First-time Buyer

Dreaming of your very own pad? We can help turn your home owning dreams into a reality…

Google Rating
5.0
Based on 180 reviews
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Award Winning

First-time Buyer

Dreaming of your very own pad? We can help turn your home owning dreams into a reality…

Google Rating
5.0
Based on 180 reviews
js_loader

Award Winning

Have a ton of questions?
Feeling a bit overwhelmed by the whole process?

Let Frog Financial Management ease your worries and guide you smoothly onto the property ladder. We know buying a house is an exciting adventure, but it can also feel a bit daunting.

So, where do you start, and what exactly is involved?

At Frog Financial Management, we take care of all the financial details for you. As experienced mortgage brokers specialising in helping first-time buyers, we’re here for you every step of the way.

Your journey to owning your first home starts here. Let’s make it happen together!

First time buyers

How it works

How it works

What’s next?

As a first-time buyer, you’ve likely spent the past few years saving diligently to make your dream of owning a home a reality. Now, it’s time to take the next exciting step: discovering how much you can borrow.

Get mortgage advice when buying your first home

Navigating the world of mortgages can be complex, especially for the self-employed or those with variable earnings. That’s where a mortgage adviser comes in. We’ll help you find the most suitable and affordable mortgage for your personal situation.

During our mortgage advice process, we take the time to understand your circumstances and requirements. We have access to virtually every lender in the UK, allowing us to advise you on the right mortgage choice from the whole-of-market. We identify the most cost-effective lender for your needs and ensure you meet their criteria. Each lender has different requirements, and it’s crucial to match these to ensure everything runs smoothly.

Using the latest tools and our expertise, we conduct a detailed income and expenditure affordability assessment to ensure the level of borrowing you need will be approved by the lender. With our comprehensive assessments and access to almost all lenders, we strive to make your home-buying journey as smooth and worry-free as possible.

For many lenders, we have direct access to their underwriting teams and liaise with them throughout the process to ensure they fully understand your circumstances. Once your mortgage application is submitted, we manage the entire process from start to finish.

When to apply

Knowing when to make your mortgage applications is crucial.

Before you dive into the exciting process of viewing properties, it’s always a good idea to have your mortgage agreement in place. This is also known as an Agreement in Principle (AIP).

Ready to speak to a Mortgage Advisor?

Our team provides expert, unbiased mortgage advice. Get in touch today to start your journey toward homeownership.

Find the best rate in today’s mortgage market for your needs!

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Skip the time-consuming online mortgage calculators. At Frog Financial Management, our experts understand that the amount you can borrow depends on your unique circumstances. Lenders will consider whether you are buying jointly, your earnings, and your monthly credit commitments. These factors can cause significant variations in the amount you can borrow. By speaking with our specialist advisers before you start house hunting, you’ll gain the confidence that you can afford your dream home!

There are two parts to this question:

  1. Upfront costs: These include your deposit, solicitor fees, survey fees, and mortgage arrangement fees. Depending on current legislation and your personal circumstances, there may also be a Stamp Duty cost.
  2. Monthly commitments: Your regular mortgage payments and any other related expenses.

All these costs are based on your individual circumstances. To get accurate figures, give our advisers a call – they’ll provide you with precise information tailored to your situation.

If you’ve saved up and are ready to buy your first home, your first step should be to speak with our mortgage experts. We will guide you through the entire process, from figuring out what you can afford and providing the estate agents with proof of your affordability (known as an Agreement in Principle) to sourcing the right solicitor. We’ll be with you every step of the way.

Lenders will assess you based on three main areas: your credit history, your ability to repay the loan, and the security of the property you wish to buy. Each lender has individual criteria that determine whether they will accept your application. By providing full information to our advisers, they can review your situation and recommend the most suitable lender for you.

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Factors such as buying a leasehold property, being part of a large buying chain, or your vendor not having found a new property can all cause delays. However, by working with Frog Financial Management, we will coordinate with solicitors and estate agents to help you move into your new home as soon as possible.

