Mortgage Minefield

Well it seems that I can afford to buy a house in Cambridge, but anyone who works there in a similar job to mine might be out of luck.

Actually getting a mortgage appears to be some sort of horrid death by numbers, with lower usually being better. I must be in contact with at least four advisers by now, but finding one without at least ten hidden agendas is proving difficult. I may have found one at last today, but will reserve judgement until I actually meet him.

Amongst his advice (which makes sense when you think about it) is to never let the estate agent know anything too detailed of a financial nature, as otherwise you instantly lose all haggling power. On the other hand you have to give them at least a vague figure as I'm after a 2 bed terrace and not Cherry Hinton Hall (although I'm sure that would be a nice place to live).

Halifax managed to send me to the wrong branch for an appointment, but luckily getting to the right one involved only a few phone calls and a stroll along Cannon Street. Their numbers weren't too great, but were better than some.

Oh, and I actually need to find a house.