News Articles

As you'll know, we encourage everyone who aspires to own their own place, during these times of stratospheric property prices, to consider sharing to achieve their goal. That said, if you're currently renting or living with your parents, at least you have a home; how challenging it must be to be...

Many people find themselves when caring for someone who lives nearby, whether a close friend or family member, considering moving that person into their own home for various reasons. It might be because the person's care needs have become greater or, for example, they've just been released from...

Imagine not only choosing jointly to buy property with some friends but also to knock it down and completely redesign it? Might this be possible without falling out completely? Happily, the answer is yes, according to one recent media report. A chap called David bought a home in Camberwell...

Millennials get a fairly harsh press for example with studies suggesting that they are set to be the most obese generation ever and accusations of frittering their disposable incomes away on avocado toast and frequent holidays. But the real issue is whether they'll ever be able to buy their own...

The Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 - well, actually, any Olympics really(!) - should give inspiration to anyone considering sharing a property, particularly with relative strangers. Why? Well, there's the small matter of the Olympic Villages, where, for this Winter Olympics, some 2,952...

Singer George Ezra's new album 'Staying At Tamara's' has a wonderful house-sharing story attached to it and one which indeed gave the title to the album! The 'Budapest' singer revealed in various media reports that he took himself away from his native London to spur his creative juices to...

If you are aged 55 or over, you can part buy a property in England using the Older Persons Shared Ownership Scheme (OPSO). As with the standard shared ownership schemes, you buy any home that's for sale on a shared ownership basis i.e. part-rent/part-buy, buying a share of between 25% and 75% of...

Property Buyers Match must draw up a co-ownership agreement Property Buyers Match must draw up a co-ownership agreement to protect their share in the property. When you buy a property jointly with friends, family, flat mates, you share the property as tenants in...

While you're weighing up various options for rented accommodation, you may well wish to consider if the opportunity to care and share with the elderly suits you. What normally happens is a younger person moves into and shares the home of a single, elderly person and pays either an affordable rent -...

30 years ago the thought of buying a home with a stranger may have been something that no one would consider seriously. Now with home ownership on the decline and property prices at record breaking levels, first time buyers are teaming up with other like-minded buyers they've met online to get...

House Sharing Tips Part 7: sharing a mortgage and a house to access the property ladder is undoubtedly taking a positive step in life: it is your investment into a brighter future; having aspirations and dreams which you work hard to achieve is pure creativity and finding a house sharer who also...

When considering who you might share a mortgage and house with to get on the property ladder, it is reasonable to consider members of your own family early on in the process. Should Ed Miliband get the keys of 10 Downing Street in the 2015 election, he won't be sharing with his...

House Sharing Tips Part 5: now you've opted for sharing a house with others as your way onto the property ladder, you'll need to ensure that anyone you share with will help you create the right environment for sharing. Not only must you find sharers that you personally get on with but these must...

House Sharing Tips Part 4: house sharing with someone you get along with is a must. It is why most experts are predicting No 10 being shared by Ed Milliband and Nicola Sturgeon if Labour gets the most seats after the Having many things in common with someone is highly important for...

Barclays Bank suggests buying in a group Being able to afford to buy a property in England is becoming harder with rising house prices and a shortage of properties to buy. The Government are doing what they can with Help to Buy and Shared Ownership, but neither are solutions for affording to the...

House Sharing Tips Part 3: house sharing with someone you have lived with before is for for many the most obvious choice. In fact some analysts are suggesting this will be the most likely decision for David Cameron, if the Conservatives don't get a majority vote, is to continue their house sharing...

Share a Mortgage and save thousands in rent First-time buyers typically spend around £42,000 renting over seven years before owning their own property, according to research from Santander mortgages. For an average UK house worth £250,000 they will also have had to secure at least a...

Make Sure Your Profile Attracts the Right Mortgage Buddy and Not an Identity Thief We are very responsible in helping people understand how to stay safe when first getting to know someone online, and once you are happy, in person. An area less touched on however, is the risk of falling foul to...

People often ask us if there is a way to protect their individual financial interests if they share a mortgage with someone but each sharer has an unequal amount of deposit Below, we've printed one such question and our answer, which we hope illustrates how you can do just this when...

House Sharing Tips Part 2: upset neighbours can make sharing a home hard and there is nothing worse than living with someone who keeps upsetting your neighbours. You need to consider who you share your house with carefully as, while a harmonious share can work brilliantly, choosing the wrong person...

House Sharing Tips Part 1: house sharing with others can sometimes be the best and only realistic way to become property owners. What can put people off is the thought of sharing ownership of a property with other people, whom you may fall out with, and having to stay in the arrangement...

Rent or Buy? (or To Rent or not To Rent...) Rent or Buy...That is the question. Are you stuck renting? Do you want to buy your own home but can't afford it on your own?  Did you know we host a whole community of like-minded people who all want to pool resources so they can...

House deposit - saving up enough deposit to secure a mortgage and get on the property ladder can be a daunting prospect but, like so many things in life, it's all about planning, preparation and taking your opportunities. For a standard - 10% - deposit for an average house in the UK [corrected for...

Buddy Up with Share a Mortgage Searching for a Mortgage Buddy is easy: you'll be able to find the right person to share a mortgage with by examining their detailed profile. You can search by:  Amount of deposit you are looking for Location you want to buy in Pets/No Pets Smoking/No Smoking...

Question from Celia George about Sharing a Mortgage with low incomes Hi there, my request might seem off the wall, but maybe you can help me. My name is Celia George, I’m 23 and have recently finished a course in the entertainment industry; Acting dancing, singing.  I am slowly...

Pros Cons of Joint Ownership Everyone wants to own their own property; however until you earn enough money, you’ll either spend thousands in rent or get stuck living at home with mum and dad. These seem to be the only perceived options, however you could joint own a property and get on the...

Protect Your Personal Data – Keep Your Eye on the Ball We are spending more and more of our time online and it’s important to stay vigilant as to where and with whom you share certain types of personal information and data. This is especially so when talking to people at Share...

The Government has announced a London Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme which purports to bring home ownership within the scope of many currently frustrated first time buyers in the capital. The new venture is due to be launched in February and increases the maximum equity loan size to 40%....

Leaving University - next steps getting a job and joining the property ladder You’ve just spent 3 to 5 years of glorious independence; studying at University to set yourself up for a career down your chosen path. You have bathed in the celebrations of getting a 2:1 or just missed and got a 2:2,...

Before a Mortgage Lender will agree to lend to you a penny they will first go through some checks. The 2 key checks are: a)      affordability; and b)      credit check.  If you get turned down because of your credit rating by one mortgage lender, it is possible that another mortgage...