“The bank of Mum and Dad” has become a common option as property prices continue to rise. First-time buyers often need help from their parents or a third party to fund a deposit, or even to take joint mortgages. Lenders now recognize these requirements and offer flexible options. We can help you find the right solution to suit your individual circumstances.

Whether you are self-employed, a contractor, working for an agency, or starting a new job, there are lenders willing to consider your unique circumstances. However, the mortgage market is constantly evolving, and so are each lender’s criteria.

Talk to our experts at Frog Financial Management. We stay up to date with the market and can find the perfect mortgage tailored to your needs. Let us help you navigate the complexities and secure the best deal for your situation.

Whether you are self-employed, a contractor, work for an agency, or are starting a new job, there are lenders who will consider lending based on your situation. The mortgage market and each lender’s criteria are constantly changing. Our experts stay up to date with the market and can find the right mortgage for you.

Lenders use your credit history to check for adverse credit events like payment defaults, CCJs, or bankruptcy, as well as to understand your current financial commitments. Each lender will assess this information differently. It’s important to note that when lenders access your credit report, it leaves a visible ‘footprint’. Too many enquiries can negatively impact your credit score. Our advisers, with over 18 years of experience, are adept at navigating lenders’ eligibility criteria and can guide you to the right lender with minimal impact on your credit rating.

A good place to start is by downloading your credit file for free at Checkmyfile. They offer a free, no-obligation 30-day trial. After the trial, you will be charged £14.99 per month if you choose to continue. We receive a small referral fee from Checkmyfile.

Quick Mortgage Calculator

Quick Mortgage Calculator

Find the best rate in today’s mortgage market for your needs!

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The rates displayed by our calulator are live rates and are the best in the mortgage marketplace right now. The figures are for illustrative purposes only and an actual quote would depend on your situation and circumstances, which we would be happy to discuss.

The mortgage market can be complex and confusing – that’s why we’re here! Check out our short guide to mortgage types

More and more people are choosing flexible ways of working and anyone who’s been a Contractor will know it’s far more complicated finding the right mortgage deal.

Mortgages for Contractors can be something of a minefield. Lenders differ in the way they assess a Contractor.

At Frog we work with every client individually. Whether you have just started Contracting or have been for many years, there are lenders out there that will consider your application.

We provide advice for the following Contract workers:

  •  Self-employed Contractors
  • Employed fixed/short term Contractors
  • Contractors working under Umbrella companies
  • Contractors with only a few months contracting experience
  • Agency workers with at least 12 months working history

We already advise business owners and company directors on protecting the things that are most important to them. So, we’re well-placed to advise on the  mortgage options if you if you are self-employed.

Lenders will class you as self-employed if you are a sole trader, a partner in a partnership or a company director with an identified percentage shareholding, typically 20% and above.

We can advise you on what you’ll need to supply to verify your self-employed status and with our expert, professional guidance, we can cut through the options and recommend the a suitable mortgage for your needs.

Cutting through the myths of mortgages for the self-employed:

  • There are several mainstream lenders who will lend to applicants with just one year’s trading figures, so there is no need to wait if you have recently become self-employed. However, the majority will want two years trading figures.
  • In general, lenders will work off the average of the last two years’ income figures:
    • For sole traders, this is the average of your last two years’ net profit (after all costs and expenses have been deducted from your turnover)
    • For limited company directors, lenders will use a combination of salary and dividend income
    • Some lenders will use salary and share of the net profit from a business, if you are a limited company director. If a director is not receiving all the profits available within the business, this option can yield greater affordability, if needed.

You’ll have access to all the same mortgage products available to employed applicants.

Frog Financial Management has specialist knowledge in the large loan mortgage market and many of our clients require borrowing in excess of £1,000,000.

Whether this is on a residential, investment or commercial property, we have extensive knowledge and contacts within the large loan arena. We have developed contacts with the lenders who understand and operate in this demanding marketplace.

