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Every mortgage lender works in a different way as well as utilising their own approaches to determine whether an applicant gets accepted for a mortgage and who doesn’t. You may find that some lenders’ criteria are more difficult to match than others might be. It all comes down to how rigorous they are and how good your credit score is.
Through our extensive experience, we regularly find that mortgage applications are declined for no other reason than the applicant struggling to meet the right criteria for that specific deal. Because of this, we do highly recommend you seek the help and advice of a Mortgage Broker in Halifax. We have a team of expert and friendly advisors who will work hard in getting you the most suitable lender for you and your personal circumstances.
Prior to applying, you should look at your credit file to check if it’s mortgage ready! In the situation where you feel it’s not up to standard, you will need to look into ways to improve your credit score. If you are struggling with improving this, get in touch with a Mortgage Broker in Halifax who will be able to provide the information you need to help your credit score.
One thing to keep in mind is that there will be a small group of people who are eligible for every deal that is available to them. The genuine reason for this is likely to be that you are searching for the wrong mortgage deals. You may have found a deal that is cheap and tempting, however, it doesn’t mean that you will pass the lender’s criteria and qualify for that particular deal.
As a dedicated and trust Mortgage Broker in Halifax, we would strongly suggest that you research the different types of mortgages available or contact our team and take advantage of the free mortgage appointment we offer.
When speaking to customers who are looking for mortgage advice is that many look to comparison websites to find a mortgage in Halifax. There is no issue going down this route, however, you need to be aware that the price comparison sites will only analyse the different costs of mortgage deals instead of matching you to the lender’s criteria.
Going through this process isn’t as time efficient because the mortgage lender may end up declining your case weeks down the line. This could result in you losing the property you were looking to buy or impacting the property chain that you were a part of. In some cases, you may get declined because you picked the wrong mortgage which can negatively affect your credit score with a failed application.
On the flip side, applicants may find that they are eligible for a large range of mortgage deals, however, in order to match the criteria of those deals, lenders may look to only offer you a reduced deal. This can be a common occurrence with lenders being known to sometimes declare that you can borrow a set amount but change their mind and look to reduce the previously available mortgage.
As previously mentioned, each lender has their own way of managing the mortgage process. There can be a distinct differences between mortgage lenders and there is a low chance that you are going to match up against all of their individual criteria. Therefore, you need to pin down your options and work out what the most suitable option will be.
Whether you’re a first time buyer in Halifax or looking at moving home in Halifax, our team believe that trusted mortgage advice can be the best way to feel supported and informed throughout your mortgage experience. We have a fantastic team that provides a tailored service that aims to make you feel supported throughout and achieve your mortgage goals.
Throughout the years we have had the opportunity to help thousands of customers, helping out with specialist mortgage cases to help them find a level of success with mortgages that they otherwise thought they never achieve.
By getting in touch with an expert and hard-working Mortgage Broker in Halifax, you’ll be able to know what the best way is to improve your credit score in the event of any unfortunate financial circumstances.
If you are looking for a helping hand with a specialist mortgage situation in Halifax, contact our team today with a Mortgage Broker in Halifax for your free initial mortgage appointment.
Within your mortgage journey, you will need to show the lender your bank statements for them to find out certain things regarding your financial management. The reason lenders pay close attention to this is that your bank statements show them how well you conduct your finances and conclude whether you are a responsible borrower or not.
A common question we do come across when speaking to mortgage applicants is if gambling transitions look bad on their bank statements.
You may be one to throw your money on the Grand National once a year or you may be a regular user of internet betting websites. Either way, properly licensed gambling is not illegal. This is obviously evident in the many advertisements you may see about gambling these days.
Many people gamble as a hobby or pastime, however, it’s also key to keep in mind that the general ethos surrounding gambling is to gamble responsibly. This is something you need to do before applying for a mortgage.
Even though it’s not up to a mortgage lender to tell you how to spend your money or that you should gamble responsibly, it is their job to lend responsibly and follow the mortgage regulations.
From a lender’s perspective, they need to be careful who they lend to and prove to regulators that they are responsible, they do expect applicants to have a similar attitude from an applicant and their finances.
Furthermore, if you were to lend money to someone, you would want to know that person to who you are lending is a reliable person who will pay you back.
