get Your First Home with Calm, Clear Mortgage Guidance

Buying your first place is a big step, but you don’t have to figure it all out alone. We’ll help you understand deposits, affordability, credit scores and each stage of the process – with no pressure, no jargon and support from start to finish.

Book Intro Call Book Mortgage Strategy Call

Not sure which call you need? See the difference between Intro & Strategy Calls

Mortgages for Broadstairs, Thanet & the wider Kent coast

Worried you might be missing something?

Most first-time buyers we speak to share the same concerns: “Is my deposit enough?”, “Will my credit score hold me back?”, “What if the bank says no?”.

Our job is to join the dots. We’ll help you understand where you stand today, what’s realistic for you, and what needs to happen next – so you can move ahead with confidence instead of guesswork.

Is my deposit enough?

We’ll explain how lenders view your savings, gifted deposits and low-deposit schemes.

How much can I really afford?

We’ll look at income, commitments and future plans to work out realistic budgets – not just headline figures.

Is my credit going to be a problem?

From missed payments to thin credit files, we’ll help you understand what lenders will actually care about.

Nervous about “getting it wrong”?

We’ll break the process into clear steps and talk things through in normal language, not bank-speak.

Your first-time buyer roadmap

From first questions to completion, here’s how we’ll guide you through. You’ll always know what’s happening, why, and what we’re doing behind the scenes.

Step 1 (optional)

Intro Call

Not sure where to start? This short, informal call helps you sense-check your ideas, ask early questions and see if we’re the right fit – no obligation.

Best if you’re still exploring.

Step 2

Strategy Call

We take a deeper look at your goals, income, credit and timelines. Before the call you’ll complete a fact-find so we can run the numbers and prepare tailored options – including indicative affordability, monthly payments and protection ideas that fit your plans.

Step 3

Decision in Principle

When you’re ready, we research the market and recommend a lender that fits your situation. We then secure a Decision in Principle so you can view properties with confidence.

Step 4

Full Mortgage Application

We handle the paperwork, submit your application and liaise with the lender, estate agent, your solicitor – and your accountant if needed – to keep everything moving.

Step 5

Legal Work & Completion

Your solicitor completes the legal checks and contracts. We stay close, answering questions and nudging where needed, right through to getting the keys and settling in.

You’ll always know who is doing what and when.

Helpful tools while you’re planning

Prefer to play with the numbers first? These free tools give you a feel for what’s possible before we talk things through properly.

Monthly Mortgage Payment Calculator See how different loan amounts, terms and interest rates could look each month.

Mortgage Overpayment Calculator Check how small overpayments could save interest and shorten your mortgage term.

Stamp Duty Calculator Work out what you might owe on different purchase prices.

Mortgage Jargon Buster Plain-English explanations of the terms you’ll see in mortgage paperwork.

Intro Call vs Strategy Call – What’s the Difference?

Not sure which appointment to choose? These FAQs explain how each call works and what to expect.

Which call is right for me?

In short: if you’re just starting out and want a friendly chat about your options, an Intro Call is perfect. If you’re ready to look at detailed numbers and specific recommendations, a Strategy Call is the better fit.

Intro Call: informal, around 15 minutes, ideal for early questions and next steps.
Strategy Call: detailed, up to 60 minutes, includes research, figures and tailored advice.

If you’re unsure, don’t worry – book whatever feels closest, and we’ll make sure the conversation focuses on what matters most to you.

The Intro Call is a short, informal chat designed for those who want to explore their options before diving into the full mortgage process. It’s a great way to ask initial questions, understand how we can help, and decide on the best next steps.

The Strategy Call is a more in-depth conversation where we take a closer look at your mortgage goals, financial situation and eligibility. This call helps us outline potential options tailored to you, including indicative affordability and monthly payments.

If you're unsure which to choose, start with the Intro Call – we can always book a Strategy Call when you're ready for more detail.

Intro Calls take place either over the phone or via Microsoft Teams.

Strategy Calls are typically held via Microsoft Teams, but if you’d prefer to meet in person at our Broadstairs office, just reply to your confirmation email to let your adviser know.

No, there’s absolutely no cost for any of the mortgage calls. We believe in offering support and guidance upfront, so you can ask all the questions you need – completely obligation-free.

That’s completely fine. If you’re unsure, just pick the one that feels closest to your situation. During the call we’ll focus on the goals that matter most to you – and if you’d benefit from a more detailed Strategy Call afterwards, we can arrange that together.

The Intro Call is a quick, informal chat usually lasting around 15 minutes.

The Strategy Call is more detailed and typically lasts around 45–60 minutes, although we block out 90 minutes to ensure we have plenty of time to explore your situation, assess your options and answer all of your questions.

After the call, we’ll email you with a summary of what we discussed, along with any next steps. There’s no obligation to proceed, but if you’re ready, we’ll guide you through the mortgage process from start to finish.

Of course – life happens. You’ll find a reschedule button in your confirmation email so you can choose a new time that works better for you.

It’s not essential, but providing documents such as proof of income, your credit report and recent bank statements before a Strategy Call can be really helpful. It gives your adviser a chance to review your information and identify any potential hurdles ahead of time, so you can get the most out of the session.

Meet your first-time buyer team

You’ll always know who you’re dealing with. Your mortgage advice will be handled by James or Rob, with Lucy and Chrissie keeping everything on track behind the scenes.

James Brown, Director and Financial Adviser at Need Financial Planning

James Brown – DipFA CeMAP CeRER Director & Financial Adviser

Financial & Mortgage Advice

James specialises in helping clients see the bigger picture – from your first mortgage through to long-term financial planning, pensions and later-life lending.

Robert Brown, Director and Mortgage & Protection Adviser at Need Financial Planning

Robert Brown – CeMAP ACA Director & Mortgage & Protection Adviser

Mortgages & Protection

Rob is calm, clear and detail-focused. He helps you understand your options, make confident decisions and ensures everything is set up properly — with exceptional protection advice to keep you and your loved ones secure.

Lucy Baron Office Manager

Case Management

Lucy keeps your application moving – chasing updates, coordinating paperwork and making sure you always know what’s happening next.

Chrissie Swain Admin & Marketing

Client Comms & Resources

Chrissie looks after the guides, updates and little touches that make the process feel clearer and more organised from day one.

What our clients say about us

We’re proud to have helped first-time buyers, home movers and remortgagers across Broadstairs, Thanet and beyond. Here’s what some of them had to say:

Free resource for first-time buyers

Download your First-Time Buyer Workbook

Our workbook brings everything together in one place – from budgeting and saving for your deposit to understanding credit reports, affordability and the costs of buying.

Get the free workbook

No email wall – just practical, printable checklists and worksheets you can use at your own pace.

Inside the workbook you’ll find:

Budgeting templates and a monthly spending tracker
Savings tracker for your deposit and other goals
Credit report checks and space to track actions
Income & document checklists for your application
A moving-home timeline so you know what happens when

THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE SECURING OTHER DEBTS AGAINST YOUR HOME.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.

IMPORTANT: With investments, your capital is at risk. Pensions and investments can go down in value as well as up, so you could get back less than you invest.

Need Financial Planning Ltd is registered in England and Wales no. 10901658. Registered office, 123 High Street, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1NQ. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Need Financial Planning Ltd is entered on the Financial Services Register https://register.fca.org.uk/ under reference 977136. If you wish to register a complaint, please write to [email protected] or telephone 01843 228800. A summary of our internal complaints handling procedures for the reasonable and prompt handling of complaints is available on request and if you cannot settle your complaint with us, you may be entitled to refer it to the Financial Ombudsman Service at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk or by contacting them on 0800 0234 567.