We are able to advise on the options for your needs to achieve the level of borrowing you require.

Commercial lending is referred to a third party. Neither Frog Financial Management or The Right Mortgage Ltd are responsible for the advice received.

The interest rate you pay is fixed for a set number of years, so your monthly payments remain unchanged throughout this time, helping you to budget with confidence. Do you have a specific monthly budget in mind? With a fixed rate mortgage, even if rates in general rise, your mortgage payments won’t. Know exactly where you stand financially each month.

An interest-only mortgage gives you cheaper monthly payments on your home loan but you are not actually paying back any debt.

At the end of the mortgage term you will still owe your lender the amount that you borrowed, and therefore you need to have plans to repay this at the start of the loan. A repayment mortgage clears the debt by the end of the mortgage term. New regulatory requirements stipulate that lenders can provide interest-only mortgages, only if there is a credible strategy for repaying the capital.

Despite this, the majority of mortgage lenders have chosen not to offer interest-only residential mortgages, and where lenders do offer these mortgages, there is strict criteria to meet, before a lender will offer your mortgage on this basis.

This is why it is very important to seek advice when considering an interest-only mortgage, we are here to help.

The interest rate you pay is fixed for a set number of years, so your monthly payments remain unchanged throughout this time, helping you to budget with confidence. Do you have a specific monthly budget in mind? With a fixed rate mortgage, even if rates in general rise, your mortgage payments won’t. Know exactly where you stand financially each month.

An Offset mortgage allows you to offset savings balances to pay less interest on your mortgage. Think about it, you could pay off your mortgage earlier, saving you thousands of pounds!

Discount, Variable and Base Rate Tracker mortgages may mean your monthly payments will be lower compared to Fixed Rate Mortgages.

Lower payments when you need them most! You could take advantage of some of the lowest mortgage rates around.