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, a mortgage lender cannot stop you from gambling as it is a legal activity. If you do gamble, it doesn’t automatically mean you are going to get declined, there is a chance you can get a mortgage!
It can be difficult for applicants with gambling habits but a mortgage lender can decide whether your transactions are reasonable and responsible or not.
One way they could determine this is by working out the number of times these transactions happen as well as comparing how big the transaction is and the applicant’s income. From this, they will look into how much of an effect this has on their account balance.
In the case where you only make smaller transactions on an occasional basis, with little impact on your credit score, it’s likely that a mortgage lender won’t have an issue with them. On the other hand, bigger, recurring transactions are likely to be more irresponsible which could result in your application being rejected.
The overall purpose of submitting your bank statements to a mortgage lender is for them to look at how well you manage your finances and to see if you are a reliable borrower.
Keep in mind that mortgage lenders are financial institutions that usually sell current accounts, overdraft options, credit cards, personal loans and more. Therefore they will be significant in your mortgage application.
As a mortgage applicant, you need to show how you utilise these facilities. For instance, having an overdraft and using it now and again isn’t an issue constantly going over it could go against you.
Furthermore, they will look out for any missed payments on any personal loans you have and any undisclosed loans you have. An applicant could be managing their payments well but have not mentioned a regular outgoing which won’t look good.
Lastly, some mortgage lenders look at the length of time you are overdrawn over the month. Are you the type who goes to credit on payday and finds it difficult to get through the month? Would a mortgage make you struggle even more?
Your main job is to be sensible and plan ahead if you can. Usually, a mortgage lender would like to see the last 3 months’ bank statements which show your income and regular outgoings.
With this in mind, you need to be careful before you look to apply for a mortgage in the future. Step away from gambling for a while and get your bank account looking good for the lender.
As a Mortgage Broker in Halifax, our team can provide a helping hand throughout the mortgage process and you may find that there are mortgage lenders willing to take fewer bank statements.
It is key that you are sensible before applying for a mortgage as even lenders who are willing to accept less at first, still have a right to request more if necessary.
Please make sure you gamble responsibly! It can have an impact on your financial and mental state.
As a first time buyer in Halifax, you may have little to no knowledge about mortgages which is why we strongly recommend that you get in touch with an expert mortgage advisor.
Through our experience, we have built a brilliant reputation on helping a plethora of customers from varying circumstances. Therefore, it’s ver likely we have encountered your situation before.
The lender will conduct a property survey when the offer you put forward has been accepted. The property will be examined for its condition, will bring up any structural issues, and will notify you of any repairs or maintenance needed.
If you have found a property that has some structural issues surrounding it and will need a lot of work, the lender may decrease the initial amount they were going to offer to match the price with the condition of the property.
A property surveyor will carry out this job and will let you know of any minor damages that need to be done and any repairs that need to be fixed before your move-in date.
If you are looking for a place that provides property surveys and homebuyers report, there is many reputable organisation in the UK to choose from. The more well-known is the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. We do recommend that you hire a surveyor who is an accredited member. There are many types of surveys so it’s key you find the one that is right for you:
Each survey type varies in terms of what each highlights, pricing and how the duration of time it takes to be completed. Sometimes, mortgage lenders will add a free property in your offer.
On the flip side, not all lenders will offer this service for free. We do find that the a deal that offers a free survey will usually come with paying a lot more for set-up/arrangement fees.
For example, one survey could be more detailed than the other. If you are in a situation where you weren’t notified about something in your survey report you have the legal right to work out an alternative, if necessary.
As mentioned, each type of property survey differ from the other, one of the simplest ones is a Mortgage Valuation and is carried out to see how much a property is worth.
A Mortgage Valuation work by finding out the property worth and if they find the amount they valued it at doesn’t weigh up to the you agreed to pay for it, there could be a chance that your lender would withdraw your offer as you will be lending more than the property’s worth. If you are in this case, you can either attempt to re-negotiae the price with the owner or pay the different between the offer and the value the lender is going to lend you.
It won’t provide an in-depth report, therefore, it is the cheapest property survey. The report will mentioned any obvious repairs and defects like structural damages. One thing to keep in mind is that it will not show small, minor damages on the property.
