Ask the experts - Michael OLeary

Buying a home is probably the biggest investment you’ll ever make – so it’s certainly not a decision to take lightly. And with media reports telling us different things about the property market, interest rates and mortgages, how do you know when it’s the right time to take the plunge?

Our expert Micheal O'Leary knows a thing or two about the housing market and buying homes. He's been in the industry for 25 years and works as Sales Director in East London - one of our busiest areas.

In this series of short videos videos, Michael explains why there’s no time like the present for anyone thinking of making that big move.

What help can I get to buy a new home?

It really is a great time to buy a new home - and there are plenty of ways we can help you along the way. For a start, Help to Buy has already helped thousands of people buy a home with just 5% deposit. Whether you are struggling to save a deposit for your first property, or want to move up the ladder with a small deposit, Help to Buy could be just what you need to get moving.

If you already own a home, we could save you the hassle of selling it with our Part Exchange scheme, or make the process easier with Easymover - which is even available with Help to Buy.

Read more

How have stamp duty rules changed?

The way Stamp Duty is charged has changed for the better recently, meaning that most homebuyers will pay less Stamp Duty than they would have before. Our expert Michael O'Leary explains the changes in a nutshell.

If you'd like to find out more about how the recent changes could affect you, take a look at our quick guide to Stamp Duty, or if you're in Scotland, take a look at our information on the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax.

Read more

What type of mortgages are available?

Do you go for fixed rate mortgage so you know what your outgoings are, or a tracker mortgage so you follow the Bank of England base rate? It's really up to you, as there's a huge range of mortgages available dependent on your personal situation. To give you a few hints and tips, our expert Michael O'Leary gives a quick overview of the types of mortgage that are available.

For more information on the types of mortgages that are available and how to go about applying for one, take a look at our guide to Applying for a Mortgage, or you could visit a development and ask one of our Sales Executives to put you in touch with an Independent Financial Adviser.

Read more

How will interest rates affect my mortgage?

The Bank of England has kept the base rate at an historic low of 0.5% - which means that there are great mortgage deals to be had right now. Our expert Michael O'Leary explains more.

In your monthly mortgage repayments, an element will go towards repaying the loan, and an element will go towards paying the interest due on it. The amount you repay on a monthly basis depends on the amount you have borrowed, the length of time you choose to repay the mortgage and the interest rate on the mortgage. Read more about Interest Rates.

Read more

Help to Buy

With the Government backed Help to Buy scheme, you can buy a new home with just 5% deposit. So you can stop saving for a deposit, and start buying your first home.

Find out more

Buying guides

Whether you're a first time buyer taking that exciting first step onto the property ladder - or you own a home already but you're looking to move, buying a new home is bound to take up a lot of your time and energy.

Read our helpful advice