Some of our Google Reviews

Excellent
5.0
Based on 180 reviews
review us on
I couldn’t recommend Frog Management more. Greg made the mortgage application process really easy for my boyfriend and I who were first time buyers. I’d first been in touch with Greg a year prior when we started our property search and once our offer was accepted I got straight back in contact with Greg who was prompt to get everything moving for us. I would highly recommend Frog Management!
The team at Frog have been fantastic throughout the entire process. Providing great advice and having a proactive approach, I can't recommend them enough!
The whole team at Frog were outstanding for us. Greg was our contact for our Mortgage application and he couldn't have been more helpful. He was always available and happy to help with anything, very knowledgeable and we really felt like he wanted the best for us. Charley and Danni also assisted us with insurance cover and they were very helpful and knowledgeable when it came to understanding the policies. They regularly checked in to see if they could help with the whole process, which was greatly appreciated. All the team made the house moving process that bit less stressful and are thoroughly recommended.
I recently worked with Charley to set up my contents insurance, and I couldn’t be happier with the experience. She was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and took the time to explain all the details of the policy, ensuring it met my needs perfectly.The process was smooth and efficient, and Charley made sure I understood exactly what was covered and how the policy worked. She also provided excellent customer service, answering all my questions promptly and with patience.I highly recommend Charley to anyone looking for reliable insurance advice and support. Thank you for making this process so easy and stress-free!
I can't recommend Frog Financial Management enough!They were friendly, helpful and really responsive. It really felt they went above and beyond for us (saving us a few extra quid too).
Had a great experience with Frog Financial management. They work proactively, give good advise and are always quick on the ball. Would very much recommend.
If you're looking for mortgage, insurance or any other financial protection advice, you really couldn't do any better than Greg, Charley and the rest of the Frog team. Since putting our house on the market, Greg was very quick to respond and generous with his time - always explaining things clearly and what our options were. With Frog's support, we had trust that we were making the right choices for our family.
The team at Frog are oustanding. A big thanks to Charley (who is amazing) at helping with my home insurance.Thank you very much
I can't thank Frog Financial enough! They made buying our first home so easy and stress free. Greg was so helpful throughout the whole process and really took time to explain things in detail. The rest of the team were also super helpful and proactive and so responsive to our emails and phone calls. I honestly cannot recommend them enough!
Greg, Ruth & the whole team at Frog Financial have been amazing at securing mortgages for myself and my sister. We have had lots of changes & challenges and they have been very helpful & quick at responding to multiple questions! For myself, being self employed, Greg worked wonders to find a lender that worked. Fingers crossed until it all completes!
I highly recommend Frog Financial Management. Charley is fantastic, so helpful and sorts us out every year. Than you
Can't recommend Craig and his team enough! Amazing family ran business who will work tirelessly to provide you the best service. Got us exactly what we wanted and was always just a phone call away if we had any queries or needed some advice and support.Will definitely be using them again.
I could not recommend using Frog financials more!They are quick to reply to any queries via email and on the phone. They provide well informed advice and are exceptionally friendly when answering questions.I will definitely be using them again in the future!
Greg and the team have been super helpful throughout the whole mortgage process! Greg has explained each part of the application with great detail to make sure we understand it fully. They were prompt in their replies and made this a completely stress-free experience, highly recommend!
Very professional and knowledgeable service with great detail and kindness, I have been using frog services now for 12 years and am very happy with the products they find for me
After trying various agents and insurers, Frog FM was able to secure exactly what I needed and for a reasonable premium. Professional and friendly service. I know who to go to first next time!
I first contacted Frog several years ago and they are now my "go to" company for all financial matters and advice. I have always found them friendly, efficient and easy to deal with, and I applaud their ability to convert "financial jargon" into everyday understandable language.I also especially appreciate that they will contact and remind me when I need to review some aspect of my finances. I can without hesitation fully recommend Frog and all their team members
Charley and Danni have been exceptional in assisting me with managing my insurance requirements. They offer an outstanding and effortless service.
Amazing.Charley and Greg were amazing in listening to my needs and being able to offer the best solution for me.Thank you Charley for your patience with me. You have been incredible.I like the fact that they are a local company.I strongly recommend them.
I have used Frog Financial for several mortgages and cannot recommend them enough. Extremely helpful, professional and efficient and always going above and beyond to make the process as smooth as possible and finding the best options for me. Everyone in the team is brilliant to work with and I will of course be using them for all future mortgages! Sam x
I dealt with Greg to get a mortgage on my first property - he was fantastic, helped educate me on the process as well as coming up with outside of the box solutions, really happy with the service and will 100% use him again in the future.
An exceptional service given. Everyone we have spoken with has gone above and beyond to help us and answer all questions we have. Can not recommend Frog financial management enough and will be using them again in the future.Helena & Jason
Greg and the team at Frog Financial have been excellent with finding me a mortgage a couple of years ago and managing the renewal recently. They have been able to find the best deals in the market and provide good options and advice based on our conversations. They are friendly, attentive and responsive and I highly recommend them.
Amazing team could not have done it without them.
Excellent service from Charley on a non-standard building and contents insurance. She was prompt, and knowledgeable, and helped clarify various issues
Phenomenal service. I have and will recommend Frog Financial to everyone. Informative, helpful, great communication, so kind, and we really felt like the whole team cared about us. Took so much of the stress out of the process. We have no doubt that we will use Frog again! 🐸
Arranged our mortgage deal and building insurance with Frog. They were really helpful throughout the whole process and we would have no hesitation at all recommending to others.
Just the best, Greg helped me find a mortgage for my first property when other mortgage brokers couldn't find one to fit my needs. They were great answering any questions I had and helped me a lot throughout the house buying process. Also helped find and set up house insurance. Will be continuing to use them in the future and I highly recommend them.
I was directed to Frog Financial in September 2018 and received excellent financial advice and general guidance. Since then I have requested them to investigate house insurance for me and have always signed up to the suggested policies.I would have no hesitation in suggesting they are approached by my friends to discuss their requirements.
Response from the owner: Has it been 5 years already! How time flies when you're having fun! Thanks Dave for your lovely review, it's always a pleasure!
