Whilst buying off the plan is a popular choice for those who are happy to take a back seat and let developers design their home, some people prefer to have a little more control.

If this sounds like you, and you are in a position to pay for land upfront, then choosing a house and land package might be the perfect solution. You’ll have a say in how your property is constructed and what the final product looks like.

Here are our top tips to tactfully negotiate the price without ruining your chances of securing the property.

Before you apply for a home loan with your partner, there are a few discussions that you need to have that go a little beyond what you may know already.

We've made it to autumn! As the season changes, so does the finance and property landscape. Here are four stories making headlines right now:

• Why stamp duty keeps rising

• Deposit times fall

• Banks getting more cautious

• Rental market easing

As a seasoned mortgage broker, I understand that getting your finances in order is a crucial step in purchasing your first property. It's important to know what you can afford before diving into the home-buying process. There are two main paths you can take when looking for a mortgage. You can either approach a lender directly, each offering its own set of products with specific terms and conditions, or you can opt for the second path of working with a mortgage broker to find the best deal tailored to your needs.

Buying a property is more complex than most other purchases you’ll ever make. Here are the different parties who may be involved in your home-buying process and how you can leverage their valuable experience and knowledge..

It’s easy to get carried away with the fun part of buying a property – looking at houses – but delaying the less compelling task of arranging finance will weaken your negotiating position on both the property and the loan.