If you are wanting a more detailed report, you will need to upgrade your survey. This will come with a cost, however, it could be beneficial in the long run. With this report, you will find out everything that need to be sorted before any further damage could be done.
A Homebuyer’s Report will highlight how safe the property is to live in. It will detail issues like mould, damp walls and ceiling or anything that isn’t in line with the current building laws.
A thorough inspection will carried out in the property will every room. The surveyor will check everything including the little details which could take them up to a day on a big property.
As an expert Mortgage Broker in Halifax, we would strongly advise that you sort out a Full Structural Survey if you are looking for an in depth report of the home you’re buying. This does particularly apply to those who are buying an older house because it will let you know of any minor repairs and damages that are on the property. There is more of a chance with this with an older property.
This will come with a price, however, because of the detailed that goes into the report, however, it will provide you with the most information about the property. You will be given a comprehensive report that will let you known about the overall condition of the property and notify you of any changes that need to be made if the property carries through to purchase.
It can take up to a full day to have a Full Structural Survey carried out, however, this does depend on the property size.
For first time buyer in Halifax with a new build, property surveys are carried out slightly different. You may think that you don’t need a property survey carried out because the house is new, however, it’s good to have one done just in case.
A Snagging Survey is a property survey that is designed for new builds. The information in this survey will include the property’s overall condition, highlighting both minor and major problems. Examples of these include missing door hinge or a crack in the ceiling (which isn’t always the case with a new build).
In the case where you are moving into a new build that’s already been built, it would be good to get a snagging survey sorted on the property prior to moving in. With this, you can be able to negotiate the price should they find anything wrong with the property.
Our Mortgage Advisors in Halifax are happy to help if you are wondering which property survey is the best one for you. To speak with one of our fantastic advisors, book your free mortgage appointment or get in touch with our team today!
Through our experience we have helped many people who are taking that first step onto the property ladder as well as home movers in Halifax.
Whether you happen to be a first time buyer in Halifax hoping to find your footing on the property ladder, or you are currently moving house in Halifax, it will become apparent soon enough that there are many different types of mortgages for customers to utilise.
There will be some options that are more popular than others, whilst some may be less common to come across. We have put together a comprehensive list of the different mortgage types we come across the most.
A fixed-rate mortgage allows for a customer to keep their mortgage payments consistent for a that your mortgage payments are going to remain consistent for a chosen period of time.
You have full control over the length of time in which you can fix your payments for, with people typically choosing 2, 3 or 5 year fixed rates, though possibly longer.
Regardless of any changes to the economy, inflation or interest rates, you can stay comfortable in your home knowing that your mortgage, arguably your biggest ever financial commitments, will stay the same for your fixed period.
A tracker mortgage is where the interest-rate of your mortgage will follow along with the Bank of England’s base rate.
To simplify this for you, the mortgage lender that you end up with will not be the one to choose your interest-rate, and you won’t be deciding that either.
Instead, the interest-rate on your mortgage will be set at a percentage above the Bank of England base rate. For example, if the base rate is 1% and your mortgage is tracking at 1% above base rate, you will be paying a rate of 2%.
A repayment mortgage is the standard type of mortgage you will come across, paying back both a combination of interest and capital each month.
So long as you continue paying your mortgage per month, for the duration of your mortgage term, you will be guaranteed to have paid off your mortgage balance in full by the end of your term, owning the property.
This is all considered to be the most risk-free way to pay back the capital on your mortgage balance. In the early stages of your mortgage term, you’ll mainly be paying back the interest, with your balance reducing slowly, especially with a 25-30 year term.
Your mortgage will alter slightly towards the last ten years or so, as you will be paying off much more capital from your balance than you will be with interest, meaning your balance will come down a lot quicker.
Though you will see a lot of modern buy-to-let mortgages being set up as interest-only mortgages, it is a lot more difficult to obtain a residential interest-only mortgage.
It is not entirely impossible, though it is a lot harder to find these, as mortgage lenders may not offer these to customers.
They do become helpful though in relevant situations, such as potentially downsizing when you are only, or if you have external investments you can use to pay back the capital on the mortgage.