Charley was fantastic to work with. She was super efficient, working swiftly to find the best deal and to make it happen. I would be thrilled to recommend her and Frog Financial.
Response from the owner: Thank you very much Jackie, I'll be sure to pass that on to Charley!
The team at Frog did a stellar job of our remortgage, they took the stress out of the process with prompt, friendly and most importantly informative communication which made the whole process a breeze. We would not hesitate Frog to anyone. Thank you!
Response from the owner: Thanks very much Lawrence, that's what we're here for, glad we lived up to expectations! And may I say, a big thank you for the doughnuts, we're all rolling around the office now!
I have been using Craig and Greg for 3 years and I have been very impressed with the service from Frog. The mortgage solutions that I required were fairly unusual and Greg was able to provide a bespoke service to suit my needs.
Response from the owner: Hi Mark, very good of you to take the time to write us a glowing 5* review, it's appreciated by all of us! We look forward to speaking with you again soon!
Amazing financial service from Greg and his team.Really friendly, approachable and efficient. No waiting around for anythingGreat knowledge on helping me, they were also very patient and made the experience stress free. I will be recommending them to anyone needing help with mortgage /financial mattersFeel more secure now with help and advice given. Will be back again in 2 years
Amazing service...always a very professional and quick service. Would definitely recommend:)
I had a great experience with Frog Financial Management. Right from the start Greg was super reassuring and knowledgeable. As first time buyers we had a lot of questions and the whole team were always on hand to answer them. Greg, Danni and Charley were beyond helpful, always responsive and got everything that we needed sorted out, which added some peace of mind to what can be a scary process!
Frog Financial have been sourcing property finance for me for several years. Always on hand to offer advice in the ever changing and complex world of mortgages! Charley can also source competitive property insurance.
Response from the owner: Thanks for your 5* star review Ben! It's been a few years already, and we look forward to many more years of working together!
Craig,Ruth and the team have been fantastic.After a bad experience with another advisor, I contacted Frog.From the start Craig explained exactly how he would apply for the mortgage.My application was not straightforward as I had been Ltd for only one year.Craig, Ruth and the Frog team were extremely persistent at getting me the mortgage and always kept me updated and informed ,even calling out of hours for some reassurance.They are very professional and genuinely nice people, and great at what they do.I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Response from the owner: Thank you so much Dean! It has been a testing one, but Craig's quite tenacious! Thank you for your patience, and I'm very pleased that we got there in the end! We're very happy for you both.
Excellent service, very proactive and quick to source our insurance policy renewal options from the market. Would highly recommend them. Charley has been providing great service to us.
I’ve used Frog Financial services for nearly 3 years in a row for my home contents insurance. Charley is beyond professional and helpful and is always willing to to go above and beyond with any questions I may have. I would high recommend their services!
I have just used frog financial management for equity release. They were helpful and informative. They helped me every step keeping me well informed. Thankyou to all the team, I would definitely recommend them.
I wouldn't go anywhere else for mortgage help than Frog Financial. They are so helpful throughout the whole process and no question is too big or too small for them. I'd recommend them to anyone.
Response from the owner: We do try hard to make the process as smooth as possible for our clients, so very pleased to hear that we've succeeded! It was a pleasure! Take care and speak soon.
Couldn’t recommend higher. Fantastic team from beginning to end. Managed to secure me a great mortgage even in these tricky times.
Usually, I am always reluctant in giving out services base on google search as I believe in referrals for certain important & delicate things like getting a mortgage application done perfectly well. However, I will say my opinion has now changed based on the professionalism and way my application was handled at Frog! I am grateful to Craig, Val, and the whole team at Frog- You all have made me realise that a client does not need to be seen face to face before a great client base work can be carried out! Well done for the fantastic job done in getting my mortgage application through, hitch free. I am happy I made the decision to bet on you when my initial broker disappointed me :). I will recommend Frog to friends, family and anyone reading this.
Response from the owner: Hi Bunmi, we really do appreciate you taking the time to say thank you! One month from application to completion made it a real pleasure! I'm glad we stepped up to the plate when you really needed us to! Thanks again, from all the team at Frog!
Frog are completely on the ball. They source competitive rates and email us when our insurances need renewing - ensuring year on year that we get the best deal. They have sourced our mortgage for over 6 years and given us financial advice regarding our Wills and life assurance. We wouldn’t be without them. Thank you to Craig, Charlie and the team. You have made a huge difference to reducing our stress with financial worry.
Friendly and helpful from the get go - thank you Greg & the team for all your help securing our mortgage as first time buyers! As a self-employed business owner (with a part time job) it was really difficult to know how lenders would take my different income streams into account. Greg explained everything with clarity and made an overwhelming amount of facts and figures seem simple and coherent. If I could give more than 5 stars I would!
I couldn’t recommend Frog enough. Our advisor Greg’s advice is always thorough and up to date with the latest market trends. Greg has been meticulous in explaining the nuances of my partner and I’s financial situation with clarity, which has empowered us with the confidence to make sensible informed decisions. I’m not confident that we would have managed to secure the mortgage offer that we have had we gone elsewhere. Everyone at Frog has been very friendly and approachable and are a pleasure to work with!
We have used Frog since our first house move in 2007. We have continued to use them on subsequent moves and when we remortgage - they take the hassle out of everything and are very quick to address things that come up before they become issues. We recently used frog to help identify the best house insurance - Charley was excellent! We are very happy with the service and continue to use them. Friends and family have been satisfied with Frog too and we will continue to recommend their excellent service!
Response from the owner: Thanks again Anthony for another 5* review! Look forward to speaking again in the not too distant future!
I Highley recommend Frog! I dealt with Craig and Charley mostly who where very patient with me explaining the process in detail as this was my first time securing a mortgage. Great communication with emails and calls answered speedily. Thank you Frog!
Absolutely recommend Frog! My husband and I dealt with Greg who was incredibly thorough and helpful with getting us a new mortgage. He gave us very in-depth information on the process but used very understandable terminology so it didn't feel like he was speaking gibberish haha! He also got us a great life insurance upgrade opposed to our previous provider and we really appreciated that!Go use them for your next remortgage pronto!
Very professional company who clearly understand the elements needed to secure a mortgage. Used them a few times and always been impressed with service.
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Initial consultation

