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By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management sets out the key steps to your dream property
Mortgages can be difficult to navigate at the self-employed Bar, where you experience fluctuating income and aged debt. Alongside this, the mortgage market will be impacted by changes in government and fiscal policies, the regular Bank of England interest rate announcements and moveable inflation rates.
Buying your first home will be one of the biggest financial decisions you make in the early part of your life. Getting the right advice before you set off looking for the right property will help to make sure you don’t go over budget and have everything ready to proceed at the point you want to make an offer, giving you the best chance of having your offer accepted.
Your first mortgage will no doubt have an incentive deal which typically expires after 2 to 5 years. At that point – if you don’t take action – lenders will move you on to their standard variable rate, which can mean a significant increase in your monthly payments. Reviewing this six months before the end of your current deal allows time to get everything lined up for you to switch product or lender to make sure you avoid this jump in your payments by moving to a better deal in the market.
Looking to purchase a home can add a lot of additional administrative work to your schedule, when you are already time poor. It’s not quite as easy as 1, 2, 3; but if you follow our step-by-step guide, it can help you navigate what might otherwise feel an overwhelming task:
Being able to search quickly and efficiently from some of the best deals available in the market isn’t just a case of finding the best rate. Getting professional guidance allows you to benefit from advice around fixed or tracker rates, product terms and mortgage length.
Barristers may also benefit from bespoke underwriting, so lenders will understand how and when you are paid and what you can expect to earn in the coming years. Using an intermediary who knows the right lenders to speak to can help save you money and could make the difference between getting the property you want or not.
Your personal power team are there to help you make life easy. They are the ‘who’ for your ‘how’ tasks and have your best interests in mind, so you can make the most of an opportunity when it comes along.

Is Westgate on your personal power team? When you are ready to take your next step on the property ladder or review your existing mortgage and protection, book a no-obligation meeting with us, using the details below:
Mortgages can be difficult to navigate at the self-employed Bar, where you experience fluctuating income and aged debt. Alongside this, the mortgage market will be impacted by changes in government and fiscal policies, the regular Bank of England interest rate announcements and moveable inflation rates.
Buying your first home will be one of the biggest financial decisions you make in the early part of your life. Getting the right advice before you set off looking for the right property will help to make sure you don’t go over budget and have everything ready to proceed at the point you want to make an offer, giving you the best chance of having your offer accepted.
Your first mortgage will no doubt have an incentive deal which typically expires after 2 to 5 years. At that point – if you don’t take action – lenders will move you on to their standard variable rate, which can mean a significant increase in your monthly payments. Reviewing this six months before the end of your current deal allows time to get everything lined up for you to switch product or lender to make sure you avoid this jump in your payments by moving to a better deal in the market.
Looking to purchase a home can add a lot of additional administrative work to your schedule, when you are already time poor. It’s not quite as easy as 1, 2, 3; but if you follow our step-by-step guide, it can help you navigate what might otherwise feel an overwhelming task:
Being able to search quickly and efficiently from some of the best deals available in the market isn’t just a case of finding the best rate. Getting professional guidance allows you to benefit from advice around fixed or tracker rates, product terms and mortgage length.
Barristers may also benefit from bespoke underwriting, so lenders will understand how and when you are paid and what you can expect to earn in the coming years. Using an intermediary who knows the right lenders to speak to can help save you money and could make the difference between getting the property you want or not.
Your personal power team are there to help you make life easy. They are the ‘who’ for your ‘how’ tasks and have your best interests in mind, so you can make the most of an opportunity when it comes along.

Is Westgate on your personal power team? When you are ready to take your next step on the property ladder or review your existing mortgage and protection, book a no-obligation meeting with us, using the details below:
By Louise Crush of Westgate Wealth Management sets out the key steps to your dream property
Far-ranging month for the Chair of the Bar
Endometriosis Awareness North, a charity raising awareness of endometriosis and supporting those affected across the North of England, has received a £500 boost from AlphaBiolabs via the company’s Giving Back initiative
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs, examines the most recent data on alcohol misuse in the UK, and the implications for alcohol testing in family proceedings
Clement Cowley, Partner at The Penny Group, explains how tailored financial planning can help barristers take control of their finances and plan with confidence
Marie Law, Director of Toxicology at AlphaBiolabs
A £500 donation from AlphaBiolabs has been made to the leading UK charity tackling international parental child abduction and the movement of children across international borders
Seeing the full picture – Baljit Ubhey OBE outlines the CPS action plan to tackle violence against women and girls, offering insights directly relevant to courtroom practice
Heritage as an anchor and a compass, finding our common humanity and embracing the power of the outsider – Melina Antoniadis’s lessons learnt
Is the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office process fit for purpose? Women barristers’ experiences of bullying are not being reported or, if they are, they are not making it through the system, says Tana Adkin KC
Review by Daniel Barnett
Chair of the Bar reports back