There are much stricter rules with interest-only mortgage products these days, with the loan-to-values on these being much lower than they would be in the past.
By taking out an offset mortgage, your mortgage lender will be assigning a savings account to you, to run alongside your mortgage term.
The way that this works is that if you were to have a mortgage balance of £100,000 and £20,000 is deposited into your savings account, you would only be paying interest on the difference between that, which would be £80,000.
This is often considered to be a very efficient way of managing your money, especially if you are paying higher rates of tax.
The amount of deposit first time buyers in Halifax will need for a property and the process of what you are trying to do, will be completely dictated by your own personal circumstances.
Here we explore how much deposit may be required for you and your situation.
In the past, it was quite common to come across 100% mortgages. Before they were nationalised, even Northern Rock was offering 125% loan-to-value mortgages.
What that means, is if you were buying a property valued at £100,000 they would lend you up to £125,000, and yet they were shocked when everything went wrong.
The reason that lenders require you to provide a deposit, is to reduce their lending risk. If they lend you 100% of the purchase price and you end up in any kind of debt, they would then have to take possession of the property. All it takes then is for house prices to change, for them to be at a loss, which of course they don’t like.
There is also a perception that if you haven’t invested some of your own or your family’s money into your home, then you might be more inclined to call it quits if things get tough and you can’t afford your monthly repayments.
It could also be argued that if you can’t save up for or with help, make up at least a 5% deposit for a property, then you likely aren’t ready for a jump into the property world.
Generally speaking, yes 5% is enough for the majority of mortgage types. It does vary between lender though and some will accept only a 5% deposit, limiting the paths you can take.
To combat this, you will normally need a reasonable credit score to qualify for a mortgage in Halifax. There are the odd lenders out there that may consider you for a 95% mortgage with an average credit score, but the rate of interest would also be higher than other mortgages.
Most specialist lenders will require at least 15% deposit if you have a less than favourable credit history. As touched upon earlier in this article, this is simply to reduce their risk in the event of a repossession.
It is a lot harder to obtain this type of mortgage than it was in the mid-2000s but in some cases may still be a possibility.
It has always been a requirement to put down a larger deposit for buy to let mortgages in Halifax and most lenders at the moment are looking for around a minimum of 25%.
Technically this could be possible, but almost all lenders will not allow this, as essentially this would still be 100% lending, which no longer exists due to the aforementioned risk involved with this type of deal.
Yes, this happens all the time. Generally, it’s what the industry affectionately has titled the “Bank of Mum and Dad” (both birth and adopted parents, as well as carers & legal guardians) gifting the deposit, or other members of your family, such as Aunties & Uncles.
We have even seen cases where family friends are allowed to gift money too. These are all valid options, as long as they can evidence the funds, prove who they are and confirm they are not expecting you to pay them back at any point in the future.
If you are looking at buying as a sitting tenant and your landlord or family member has given you a discount from the open market value, or if you qualify for a discount under the right to buy mortgage scheme in Halifax, then normally you won’t be required to put any of your own money in as deposit.
This is due to the equity being already “built-in” to the deal that is being made.
Please note that the above information and guidance is for reference purposes only and is not to be viewed as personal financial or mortgage advice.
First and foremost, one of the key factors that people look to when considering moving in or to Halifax in search of their dream home, is the location.
Often though it’s about more than just where, but also what is there and what you look to prioritise when deciding on what may be the perfect home.
To help you in your quest, we have put together a comprehensive list of the things many home buyers consider when looking to decide where to live.
It is important to figure out the type of setting you would like to live in, as this is somewhere you are going to live for at least a good few years, potentially even starting a family there.
If you’re the sort who likes thriving urban settings, the city life is definitely for you. If you prefer peace & quiet, being out of the way of others, you may be better suited for country life.
There are pros and cons to either of these options, so it is worth carefully thinking about before you get your heart set on a home in an area you perhaps won’t enjoy.
Transport links are a very important factor to many. Make sure whether it’s for hanging out with friends/family, your chosen profession, shopping and other general leisure activities, that your home has the appropriate transport.
Also make a note of how much these modes of transport are going to cost. If you are a driver, how long is it going to take you to travel to your different destinations? What will fuel costs be and do you have nearby stations to refill at.