We offer you initial no obligation consultations. Frog Financial Management will bear the cost of this, where we will: Describe our services more fully and explain the payment options. Gather and analyse personal financial information about you and your aims and objectives. Recommend and discuss any action we think you should take.

Refund of fees
All fees are fully refundable should we be unable to achieve a Lenders Mortgage Offer (as applied for), except in the following circumstances:
Client not proceeding due to own choice. | Client not proceeding due to valuation issues. | Client not proceeding due to property chain issues. |Client non-disclosure of material facts.

Example of fees
for residential mortgages
We typically charge £479,
payable on application.

Standard residential mortgage – £479
Shared ownership and Right to Buy – £524
Product switch – £95
Complex/impaired credit history – £697

Example of fees
for buy-to-let mortgages
We typically charge £479,
payable on application.

Standard Buy-To-Let mortgage – £497
Limited company Buy-To-Let mortgage – £647
HMO Properties/Portfolio landlords*- £679
Product switch – £95
Complex/impaired credit history and non-standard properties – £879
*A ‘Portfolio Landlord’ is defined as client(s) having four or more buy-to-let properties (mortgaged or mortgage free), on completion of this mortgage transaction.

Example of fees
Commercial mortgages
We typically charge £687,
payable on application.

Business Finance – £897
Development Loan – £897
Commercial Mortgage – £687
Bridging Loan – £687

Example of fees
Lifetime mortgages
We typically charge £995,
payable on application.

Standard Lifetime mortgage – £995
Complex property construction types – £1,295