Most people concentrate on the interest rate when they're trying to save money and time on their home loan. Ultimately, it's the way you attack your repayments that has the biggest effect on the overall term and cost of your loan. Although a lower interest rate certainly helps along the way, rates will inevitably move up and down a lot over 25 years.

Extra repayments at any time help reduce the time and cost of a loan. But for maximum time and cost savings, you should make extra repayments earlier, rather than later - thanks to the powerful effect of compounding interest over time.

A Standard Variable Rate Home Loan comes with the option of a 100% Home Loan Offset Facility - a feature of the *Everyday Options Account. This facility enables you to use your income and savings to reduce your loan interest. A Mortgage Offset Fee applies to set up the 100% Home Loan Offset Facility charged to the Loan Account to be linked. You can have up to three Everyday Options sub-accounts with the combined account balances used to offset the loan balance.

This allows you to keep as much money as possible on your loan at all times. Leaving extra money in your loan for just a few days each month can have a substantial effect on the interest you pay and the overall term of your loan.

Residential property can be one of the best investments you can make. However, to be successful, you do need to know the ropes. And that's where we can help you - with a lot more than just a loan. Our eleven steps to residential property investment cover some of the most important things you need to know to become an astute investor, from the types of loans available, to your obligations as a landlord. We explain how residential property can work for you including information about the legal, financial and taxation aspects.

We will immediately assess your individual requirements, and match them with the best deal from our panel of lenders. We will give you a verbal quote, where possible, during your first conversation with us. At worst, we aim to secure approval in principle within 24 hours of your application. You will be kept informed of progress at all stages. Our professional underwriters will then guide you through the loan process; clearing all the obstacles and delivering the cash you need in the shortest possible time. There are no interviews and no salesmen will call. Remember the application process is free and you are under no obligation.

Almost anything. Some lenders do restrict what you can use the money for (for example, timeshares or business purposes), or might insist that some of your existing credit is paid off so you can afford the payments - just tell us what you want the loan for and we'll get you the right deal.

Of course. Because the loans are secured on your property there is less risk to the lender. Many lenders realise that self employed people, or those who have additional income from non-traditional sources and can't prove it, are often a better risk than employed people with a standard payslip.

That depends largely on how quickly you want it to complete. Provided you send in your documents as quickly as possible, a loan over £25,000 will usually complete within 8-14 days (although it can be as little as 5 days!). For a loan under £25,000, because of financial regulations, we have to give you a 7 day cooling off or 'consideration'; period before you can even sign the documents, so it can take slightly longer - but again, that's up to you and how quickly you send your documents in!

The paperwork involved is a lot less than for a remortgage - we do need you to prove your identity and address, and to sign a loan agreement and mortgage deed, but other than that the paperwork is usually minimal. Each case is different, so we will talk you through all the documents, and we are always available for any questions you have.