Using the LIFT scheme in Glasgow

Glendarroch

Those of you from Glasgow who have gone through the LIFT scheme, I'd appreciate any advice/recommendations you can make. I'm planning on applying this year (assuming it runs, of course!), and as preparation I've been researching online to try and find out what Advisers/brokers are best to go to, and whether any of the banks/building societies are worth approaching for mortgages. I've read through the other long thread and got a couple of ideas, but First Mortgage don't appear to have a Glasgow office, so not sure how easy it would be to talk to them on a regular basis. There's 2 brokers based in Byres Road (one of which my mother used for her last 2 mortgages), but no idea whether they will work alongside the LIFT scheme or not. So if anyone has any suggestions for who to go to for advice (or who to avoid!) I'd be grateful

Oh, and is there anywhere you can check where the council borders run? A lot of the houses I liked the look of are on the border of Glasgow near Lanarkshire, but I don't know an easy way to find out whether they are actually within Glasgow or within Lanarkshire. I'm sure there must be a way though, otherwise it'll make selecting potential houses to buy through LIFT that bit more difficult!

googler

AFAIK, any mortgage provider will do, so I suggest you look through the yellow pages or yell.com for a 'WHole of Market' mortgage advisor, preferably one who will give you some free initial consulation (establish this at the first phone call)

Why does the border matter? Does Lift have different rules for Glasgow and North Lanarkshire?

My AA road atlas shows council boundaries, also certain ordnance survey maps..... try the council websites for North Lanarkshire and Glasgow city.

kelda_shelton

I would give the no in the LIFT scheme website a call and ask... they are generally very helpful. Get in quick though.. last year the fund dried up fairly quickly.

Glendarroch

Thanks googler, I just wasn't sure if maybe some were better to go to as they had a better understanding of how the scheme works. That'll make it easier to find a good adviser, I could just go to the one my mum used (who really good from what she's said), although going to a couple of different ones and getting quotes would be a good plan.
The borders thing - you can only get approved for once council area as far as I can tell, as each area has different price bands for the houses you can go after. eg in Glasgow, I could go after a 3 appartment house worth up to £95000, but if I look in South Lanarkshire the price limit is £75000. I'll try the council websites, see if I can get clear maps there

Next time I have a half day I'll call the LIFT scheme people and see what they say. I don't get any privacy at work to phone from there Hopefully if I apply by the end of summer, that'll be enough time, or do you think I should aim to apply sooner? I'm saying end of summer as by that point I should have paid off a store card completely (and started a fund up for the survey costs etc), leaving my credit score that bit healthier for the mortgage applications stage, but I suppose as the balance isn't that large it wouldn't look too bad applying sooner, especially if it may be a bit of a wait to get the approval from LIFT.