by admin | Jul 24, 2026 | credit footprint, expat, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, Switch mortgages, UK mortgage
Three Reasons Savvy Investors Are Still Buying UK Property in 2026
Despite higher mortgage rates, economic uncertainty and changes brought about by the Renters’ Rights Act, many prospective investors are asking the same question: “Is now really the right time to invest?”
Interestingly, while some landlords are stepping away from the market, many experienced investors are doing exactly the opposite. Why? Because successful property investing has never been about chasing headlines. It’s about recognising long-term trends, buying well and making informed decisions.
Here are three reasons why many savvy investors – particularly UK expats – are continuing to build their portfolios in 2026.
1. Strong Rental Demand and Less Competition
Demand for quality rental accommodation across much of the UK continues to outstrip supply.
The introduction of the Renters’ Rights Act has prompted many smaller, accidental and non-portfolio landlords to exit the market rather than adapt to the new regulatory environment. Every landlord who sells a rental property without another landlord replacing them potentially reduces the supply of homes available to rent.
We’re also seeing growing activity within the auction market as investors restructure portfolios and landlords dispose of properties. This is creating fresh opportunities for buyers looking to acquire properties with strong investment potential or value-add opportunities.
The latest newsletter from EIG Property Auctions highlights the increase in auction activity and provides an interesting insight into current market conditions.
For long-term investors, reduced rental supply combined with resilient tenant demand can create an attractive backdrop for future portfolio growth.
2. Rental Income Has Continued to Grow
Although mortgage interest rates remain higher than they were a few years ago, rental income has also increased significantly.
According to the Office for National Statistics, average UK private rents increased by 3.3% over the year to June 2026, while the North East recorded rental growth of 6.3%, making it one of the strongest-performing regions in the country. For investors buying in areas with strong yields, increasing rents can help absorb higher borrowing costs while maintaining attractive monthly cash flow.
For investors focused on long-term wealth creation, the equation is about far more than today’s mortgage rate. Rental income, capital growth, mortgage repayment by tenants and future refinancing opportunities all contribute towards the overall return from an investment property.
3. More Mortgage Options Than Ever Before
Perhaps the biggest positive change for UK expats is the dramatic increase in specialist mortgage products now available. Today, specialist lenders can often consider applicants who are:
- UK expats living overseas
- Self-employed with modest taxable income
- First Time Buyers
- First Time Landlords
- Purchasing through a Limited Company
- Applying without a minimum earned income requirement, subject to lender criteria
This flexibility is allowing many investors to enter the market who simply wouldn’t have qualified a few years ago.
Case Study: Jane in Australia
Take Jane, a self-employed UK expat living in Australia. After selling her Australian home, she decided to reinvest part of the equity into UK property. Although her taxable income appeared relatively modest, specialist lender criteria meant she was still able to secure UK ltd co BTL finance. Using approximately £150,000 for deposits and purchasing costs, Jane purchased three semi-detached homes in the North East of England through a Limited Company.
Each property was financed using an 80% loan-to-value First Time Buyer, First Time Landlord Buy-to-Let mortgage, enabling her to spread her capital across three income-producing properties rather than purchasing a single investment outright.
She is now building a portfolio that has the potential to generate monthly rental income today while benefiting from future capital growth and the opportunity to recycle equity into additional purchases over time.
Why Advice Matters
At MyMortgageDeal, we specialise in helping UK expats and overseas investors access mortgage solutions that many mainstream banks simply don’t offer.
Whether you’re a First Time Buyer, First Time Landlord, experienced investor or purchasing through a Limited Company, we’d be delighted to explore what’s possible.
As an expat you may be unsure what might be possible or what your next move should be and we are on hand to help explore the options available to you.
Book a call here
Market Updates
- A New UK prime minister – with Andy Burnham new to number 10, there are already calls to bring in rent caps.. but is it really likely ? read it here.
- ‘I’d sell all my properties if this happened!!’- A great listen to our friends Rob & Rob who explain what might make them leave the UK property market …. Listen here.
