If you're considering buying a place for investment purposes, we've got the lowdown on the best buy to let mortgage deals.

If you want to purchase a house or flat, to rent out, to provide income and an investment, there are mortgages designed specifically for this purpose. These type of products are known as buy to let mortgages.

Given the recent problems with the stock markets, and the rise in the property market, coupled with the lowest mortgage rates for 50 years, it is not surprising that an increasing number of people are buying property as an investment.

The principle is simple: buy a property, let it to a tenant, and this money should pay the mortgage, with perhaps with a little left over each month.

The amount you can borrow can range from £15,000 to £1 million and cover five to 45 year terms. However one big difference to the traditional mortgage is the percentage of the property value which the lender is prepared to offer (called 'loan to value ratio'). Most lenders will only offer a maximum of 80 per cent, compared with 90 to 100 for traditional home loans.

Buy to let investors should also consider the downsides. Will you be able to let the property (and if so, will you be able to let the property all year round)?  when calculating whether you are able to afford a buy to let mortgage, you should see whether you would have enough income to support the second mortgage payments when you are unable to secure a tenant.

As an independent broker, we are not tied to any particular lender and will search the UK market for you to obtain the best buy to let mortgage for your needs.