The mortgage world has greatly evolved in the last 5 years. The mortgages on the market is less important than a couple of years ago, 100% LTV products have almost disappeared, and lenders in general are becoming a lot more careful. No longer do they offer mortgages equal to six times your yearly salary, and for customers with bad credits rating, having a mortgage has become hugely complicated. Despite the recession, there are still some good mortgage deals on the market. Check out these 7 top tips to help you grab the best mortgage deals:

1. It pays to have larger deposit: while 90% LTV mortgages might still be offered by a few mortgage brokers, the best mortgage rates are usually available on less than 75% Loan to Value mortgage deals. Try to you save as much as you can for your deposit.

2. Important deposits are important for a remortgage as well: because of the fall in house prices, you may well discover that the Loan to Value for your home is higher than when you applied for your initial mortgage. An option would be to use the money in your savings towards a higher deposit in order to grab a more interesting deal.

3. Speak to a professional independent mortgage adviser: If you've got a special case, for example if you are your own boss, it is especially important that you speak to a mortgage advisor. A qualified independent adviser will work with you to understand your personal circumstances and choose the top mortgages available for your situation.

4. Know about your credit record: the people worst affected by the credit crunch are people with poor credit, also called "sub prime". If you have adverse credit, the rates offered to you will be substantially greater as the lenders want to protect themselves against the risk of lending funds to a customer with a bad credit history. Make sure you check your credit history and take corrective steps to bring back things in the right direction.

5. Go for fixed rate deals if you crave security: fixed rate mortgages guarantee that your payments will remain fixed and will not go up or down with variations in the Bank of England interest rate. This security doesn't come free though, as fixed rate mortgage deals are generally more expensive overall than variable rate products.

6. Go for a tracker mortgage deal for the lowest rates: tracker interest rates follow the Bank of England interest rate. The rates applicable to tracker mortgages are in general lower than fixed rate deals. There is always the danger though that the Bank of England base interest rate could increase and cause greater mortgage payments if you go for a tracker mortgage product.

7. Check the arrangement fees: the best mortgage rates generally involve high arrangement fees. It is important that you calculate the overall cost of the mortgage over the whole period, taking the arrangement fees into account, to find out what is the best mortgage product for your situation.