The mortgage term is the length of time you have to repay the loan, while the interest rate determines the interest charged. Loan-to-value (LTV) compares the mortgage with the property's value, and a lower LTV may give access to more deals, subject to the lender's assessment. A fixed-rate mortgage keeps the rate unchanged for an agreed period, whereas a tracker or variable rate can change. Check early repayment charges, fees and affordability criteria carefully, and consider guidance from a regulated mortgage adviser or the official MoneyHelper website.