For those of you who are parents, definitely check what schools are in the area. Research what the local catchment areas are for the homes you looking at, so you can see what the schools are like. School league tables are a good source of information for this.
For those of you who may not have any children now, whether you have a plan to have kids or not, it’s best to at least have a look to future proof yourself.
You may have a couple of different ideal nearby facilities in mind when planning for where to live. A helpful tip would be to make a note of which ones are necessary and which ones are just your preference.
For example, you may really want to have a gym nearby but also need a shop nearby for all your general needs. If you’re debating two areas and each only have one of those facilities, you’ll probably lean more towards the one with the shop.
For a lot of those looking to find their new home, having friends and family nearby can be an important factor. This is generally preferred as they can live comfortably knowing they have a support network close to them.
On the other hand, some prefer a solitary life, prioritising peace and quiet over regular social activity.
Finding that property that you feel is worth the money you’ll be paying for it can be dependent on the area that you are looking to buy in.
You ideally want to make the most out of your property purchase, so it may be worth your while finding somewhere cheaper as a starting property, though this might mean compromising features and facilities you may have wanted initially.
The local community can have an impact of your experience living in your home. You might prefer the quiet life, with a selection of residents who keep to themselves, or you may prefer a thriving busy community where everyone knows each other.
Speak to the estate agent and find out what it is like around that area. Community Facebook pages or locally run websites are common occurrences, so they’re worth looking up to get a general feel for what it may be like.
You may be moving home due to a new job or to kickstart a career. This is a huge factor we have heard from many customers in the past. It’s important to take a look at the distance between your new workplace and your new home.
If you’re going to be mostly working from home, is a longer commute for the few times you do go into the workplace something you’d be okay with, can you live further out? What about the space inside the property, will there be room for a home office?
For those who are looking at job hunting, do some research on the types of companies within the area and make a list of who all the top employers are.
In terms of the types of property available, home buyers will find a good selection on the open market to choose from. Some prefer end-terrace properties that have a nice garden, some prefer modern apartments within the city limits.
Check out all the options available to you, undertake some viewings and get a good feel for the type of property you are after.
Any potential investment that has been proposed within the local area can be handy information to get ahold of, especially if you’re looking to live there for a while and settle down.
Online research will serve you well here when looking to find any future investments in the local area. It’s important to consider if these will be beneficial to you and your lifestyle.
For example, those who would prefer to have a quiet life in the countryside might find their ideal living situation being impacted by a potential nearby housing development being planned.
By now you’ll hopefully have a good list of factors to look out for in the quest for finding your perfect home location. When the time comes for making offers and obtaining a mortgage, feel free to get in touch to book a free mortgage appointment.
Our dedicated mortgage advice team are here from morning until late evening, seven days a week, subject to availability. Whether you’re in need of help with a first time buyer mortgage in Halifax or are moving home in Halifax, we’d love to get the ball rolling on your mortgage process.
A gifted deposit is the name given if someone were to bequeath unto you either a portion of or the full amount of the deposit. This has to come with an agreement between the two parties that this is not to be paid back as a loan.
Gifted deposits are very beneficial for instances where perhaps you are financially capable enough to afford your monthly mortgage repayments but are struggling to find the means to afford the initial deposit, be that because of a lower salary or otherwise.
Depending on the amount you are gifted, you may open yourself up to potential better rates from the mortgage lenders, as the more that goes down initially, the less you’re having to pay back overall.
For the most part we find that it is an applicants’ parents who are able to gift you the deposit. This applies to both natural-born and adopted parents, being referred to across the mortgage world as the “Bank of Mum & Dad”.
Depending on the lender that you go with, you may also be able to receive a gifted deposit from another family member, maybe even from a friend. Finding the right lender who would accept this would require care and is where a mortgage advisor can help.
Sometimes, if the person helping you is aged 55 or over, they may have the potential option of gifting you a deposit by utilising Equity Release in Halifax.
It often becomes apparent that customers don’t always realise that their parents have the ability to help with their mortgage. In other cases they may not believe that their parents would be willing to help, so don’t ask them.
What we actually find, is that the majority of parents are always willing to provide their children with financial support if they can, wanting to help them find a means of owning their dream home that they one day might start their own family in.