- Landlords need to be picky with their tenants – this BBC panorama show outlines the dangers of selecting tenants for their investment properties.. watch it here.
- Deal of the Week: 2 Yr Expat Tracker for Expat Residential at 4.45% to 75% with FREE valuation & no early repay fees throughout the term – there are still some exceptional deals out there for expats. Enquire now
Next Steps…
Book a Free Discovery call here & if your not sure what a discovery call is all about Ive made a series of videos on what to expect here.
A Great way to get frequent updates, hints & tips and insider industry knowledge of the complex / expat mortgage market is to join our YouTube channel here.
Our Quick 60sec Quote page allows you to obtain the latest rates to be expected and you can request a specific quote by sending an email to info@mymortgagedeal.co.uk
by admin | Jul 3, 2026 | credit footprint, credit reference, expat, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, Switch mortgages
Expats – Buy a UK Home for Less Than £310 Per Week – With ultimate Airbnb flexibility!
For many UK expats, buying a home back in Britain feels like something that can wait until “one day.” The reality is that today’s lending market offers more flexibility than many people realise, making it an excellent time to secure your place on the UK property ladder.
Based on the current average UK property price of approximately £277,000, it’s possible for many eligible UK expats to purchase with just a 90% mortgage and spread repayments over a 40-year mortgage term, potentially running until age 70 with participating lenders. In many cases, monthly repayments can work out at £1328 a month or less than £310 per week, making home ownership far more affordable than many expect. But affordability is only part of the story.
Whats more you could put the property out to Short term let, while not using it, at an average £400 – £600 p.week let and perhaps this could cover the bulk of mortgage payments.
Greater Flexibility Than Ever Before
Today’s specialist expat mortgage market has evolved significantly, with several lenders now offering features designed around modern lifestyles. Depending on your circumstances and the lender selected, options may include:
- Purchasing with just a 10% deposit.
- Mortgage terms of up to 40 years.
- The ability to take part of the mortgage on an interest-only basis, helping reduce monthly payments and improve cash flow.
- Conduct short-term Airbnb or holiday-let style use when you’re not occupying the property yourself, provided the property is not subject to a long-term residential tenancy agreement and lender criteria are met.
- Joint Borrower Sole Proprietor (JBSP) arrangements, allowing family members to support affordability while keeping ownership with the main applicant. This can be particularly useful for helping children, parents or other close family members in the UK.
These flexible lending solutions simply weren’t widely available to expats just a few years ago.
Buying from Over 160 Countries Worldwide
Whether you’re living in Dubai, Qatar, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, Europe or elsewhere around the globe, there are specialist lenders that actively support UK nationals living overseas. In fact, mortgages are available to eligible applicants residing in more than 160 countries, providing they meet lender criteria.
Typically, applicants can be first time buyers, and have a prove-able income along with:
- A UK passport.
- A UK bank account.
- A UK credit footprint, even if they haven’t lived in Britain for several years.
You don’t necessarily need an exceptionally high credit score, but lenders will expect to see a no or little adverse credit history.
If you’re unsure what your UK credit file looks like, you can obtain your free statutory credit report from Equifax here using your last lived at or used UK address:
https://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/statutory-report
It’s one of the simplest checks you can make before starting your mortgage journey.
Property Investors Haven’t Been Forgotten
The opportunities aren’t limited to residential buyers. UK expat investors can still access specialist Buy-to-Let mortgages of up to 80% loan-to-value with selected lenders, including purchases made through a Limited Company (SPV) structure. Whether you’re buying your first investment property or expanding an existing portfolio, today’s specialist lending market offers solutions that many high street banks simply don’t provide.
Why Advice Matters
Every lender has different criteria depending on your country of residence, income currency, employment type, credit profile and future plans for the property.That’s why working with a specialist broker who understands the expat market can often open doors that aren’t available by approaching a non-expat broker / lender.
As an expat you may be unsure what might be possible or what your next move should be and we are on hand to help explore the options available to you.
