Your First Home scheme putting new builds back in the spotlight, it is a topic that is coming up in conversations more than ever.

Negative equity occurs when the value of your property falls below the outstanding balance of your mortgage. What can you do?

If you are receiving a gifted deposit, or giving one, understanding how lenders view it and what documentation they require is important.

The mortgage options available to older people are broader than most people realise, but they work quite differently from each other, and understanding which is appropriate for your situation is worth taking time over.

A green mortgage is a mortgage product that offers a preferential rate or cashback to buyers or owners of energy-efficient properties, typically those with an EPC rating of A or B.

A difficult credit history doesn't automatically mean you can't get a mortgage. It does mean your options are more limited, the process requires more thought, and working with a broker who understands the specialist market becomes considerably more valuable than it might be for someone with a straightforward credit file.

Mortgage completion is the the stage where things can go wrong at short notice, and understanding what's actually happening on completion day means you're less likely to be caught off guard if something doesn't go entirely to plan.

This isn't a conversation anyone wants to have, and I understand that, but it is one of the most important ones, because knowing what your options are if you ever find yourself in this situation is genuinely useful, and the earlier you understand the process the better placed you are to deal with it if it ever arises.

Mortgage protection insurance is a broad term that covers a few different types of cover, and understanding what each one does is the starting point for working out what's relevant to your situation.

Shared ownership is a route onto the property ladder that more people are using, and with house prices where they are it's not difficult to understand why. What's less straightforward is how the mortgage works within that structure, and there are some important things worth understanding before you commit.