Every calculator gives a different number
Online affordability calculators rarely agree, because they are not all asking the same question. Some simply multiply salary; some account for debts, childcare and commitments; some follow one lender’s rules and some an average of many. Running three and getting three answers is normal, and it is not a verdict on whether you can buy.
The form is short. The call is the point.
The form on the Morrow site collects enough to begin a conversation, not enough to reach a decision. What follows is an adviser going through the situation properly: the deposit, the income and how it is actually made up, the credit history, and what you are trying to do and by when.
Lenders you may never have heard of
Some of the lenders most likely to suit an unusual income or a modest deposit are ones most people could not name — building societies, regional lenders, and lenders who deal only through brokers. They do not advertise at half-time. They get found by someone whose job it is to know they exist.
What it costs to ask
Filling in the form is not a credit application and does not affect your credit score. Initial checks can usually be made without leaving a mark on your file; a full application is a different matter, and your adviser will explain that before you make one.
If you are a first-time buyer and you are not sure where you stand, finding out is the cheap part.
