If you have been searching the Internet for self employed mortgages, you have probably already been swamped with offers for the ‘best' self cert deal and the ‘cheapest' self employed mortgages. Confusing numbers and big, bold promises for a great loan that will save you money, improve your credit rating and probably mow your lawn for you too. But what is the truth and what is a lie? When it comes to mortgages, especially mortgages for those who cannot prove their income, what can you believe?

The key to being able to distinguish between good self employed mortgages and bad loans that will leave you struggling every month is knowledge. Get to know the self employed mortgages industry and get to know what a self cert mortgage entails. From that you will be able to see the con artists from a mile off.

First, learn what is the ‘best' rate. Go online to the best buy tables and see what is the cheapest self employed mortgages that day. Mortgage rates change on a daily basis as lenders start new offers and run out of old ones, so if you are shopping for a non status deal, get to know what rates are good. Also, by becoming familiar with regular self employed mortgages rates you will be able to spot the frauds instantly - if the rate is so low so as to be unbelievable then it is almost certainly not the best self employed mortgages for you.

Next, check your credit rating. Go online and for a small fee you can download your entire credit history from one of the UK's credit reference agencies. When you are a self cert borrower, all self employed mortgages applications rely on your credit rating - without any proof of income it is what self cert lenders use to determine what sort of mortgage they can offer - and most importantly how much they will lend you. So be familiar with your credit score as it will be the thing that ultimately decides whether you will be able to get the best self employed mortgages.

Also, be aware of how much you would be able to afford as a down payment for the home. As self employed mortgages are a riskier deal for lenders, they will require a lower loan to value ratio. You can get self employed mortgages with as little as 10% of the home's value, but in most cases the best self cert mortgage will ask for more, anything up to 30% of the home's value.

Remember, you can learn all about self employed mortgages, but the best self cert deal is the one that works round your life. Don't be fooled by claims from lenders or even from brokers - you need to know exactly how your mortgage will work for you - make sure you know what you want out of your mortgage before you begin looking for the best deal. The best self employed mortgages are the mortgages that work as hard as you do.