Home Mover Mortgages
Selling one home while buying another is a juggling act. I keep all the balls in the air.
Moving home comes with a mortgage question most people haven't had to think about since their first purchase. Do you take your current mortgage with you, pay it off and start fresh, or borrow more for the bigger place?
I help movers across Kent weigh up porting versus a new deal, structure the borrowing for the next home, and time everything so the sale and purchase land together rather than in a stressful heap.
What working together looks like
Port, switch or start again, worked out properly
Taking your existing mortgage to the new house can dodge early repayment charges. A fresh deal can beat your current rate. I run the numbers both ways and show you which genuinely costs less overall.
Borrowing the extra, sensibly
Most moves need a bigger mortgage. I structure the additional borrowing around your affordability and plans, whether that's a top-up with your current lender or a new deal entirely.
Two transactions, one calm point of contact
A sale and a purchase means two chains, two solicitors and twice the chasing. I coordinate the mortgage side of both so the finance is never the thing holding your move up.
A couple in Sittingbourne came to me three years into a five-year fix, having found a bigger place ten minutes away. Rather than pay the early repayment charge on a new deal, I checked their mortgage was portable, arranged the additional borrowing for the price difference with the same lender, and lined the completion dates up. Same mortgage, bigger home, no penalty. Every case differs, which is precisely why it's worth checking before assuming.
Worth thinking about before you list
Early repayment charges
If you're inside a fixed or discounted period, repaying the mortgage early can cost thousands. Porting often avoids this, but not always, so it needs checking first.
Your borrowing has to requalify
Even when porting, the lender reassesses your affordability at today's criteria. If your circumstances have changed since you took the mortgage, plan for that early.
Timing the two transactions
Mortgage offers are typically valid for up to six months. Getting yours in place early gives you room to negotiate without the finance expiring mid-chain.
Asked all the time, answered honestly
What does 'porting' a mortgage actually mean?
Porting means taking your existing mortgage deal, its rate and terms, with you to the new property. You still make a fresh application and the lender reassesses you, but if it's approved you keep your current deal and usually avoid early repayment charges.
Can I move house while I'm in a fixed-rate deal?
Yes. You either port the deal to the new home, or repay it and take a new mortgage, which may mean an early repayment charge. Which route is cheaper depends on your rate, the charge and today's market. I compare the real cost of both.
How do I borrow more for a more expensive house?
Commonly you port the existing balance and take the extra as additional borrowing, sometimes on a different rate. Alternatively a whole new mortgage covers everything. I structure whichever combination suits your circumstances best.
Should I sell before I start looking?
Being 'under offer' makes you a stronger buyer, and many agents advise it in a busy market. Financially, what matters is having your borrowing power confirmed either way, so you can move fast when the right place appears.
What happens if my sale and purchase don't line up?
You have options, from renting briefly to negotiating completion dates. What I make sure of is that the mortgage never causes the misalignment, and that any offer stays valid for long enough to cover realistic delays.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.
Let's talk about home movers
A free, no-obligation chat is the easiest first step. Tell me what you're hoping to do, and I'll tell you honestly how I can help.