Book a call here
Market Updates
- Bank Of England report shows mortgage approvals down in May26 – An interesting read on the state of mortgage and property market for May26. read it here.
- UK lenders drop mortgage rates… the cost of borrowing appears to be read it here.
- Guide on the Worst Properties to buy in 2026 – Our favourite property gurus Rob & Rob give a great guide on properties to politely decline… watch it here.
- Deal of the Week: A New 80% BTL expat LTD co product at 5.65% comes with FREE val and £250 cashback – there are still some exceptional deals out there for expats. Enquire now
Next Steps…
by admin | Apr 10, 2026 | credit footprint, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, UK mortgage
Fixed Deals rise… but don’t Ignore Expat Discount deals!
Recent instability in the Middle East is having a direct knock-on effect on UK mortgage pricing. Although the conflict is geographically far from the UK , it affects global oil and gas prices, which in turn push inflation expectations higher.
When inflation fears rise, UK gilt yields and swap rates usually rise too — and these are the key benchmarks lenders use to price fixed-rate mortgages. That is why many UK lenders have recently increased fixed mortgage rates even though the Bank of England has not necessarily raised base rates.
For borrowers, this creates a confusing picture: headlines say rates are rising, yet some mortgage deals still appear relatively cheap. The reason lies in the type of mortgage product being chosen.
Why Fixed Rates Look Much Higher Than Discount Deals
Fixed-rate mortgages are priced based on future expectations. Lenders look at where markets think inflation and interest rates are heading over the next 2, 3, or 5 years. Because there is increased uncertainty, lenders are building in a safety margin — making fixed deals more expensive.
Discount mortgages, by contrast, are linked to a lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) and often offer a temporary reduction ie: -2.0% to 3.0% below that rate. They can look attractive because they are not priced on long-term swap market expectations in the same way;
The Downside is:
- They expose borrowers to future rate rises on lenders SVR rates.
The Upside is:
- Borrowers can benefit if lenders reduce their SVR rate downward with BOE downward movements. (however the lender is not obliged to reduce)
Could Fixing In Be a Risk?
Fixing your mortgage rate gives certainty, but it can also carry risk if interest rates fall in the future.
We saw something similar during the pandemic. When COVID created a global emergency, governments stepped in with huge financial support like furlough schemes, and central banks cut interest rates to historic lows to keep economies moving. Mortgage rates dropped sharply as a result.
If current uncertainty were to develop into a wider international economic crisis, something similar could happen again. No one knows for certain. Rising energy prices may push inflation higher, which would normally pressure central banks to raise rates. But if higher costs begin hurting growth too much, governments and central banks may instead decide to reduce rates to stimulate the economy.
That is why locking into a long fixed rate today could be risky: if rates fall significantly in the next year or two, borrowers tied into higher fixed deals may miss out on cheaper borrowing.
Example: If You Fix Too High and Rates Fall
Imagine you take a 5-year expat fixed mortgage today at 5.69% on a £200,000 mortgage.
Today’s best expat discount variable deal is around 4.30%.
Now suppose:
- The Bank of England cuts rates by 0.25%
- Lenders reduce their variable mortgage rates accordingly
- The discount rate falls to 4.05%
That creates a difference of:
5.69% fixed rate – 4.05% variable rate = 1.64% higher
If that gap remained for 3 years:
- 1.64% x £200,000 = £3,280 extra interest per year
- Over 3 years = £9,840 more interest paid
So while fixing protects you if rates rise, it can cost you heavily if rates move down and you are locked into a higher deal.
In summary fixing gives payment security — but in uncertain markets, certainty can come at the price of flexibility.
As an expat you may be unsure what might be possible or what your next move should be and we are on hand to help explore the options available to you.
Book a call here
Market Updates
- A world at war – still thinking of investing ? here is an objective view on the scene for investing ! get it here.
- Bank Of England rates held at 3.75% ..all the committee members agreed to hold, with expectation of a flat year read the report here.
