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FIRST TIME BUYERS

How We Helped a Self-Employed First-Time Buyer Get the Keys to Their Family Home

A real story about navigating the mortgage market when the odds feel stacked against you.
“We didn’t think anyone would take us on.”

14 months

Self-employed at time of application

100+

Lenders searched

12,000+

Mortgage products accessed

Full amount

Secured as requested

That’s what our clients said when they first got in touch with us. A couple taking their first step onto the property ladder – one with a stable, salaried job, the other just 14 months into self-employment. They had the deposit. They had the income. What they didn’t have was a lender willing to look past the calendar.

Most high street banks and comparison websites would have turned them away at the door. The rule of thumb in the mortgage world is that self-employed applicants need at least two years of accounts to be considered. But rules of thumb aren’t the same as hard limits – and knowing the difference is exactly what we’re here for.

The Challenge

Applicant two had taken the leap into self-employment 14 months before they came to us. They were using their latest net profit figures from the business – solid numbers that reflected exactly what they were earning. The problem wasn’t the income. The problem was that most lenders simply wouldn’t look at it.

We hear this story a lot. The mortgage process feels like it was designed for a very specific type of person: employed for years, clean credit, two payslips and a P60. But the reality of how people work and live today is far more varied than that – and the good news is that the mortgage market has kept up, even if the big banks haven’t.

What We Actually Did

We started where we always start: with a conversation. Not a pitch, not a fact-find – just a fifteen to twenty minute chat to understand who they were, what they wanted, and what questions were keeping them up at night.

From there, we moved into a full appointment – around 45 minutes to an hour – where we built a complete picture of their circumstances. Employment history, credit history, future plans, how the self-employed applicant’s business was likely to grow. The details matter, because the right lender for one client is entirely wrong for another.

We then went to work. We have access to over 100 lenders and more than 12,000 mortgage products through one of the largest broker networks in the UK. That reach means we can find solutions that simply aren’t visible to someone walking into their local bank branch.

We found the lender. We presented a full recommendation – clearly, without jargon – and walked them through exactly what the process would look like from application, through to mortgage offer, exchange, and completion. And we stayed with them the whole way through, monitoring interest rates even after the case was submitted.

The outcome? They got the mortgage. They got the amount they needed. They got the keys to their first family home.

The Misconception That Nearly Stopped Them

One of the biggest myths in the mortgage world is that self-employment means you need two years of accounts – full stop. It’s repeated so often that people treat it as law.

It isn’t.

Two years of accounts does open more doors. There’s no question about that. But 14 months, 16 months, 18 months – these aren’t automatic dead ends. The right broker knows which lenders will consider shorter trading histories, what they want to see, and how to present the application in the strongest possible way.

This couple very nearly didn’t call us because they assumed the answer would be no. If there’s one thing we want people to take away from this, it’s this: find out for yourself. Don’t let an assumption close a door that might be wide open.

Why This Work Matters to Us

We didn’t start this business to process applications. We started it because the way some firms in this industry operate didn’t sit right with us – businesses that were money-first, client-second.

Our view is simple: the money is a byproduct of doing right by people. If we look after our clients properly, everything else follows.

Before mortgages, one of our founders worked in estate agency. There’s a moment in that job – handing someone the keys to their new home – that never gets old. Watching people start a new chapter. That’s what we’re in this for. The mortgage is the vehicle. The moment at the door is the point.

What About Protection?

Every client we work with hears about protection. Not because we have to mention it – because we’ve seen what happens when people don’t have it.

Think about how most people buy their first home today, especially in the South West where property prices are high: with a partner, with two incomes, with affordability assessed on both salaries. Now imagine one of those incomes disappears overnight – through illness, injury, or death.

You’d be grieving. And you’d have a financial crisis at the same time.

For a relatively small monthly premium, you can make sure that doesn’t happen. Life insurance, critical illness cover, income protection, family income benefit – we talk through all of it, honestly, and only recommend what genuinely makes sense for each client’s situation.

The Market Right Now

If you’re trying to buy in the South West at the moment, it’s tough – and we won’t pretend otherwise. Stock is low, which keeps prices high. Interest rates, while improving, still add significant pressure when properties are already expensive. It’s a difficult combination for first-time buyers.

But lenders are offering strong affordability assessments right now, and there are more options in the market than many people realise. The challenge isn’t whether solutions exist – it’s knowing where to look for them.

Our Honest Advice for First-Time Buyers

If you’re reading this thinking homeownership feels out of reach, here’s what we’d genuinely tell you:

  • 1

    Start saving early. The property market tends to grow faster than most people can save, so the sooner you start, the better your position.

  • 2

    Consider buying with a trusted friend. It might sound unconventional, but getting onto the property ladder early - even in a shared arrangement - builds equity. That equity gives you options when your life circumstances change further down the line.

  • 3

    And please - speak to a broker before you assume the answer is no. Whether you're self-employed, have a complex credit history, or just don't fit the standard mould, there's almost always more flexibility in the market than people expect.

Want to Know Where You Stand?

We always start with a free, no-obligation conversation – fifteen to twenty minutes, no pressure, just clarity. You can find our contact details, phone number, and email address on our website or by searching for us on Google. Reach out via our contact page and we’ll get back to you to arrange a time that suits. Your first home might be closer than you think.
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This case study is based on a real client situation. Details have been kept general to protect client confidentiality.