So almost been back 7weeks,and we are renting a house in Kendal for now.However we still own a house in Canada which we are renting out too.My husband owns a company which is based in Canada ,so its quite a complicated situation really. We have decided to try and get a mortgage to buy a place of our own until the house in Canada sells,and then we will sell the existing house too and get some thing bigger in Kendal.However this is proving more difficult than we thought.Can anyoe suggest a bank which would consider us ?????

I know they are not exactly local, but we've used a broker in the past: ADS Mortgage & Financial Planning Ltd, in Maidstone, Kent. Their fees weren't cheap, but they found us a mortgage when we had tried other sources without success. There is no obligation so you could see what they come up with. We dealt with a fellow called Grant (can't remember his surname). Good luck.

I'd contact a financial planning type company too. Thers are bound to be some near you or closer into a major city nearby?

Naturally you have probably factored all of this in already but,

am not quite sure why you would want to buy to get the bigger place for your things and then sell and then buy again when you get the Canadian sale money. Plus the very fact that you are currently finding it difficult suggests that when you do actually find a product it is likely to be a bit more expensive than would otherwise be the case.

Surely you are better to rent a bigger place now.

Buying/selling and buying costs in fees and taxes plus the UK property market at the moment is slowly moving downwards and I think the Kendal area is included in this.

If you qualify for zero stamp duty as first time buyers you would get the relief on the bigger (last) home if under 250,000 pounds though the Canadian home seems to rule this out unless it is owned by the company.

Plus there would be fees associated with the current mortgage you are trying to get then its cancellation and then the new mortgage for whatever you might need for that last place (unless the first mortgage is portable).

It might be hard to sell on a house in the current market - have you considered just renting something larger until you're ready to make the big purchase?

Anyway, if you really do want a mortgage you need to find a broker who specializes in ex-pat mortgages. Here is one such company: http://www.capitalfortune.com/index....FYNo4Aoddyk0Sg

if you have only been back a few weeks I would assume you are not working yet? wouldnt a bank be more inclined to look at your work situation and history

What is a zero stamp duty?

Stamp Duty is a form of Sales Tax.
Ergo no tax on certain sales such as first time buyers up to 250,000 pounds.

But you only qualify if you have never owned a home anywhere before. Apparently one has to affirm that this is in fact the case on the legal documents in order to qualify for the stamp duty relief.

Another "come on" so to speak. The option may be there but to qualify is all but impossible !

Not really Simon. There are still loads of legit UK resident potential FTBs out there who qualify for this. Just not us!

It sounds like a strange way to go about things. I'd keep renting until you sell the Canadian house. Once that is done you'll have more cash on hand for a down payment and you will find it easier to get a mortgage. Why would you buy a house in the UK that you intend to sell almost immediately?

Reading the linked webpage it seems like a solution for expats with funds, but no UK credit history. However when I read "bespoke" and "City of London" I just wonder about the fees. My limited experience of UK mortgage and investment companies is that fees are high so the best approach is to limit your need for their services. The OP can do this if they sell their Canadian home and put the money towards a UK home. If you can put down a large percentage of the cost of the home upfront mortgages companies will be happier to finance the rest. The best situation would be to have enough cash from the sale of the Canadian house to buy the UK home outright.

funnily enough this has just popped up:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2011...-bought-abroad

thank you everyone for your advice. I think we are just fed up with the rental,so we thought of the other option,which was to buy. However we have struggled to get a mortgage,but it has given us time to think and read your views.I think you are right about trying torent some thing bigger,it does seem silly to buy and then try to sell again,in such a short time frame.Renting a bigger and nicer house is easier said than done in this area.There is not much out there at all.But i hope some thing pops up soon............as i really dont want to spend xmas in this house