Free guide · PDF · 13 pages
First-Time Buyer’s Guide
From deposit to completion day: what lenders look at, what it really costs and how long each step takes.
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Frequently
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Services /
Mortgages for the Armed Forces
Your service,Our support.
Service life rarely fits a standard mortgage application. Postings, BFPO addresses, time in service accommodation, allowances and the Forces Help to Buy loan all need explaining to a lender. We know which lenders understand military careers and plan everything around your duties, at home or deployed.
50% off our broker fee for serving members of the Armed Forces and veterans, as our thanks for your service.
How we help
We act for serving personnel and veterans of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force, from new recruits buying a first home to officers building a portfolio while posted and veterans settling into civilian life.
01Forces Help to Buy
The interest-free Forces Help to Buy loan lets eligible regular personnel borrow up to 50% of their salary, capped at £25,000, towards a deposit and buying costs. We line up a lender who accepts it and time the mortgage around your application.
02Pay and allowances
Basic pay, X-Factor and many allowances can be used by the right lender. We present your payslips so the full picture is understood.
03Postings and service accommodation
If you live in Service Family Accommodation or are posted away, many lenders will still lend on a home you plan to live in later, and some will agree to it being let while you are away.
04Remote from start to finish
Calls, documents and signatures fit around exercises, deployments and leave, with BFPO and overseas addresses handled properly.
Typical scenarios
Illustrative examples of the situations we are asked to help with. They are not accounts of individual clients.
Scenario 01A first home with Forces Help to Buy
A corporal with four years’ service wants to buy near their unit, using a Forces Help to Buy loan for the deposit.
We confirm a lender that accepts the loan, coordinate timings with the application on JPA and arrange the mortgage to complete on schedule.Scenario 02Buying before a posting overseas
A captain is about to be posted abroad for three years and wants to buy a home to let until they return.
We arrange a lender that allows letting from the start, or a buy-to-let mortgage, and handle the application while they are away.Scenario 03Leaving the service
A senior NCO is leaving after 22 years with a military pension and a new civilian job starting soon.
We find lenders who will use the pension alongside a new employment contract, so the move into civilian life does not hold up the purchase.Frequently
asked questions
How does the 50% fee discount work?
Serving members of the Armed Forces and veterans receive 50% off our standard broker fee. We will ask to see proof of service, such as your MOD 90, your HM Armed Forces Veteran Card, discharge papers or a recent payslip. The discount does not change any lender or legal fees.
Can I use Forces Help to Buy with any lender?
Most mainstream lenders accept it as part of your deposit, but it is worth confirming before you apply. We check this as part of our advice.
Will lenders accept a BFPO address?
Many will, particularly for serving personnel posted overseas. We approach lenders who are used to BFPO addresses and gaps in UK address history.
Can I let my home if I am posted away?
Often, yes, either with your lender’s consent to let or with a buy-to-let mortgage. Our Let-to-Buy Guide explains the options.
Do lenders count allowances?
Some do. Approaches vary, from using all regular allowances to basic pay only, so the choice of lender matters.
Related reading: First-Time Buyer’s Guide · Let-to-Buy Guide · Mortgage calculators
Reviewed by Thomas Boughton CeMAP, November 2026.
Free guides
Buying your first home, and keeping a home as a rental while you are posted away.
Free guide · PDF · 12 pages
Let-to-Buy Guide
Keeping your home as a rental when you move: consent to let, rental stress tests, stamp duty and tax.
Arrange a consultation
Tell us where you are in your flying or seagoing career and what you would like to buy or refinance. The first conversation is without obligation.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. Lending is subject to status, lender criteria and individual circumstances.