- MTD – Making Tax Digital – becomes a reality this month April 26. Get prepared now with this podcast
- 90% expat mortgages still being offered and with discount deals from 5.55% & fixed from 5.79% is now the time to act ? over 160+ countries accepted as the Expat country of residence.
Next Steps…
Book a Free Discovery call here & if your not sure what a discovery call is all about Ive made a series of videos on what to expect here.
A Great way to get frequent updates, hints & tips and insider industry knowledge of the complex / expat mortgage market is to join our YouTube channel here.
Our Quick 60sec Quote page allows you to obtain the latest rates to be expected and you can request a specific quote by sending an email to info@mymotgagedeal.co.uk
by admin | Mar 20, 2026 | credit reference, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, Switch mortgages, UK mortgage, UK property
The 90 % Expat UK Mortgage & other unique expat mortgage deals…!
Get it while it lasts.. the 90% expat mortgage is still available serving UK passport holders & Irish passport holders ( with a Uk credit history) overseas working in over 150 countries:
Up to 90% LTV on a 2 yr Fixed 5.49% & Max loan £585K
Its quite a unique proposition that as an expat you can buy a home for you/ family use while working overseas in a different currency. Not many lenders are able to go to 90% and so there are some stipulations:
- Earn over £40K GBP equiv a year as a minimum
- Have a UK credit footprint
- No adverse credit in the Uk
- Employed applicants only (not self employed)
- Applies only to England/Wales
Reach out to us / book a call to explore if you fit criteria and get a free approval.
Other Unique Expat Deals:
Expat Self Build mortgages – Up to 80% of purchase price / project value. This product can be used for Ground up new builds or for Non-habitable renovation projects. The client needs to have sufficient funds to pay for each stage in advance over a 4/5 stage funds release completion process.
Expat – No Proven income Buy to let up to 85% – If you are employed / Self employed as a UK Expat and either want to buy or refinance a Buy to Let in the UK, we have some lenders that dont even ask for proof of income. So if your income varies or is on the light side, then this could be a great solution.
As an expat you may be unsure what might be possible or what your next move should be and we are on hand to help explore the options available to you.
Book a call here
Market Updates
- Get Fully prepared for the Renters Rights act – with Rob Dix ‘How to be a landlord 2nd edition’ – with now a Amazon discount ! get it here.
- Its Fast and furious now with the Middle East Chaos to remortgage ..mortgage products are expiring quicker than milk at the moment. read the report here.
- Are HMO mortgages worth re-considering ? – this report shines a light on the rising market of room rents. Get the article here
- MTD – Making Tax Digital – becomes a reality from April 26. Get prepared now with this podcast
Next Steps…
Book a Free Discovery call here & if your not sure what a discovery call is all about Ive made a series of videos on what to expect here.
A Great way to get frequent updates, hints & tips and insider industry knowledge of the complex / expat mortgage market is to join our YouTube channel here.
Our Quick 60sec Quote page allows you to obtain the latest rates to be expected and you can request a specific quote by sending an email to info@mymotgagedeal.co.uk
by admin | Mar 5, 2026 | credit footprint, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, Switch mortgages, UK mortgage
Expat UK Mortgages help during Middle-East tensions … how?
Recent events in the middle east have demonstrated that everyday life can change almost overnight & without getting political… we hope everyone including our existing expat clients and their families remain safe and secure during this difficult period.
Having spoken to several clients just this week in the Gulf region, it’s clear that expat mortgages can play an important role in giving stability and flexibility during periods of regional uncertainty.
Here are top 3 things that Expat mortgages can help with:
- A stable asset in a secure UK property market
Rather than all your cash in a foreign currency in an overseas bank, owning a property in the UK can act as a ‘safe harbour’ alongside income earned abroad. Using an expat mortgage be it for a residential (own use) or a Buy to let (investment) property can diversify and grow your asset base within the protections of a stable UK property market.
- A Go-To relocation option
Political tensions in any part of the world may require expats to re-pat and therefore acting now to buy a property with an expat mortgage can allow you to:
- Secure property while earning overseas
- Potentially rent it out as a buy to let
- Move back to the property when able to do so
Speaking with a specialist expat mortgage broker can outline what may or may not be possible relating to lenders criteria.
