Buying was much easier than we thought

Buying a house could not have been more simple for one Carlisle couple.
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The really useful guide to buying your first home

If you're thinking of buying your first house or flat we'd like to help.
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Your mortgage is secured on your home. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

Searching for your first home?

Thank you for considering The Cumberland.

In July 2024, we were proud to be named ‘Best First-Time Buyer Mortgage Provider’ at the highly regarded Moneyfacts awards in London, overcoming competition from some of the biggest first-time buyer providers in the sector.

We like to do things a little differently here and our kinder banking philosophy means that each mortgage application is considered on merit, there’s no computer-says-no with us. You’ll also find that we don’t use chat-bots. At The Cumberland you get to speak with real people, either over the phone, or in one of our many high street branches.

With 5% deposit mortgages and a team of colleagues on hand, we’ll support you every step of the way, from choosing your first mortgage, right through to the final paperwork.

If you’re new to mortgages then our Mortgage Hub is a great place to start. There’ll you’ll find our ‘Quick Guide To Mortgages’ together with a helpful mix of real stories, handy guides and expert advice on how to choose the right mortgage for you.

Taking out a first mortgage is an exciting time. We can’t wait to be a part of your journey.

Who qualifies as a first-time buyer?

You are a first-time buyer if:
  • You’re purchasing your only or main residence, and
  • You've never owned a freehold or have a leasehold interest in a residential property in the UK or abroad.

If you’ve ever inherited a property (or part of one), you won’t be considered a first-time buyer.

If you are buying a property with another person, you must both meet the criteria for first-time buyers to be eligible for our first-time buyer products.

Next steps

Want to make moving house as hassle-free as possible? You’re in the right place. From mortgage calculators to eligibility checkers, and online support to help you figure out how much to offer on your first home, we’re here to lend a hand.
5% deposits and £1,000 cashback
5% deposits and £1,000 cashback

Also known as 95% LTV mortgages*, you can even get £1,000 cashback with selected mortgages**.

Use our mortgage calculator to work out how much you could borrow from us.

Use our calculator
Book an appointment
Book an appointment

When you’re ready to speak with a member of our team, you can book an appointment either in branch, or over the phone.

Book Appointment

*Subject to lending criteria at the time

**£1,000 cashback available on selected First Time Buyer mortgage products up to 95%. Terms and conditions apply.

Here to help

Seeking your first mortgage can seem daunting and we know that you’ll have many questions. Our Mortgage Hub contains a lot of (hopefully) useful information as a starting point. For further assistance, please make an appointment using our online form.
Mortgage Hub
Mortgage Hub

There’s a lot to take in when choosing your first mortgage. Why not take a look at our Mortgage Hub where our colleague Jess Hartley talks through some of the most asked questions?

Visit the Mortgage Hub
Having trouble paying your mortgage?
Having trouble paying your mortgage?

Whether it is residential or commercial, we will always try to help. Our Money Worries Hub contains useful information about how we might be able to help.

Visit the Money Worries Hub