If you are planning to apply for a mortgage in the next six months, the decisions you make now can impact whether your application is approved, delayed or restricted. Many buyers assume mortgage problems only arise at the point of application. In reality, most issues are caused much earlier. Small oversights with savings, credit cards or paperwork can quietly undermine an otherwise strong case.
This guide of mortgage application tips and mortgage mistakes to avoid is based on one of Ian’s most-watched TikTok videos and reflects the most common problems regularly seen by a whole-of-market mortgage advisor in Essex. It is designed to help first-time buyers and movers avoid common mortgage mistakes and put themselves in the strongest possible position to buy a home this year.
Planning a Mortgage in the Next Six Months? Four Things You Should Do Now
If applying for a mortgage is a possibility in the next six months, preparation is key and it should start now. Lenders look closely at patterns, not just numbers. Whether you are a first-time buyer, self-employed, or moving home, the same four areas repeatedly cause problems. Knowing about them will help prevent you from throwing away your chances of success before you’ve even started.
- deposits and savings
- income evidence
- affordability behaviour
- credit management
The good news is that none of these areas needs drastic action. By taking a number of simple steps now, potential borrowers can significantly improve how lenders view an application later.
Open a Lifetime ISA – Even If You Are Not Ready Yet
For first-time buyers, opening a Lifetime ISA (LISA) early is one of the simplest ways to avoid future regret.
A Lifetime ISA must be open for at least 12 months before it can be used to buy a home. This catches many buyers out. They only discover the rule once they are ready to proceed, by which point it is too late to benefit. The good news is that you just need £1 to open a Lifetime ISA. It is worth doing purely to start the clock on your savings plans. From there, you can save up to £4,000 every tax year. Excitingly, the government adds a 25% bonus.
- £4,000 saved becomes £5,000
- £8,000 between two buyers becomes £10,000
The 25% bonus is a fantastic gift that improves your deposit, which will affect both acceptance and interest rates. It’s not entirely a free gift, though. There are rules to follow around property value limits and withdrawal penalties, but used correctly, a Lifetime ISA is one of the most powerful tools available to first-time buyers. Even if buying feels some way off, opening one early protects your future options.
Self-Employed? Make Sure Your Most Recent Accounts Are Ready
Self-employed mortgage applicants are still one of the most misunderstood groups in lending. Many strong applications fall apart simply because the paperwork is not up to date. Most lenders now require the most recent tax year to be included. For upcoming applications, that means 2024/25 figures must be available. If a lender uses two years’ income, they will normally expect 2023/24 & 2024/25 tax calculations and tax year overviews
Older years alone are often no longer acceptable. This change has caught out many applicants who assumed previous rules still applied.
January through to early spring is a critical window for self-employed buyers. Finalising accounts early gives you flexibility, more lender choice, and less stress later in the year.
So, why not speak to a mortgage advisor alongside your accountant? Both can help ensure your income is presented in the most lender-friendly way.
Use New Year Momentum to Build Consistent Savings
Lenders are not only interested in how much you have saved. They are equally interested in how you saved it. Consistent monthly saving behaviour demonstrates affordability, discipline and sustainability. It reassures lenders that your mortgage payments are manageable, not just technically affordable.
January is a natural reset. Why not use the season of resolutions to being a new savings habit. Even three to six months of improved saving behaviour can make a meaningful difference to a mortgage application. Redirecting small amounts from discretionary spending into savings can:
- strengthen your deposit
- improve affordability calculations
- support cleaner bank statements
This is particularly effective when combined with a Lifetime ISA, but the principle applies to all savings. Mortgage advice for first-time buyers often focuses on deposit size, but saving behaviour can matter just as much.
Check Your Credit File – This Is Often the Most Important Step
This is the step most people overlook, and in Ian’s experience, it is the one most likely to ruin a mortgage application if ignored.
After Christmas, credit card balances are often higher, dormant cards may have been used, and limits stretched. Many applicants are unaware of how their credit profile has changed.
A full credit report allows you to see exactly what lenders see. Services such as Checkmyfile provide access to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, the three main agencies used by mortgage lenders.
Your report will show:
- current balances
- available credit
- missed or late payments
- old accounts that are still active
Missed payments, even small ones, can significantly reduce lender options, particularly if they are recent. Credit does not need to be perfect, but it must be well managed. Checking early gives you time to reduce balances, correct errors, set up direct debits and stabilise your profile before applying.
This is one of the most important mortgage application tips for anyone wondering how to get a mortgage approved now or in the future.
Why These Steps Matter More Than People Realise
Mortgage lending is increasingly detail-driven. Lenders look at trends, consistency and risk indicators, not just headline figures.
The four steps above all work together:
- savings support deposit strength, and affordability
- up-to-date accounts support income confidence
- consistent behaviour supports sustainability
- clean credit supports lender trust
Few mortgage mistakes to avoid are dramatic errors, but simple, small oversights that frustratingly only come to light long after they happened.
Whole-of-Market Advice Makes All The Difference
It’s one thing to know roughly what lenders look for in a mortgage application, it’s another to find the exat product that’s right for you and your property move. Knowing which lenders are out there and how they might match your circumstances is where whole-of-market advice becomes invaluable.
A whole-of-market advisor can:
- match you to lenders that fit your profile
- flag issues before they become problems
- structure applications correctly
- explain decisions in plain English
This is particularly important for first-time buyers, self-employed applicants and anyone with complex income or credit history. If you want a deeper explanation, it is worth understanding what a mortgage advisor actually does and how that role protects you throughout the process.
For those looking for independent mortgage advice in Essex, using a broker also ensures you are not limited to a single lender’s criteria. This is why many buyers choose to work with an advisor and why you should always use a mortgage broker when making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.
Thinking About a Mortgage? Start Now
If you are considering buying, moving or remortgaging in 2026, the best time to prepare is now.
Opening the right accounts, organising paperwork, improving savings habits and getting on top of credit early can mean the difference between swift approval and months of frustration. A short conversation now can save significant stress later.
If you would like to talk through your plans, learn more first-time buyer mortgage tips, review your position or understand what lenders will look at in your situation, Ian is happy to help.
Getting ready early is not about pressure. It is about understanding how to get a mortgage approved without the hassle.
