What first-time buyers need to know about getting a mortgage

Buying your first home is an exciting milestone, but starting the mortgage process can feel overwhelming.Ryan Etchells, chief commercial officer at specialist mortgage lender and financial provider Together, recognises that many people find the word “mortgage” itself intimidating.“Mortgage comes from the French word of death – mort (dead) and gage (pledge) – which doesn’t sound great, so it can seem like quite a scary thing,” reflects Etchells.Ryan Etchells, Chief Commercial Officer at Together (Paul Heyes) But, he stresses, a mortgage is simply a loan.“It’s the same as taking out a loan to buy a watch or a car. It’s a loan you take out to help you buy a house,” he says.To help first-time buyers approach the process with confidence, Etchells has outlined some key things to know when applyi