- A reliable wealth building strategy
All assets can rise or fall with economic or geo political instability, however over the long term UK property has proven to be a reliable wealth building asset, and even if property values haven’t risen significantly, obtaining mortgage debt on property can help accelerate further property acquisitions and subsequent yields from buy to let rental income.
As an expat you may be unsure what might be possible or what your next move should be and we are on hand to help explore the options available to you.
Book a call here
Market Updates
- 40% of homes on the market are now cheaper to buy than to rent… among some other interesting facts! read the article here.
- Is now the BEST time ever to invest… a bold claim, lets dig into this one ever deeper. listen to the the episode here.
- 90% borrowing for Expat mortgages – this makes property ownership closer than ever for exapt clients out there. book a call to discuss further.
- MTD – Making Tax Digital – becomes a reality from April 26. Get prepared now with this podcast
Next Steps…
Book a Free Discovery call here & if your not sure what a discovery call is all about Ive made a series of videos on what to expect here.
A Great way to get frequent updates, hints & tips and insider industry knowledge of the complex / expat mortgage market is to join our YouTube channel here.
Our Quick 60sec Quote page allows you to obtain the latest rates to be expected and you can request a specific quote by sending an email to info@mymotgagedeal.co.uk
by admin | Feb 5, 2026 | credit footprint, Expat mortgages, Mortgage rates, Re-mortgage, Releasing cash, Switch mortgages, UK mortgage, UK property
Best Expat Rates – Require this secret formula !
Welcome to the next edition of INSIGHTS covering complex UK mortgages
Lots of clients ask me each week to source the best rates for their expat status. The reality is that the BEST rates on offer require a little known formula…
FORMULA to BEST Expat rates…
So lets get straight to it, firstly as of writing in February 2026 the best 2 yr fixed rate expat deal is 4.16%. So how would someone qualify for this rate?
Clients need to be:
- Employed or Self Employed earning over £75K GBP per annum (GBP equiv)
- Good Credit scoring in country of residence (no need for UK credit score)
- Borrowing at 60% of value or less
AND
Clients can be:
- First Time Buyers
- Without a UK credit score
- ANY nationality
So far so good I hear you say.. well the next criteria is where many clients cannot meet the requirement:
MUST be resident in:
Australia ~ UAE ~ Qatar ~ USA ~ Hong Kong ~ Singapore ~ Malaysia ~ Switzerland ~ Taiwan ~ Channel Islands.
If you are not resident in any of these areas above, then the 4.16% deal is not available.. However not to worry we have rates from 4.35% for many other regions including GCC countries such as: UAE | Qatar | Saudi | Bahrain | Kuwait | Oman
And if you are not in a GCC region there are rates from 4.8% on 100+ of other countries again for ANY Nationality looking to buy or refinance UK property.
So if your considering UK property and mortgages while outside the UK, where you don’t meet the Best Rates criteria above, don’t worry, there could be other good priced options available.
If you would like to discuss these or other aspects of your UK mortgage deal book a call here.
~ end ~
All our back issues are here>>
And now for that video case study …watch this one.
Expat – in EU buys to Multi-Use
Market Updates
- What were the best areas for UK property in 2025 ? our trusted friends at right-move have an interesting take on it read the article here.
- Is UK property investing really still worth it ? as many expat clients consider other investments in different regions. watch the episode here.
- NEW 90% Lending for Expat residential clients, whereby clients need to only be earning £40K+ per year and be Employed. Rates from 5.45% Book a call to discuss further
Next Steps…
Book a Free Discovery call here & if your not sure what a discovery call is all about Ive made a series of videos on what to expect here.
A Great way to get frequent updates, hints & tips and insider industry knowledge of the complex / expat mortgage market is to join our YouTube channel here.
Our Quick 60sec Quote page allows you to obtain the latest rates to be expected and you can request a specific quote by sending an email to info@mymotgagedeal.co.uk
