Being a solicitor doesn’t guarantee an easy mortgage experience.
From fluctuating income early in your career to complex partnership earnings, there are several factors that can make the process feel more involved than it should be.
As a mortgage broker in Durham, we understand how legal professionals are paid and how lenders assess these cases.
Whether you’re salaried, self-employed, or working towards partnership, we’ll guide you through your options and make sure your income is represented clearly when applying.
How Legal Income Affects Mortgage Applications
Solicitors typically move through several income stages, starting with training contracts, followed by NQ salaries, and eventually into higher earning roles.
Each stage presents a different challenge in terms of how lenders view your affordability.
If you’re salaried with bonuses or overtime, not all lenders will include the full amount in their assessment.
For legal professionals with more complex arrangements, such as profit share or fluctuating self-employed income, this becomes even more important.
That’s why we look at lenders offering solicitor mortgages in Durham with a more flexible approach to how your income is calculated.
Some will even factor in projected earnings or take a broader view of your financial profile, especially if you’ve recently stepped into a higher role.
Self-Employed Solicitors and Partnership Income
If you’re self-employed or part of a legal partnership, your income will often be assessed using documents like your SA302s, tax year overviews or full business accounts.
How many years of accounts you need depends on the lender. Some ask for three, while others may accept just one.
As someone in the legal field, you may also retain profits in the business or receive income at irregular intervals. These are things standard lenders don’t always know how to handle.
We regularly arrange self-employed mortgages in Durham for legal professionals with this type of structure, finding lenders who understand how your business operates and how your income is drawn.
First Time Buyers in the Legal Sector
Buying your first home while establishing your legal career can feel like a balancing act.
You may have strong future earning potential, but less in the way of savings or employment history. That’s where choosing the right lender becomes especially important.
Some lenders offer enhanced criteria for professionals in regulated fields, which can make all the difference when applying as a first time buyer.
These deals may include lower deposit requirements, competitive rates, or a more generous approach to affordability.
If you’re buying your first home, we’ll talk you through the options for first time buyer mortgages in Durham, helping you find a lender who values your long-term position as much as your current payslip.
Remortgaging as a Mid-Career Solicitor
As your income grows and your needs change, remortgaging can open the door to better rates or new financial options.
Some solicitors choose to release equity to fund home improvements, pay down other debts or support family members.
We’ll explore the options available through mainstream and specialist lenders offering remortgage advice in Durham, focusing on deals that make sense based on your income, credit profile and future plans.
Many solicitors we support in Durham look at remortgaging as part of a wider financial review, not just for savings, but to realign their mortgage with a more stable or advanced stage in their career.
Age 50+ Options for Solicitors
If you’re over 50 and still actively working, there may be more options available than you think.
A strong income, even later in life, can improve your eligibility for standard lending, particularly if you’re still in practice and planning to work for several more years.
Lenders do become more cautious with age, but products like retirement interest-only mortgages or flexible term deals can keep your repayments manageable while protecting long-term plans.
We work with lenders offering mortgages for over 50s in Durham, and we’ll take your full career, income and retirement plans into account when looking at what’s possible.
Supporting Durham’s Legal Professionals
We’ve helped many solicitors in Durham secure mortgages that match both their income structure and long-term plans.
Whether you’re employed, self-employed, moving up the career ladder or approaching retirement, our advisors are here to make the process easier and more focused on your profession.
From finding lenders who understand legal income, to managing paperwork around bonuses, retained profits or shifting earnings, we’ll make sure your application is as strong as it can be.
If your circumstances change later down the line, we’ll still be here to help you review your mortgage and stay on the most suitable deal.
Date Last Edited: October 14, 2025