Taking out a mortgage, to many people, is a much preferred option to living in a rental property. This is because you may potentially be able to pay less money to your mortgage than you would’ve with rent.
With this comes a point mentioned earlier, wherein the more you are gifted, the less you are borrowing and the less you have to pay back overall. If you’re paying less back over a longer term, your monthly payments will be greatly reduced.
The deposit that you are gifted can sometimes come from inheritance, although there have been instances where parents have gifted it to their children earlier on in life, especially if they have already saved enough or have released any equity.
Pretty much all lenders won’t accept a loan as a way for you to pay off your deposit. This is because they won’t have the confidence that you would be able to afford payments for both the loan and the mortgage at the same time.
You are not limited in the amount that someone will be able to gift you, though there are some lenders out there that insist on applicants having at least 5% from their own funds.
The types of applicants who benefit the most from having a gifted deposit are First Time Buyers in Halifax and Home Movers in Halifax.
As a rule, all lenders will require you to fill out a gifted deposit form. Some lenders will also want you to provide additional proof and ID (things like donor ID or bank statements).
So you have passed all the exams you need and have reached your goal of becoming a newly qualified teacher. Your next step is finding your dream teaching job and start in the classroom. If you are located too far from the particular school you are looking to work at, you may find yourself looking at the option of moving house in Halifax.
You may find juggling a place to move and the struggle of homeownership alongside settling into your new job as a teacher to be stressful, however, this situation is common. As a Mortgage Broker in Halifax, we have helped numerous customers in this situation.
As a newly qualified teacher, it can be tough finding a lender that will offer you a mortgage. This is due to the fact that you will have no history of employment or being on a temporary contract. Despite this being a constraint, don’t worry, getting a mortgage as a newly qualified teacher can be achievable.
In some circumstances, lenders may offer good deals that benefit individuals in this particular sector. Finding the most suitable lender is important, but can be a struggle, however, this is where we can help. Our expert mortgage advice team in Halifax can find you the most suitable deals and rates by searching through 1000s deals.
Depending on cirNewly Qualified Teachers can be offered a range of types of mortgages such as:
Below is the following point lenders may factor in:
Through our countless years of experience working in the industry, our knowledgeable and dedicated Mortgage Advisors in Halifax have helped people with various mortgage situations. Having a trusted Mortgage Broker in Halifax by your side can be massively beneficial.
Contact us and our team can help look at your options and find out more about your situation to see if you will be eligible to get a mortgage that fits your circumstances.
A 95% mortgage is as simple as the name would suggest; you are borrowing against 95% of the price of a property, and then you are covering the remaining 5% with your deposit. An example of this is if you looked at buying a property that was worth £150,000 with a 95% mortgage, you would be putting down £7,500 as your deposit and borrow the remaining £142,500 from the lender.
Off the back of the March 2021 Budget, Boris Johnson announced a Mortgage Guarantee Scheme for mortgage lenders, making 95% mortgages more readily available from the bigger high street banks.
This is fantastic news for First-Time Buyers and Home Movers alike, as this scheme will continue running until December 2022. Certain terms and conditions will apply though, which is something your Mortgage Advisor in Halifax will be able to look at, to see if you qualify.
All our customers who opt to get in touch will receive a free, no-obligation mortgage consultation where one of our dedicated mortgage advisors will be able to make a recommendation on the best possible route for you to take.
95% mortgages are usually accessible by both first time buyers in Halifax & those who are moving home in Halifax. Whilst saving for a 5% deposit sounds like a pretty straightforward concept, you’ll still need to have an acceptable credit score and prove that you are able to afford your monthly mortgage repayments, in order to access a 95% mortgage.
A good credit score is essential in the process of obtaining any mortgage, especially a 95% mortgage. Things like paying any current credit commitments on time, ensuring your addresses are updated and checking that you’re on the voters roll, can all help with your credit score.
Affordability is another one that is important to take note of. By giving the lender details of your income and monthly outgoings (things like your bank statements will be necessary for this) and any pre-existing credit commitments, your lender will be able to get a general overview of whether or not you are able to afford this type of mortgage.
Nowadays we see lots of family members helping each other get onto the property ladder, especially parents looking to further their children’s lives. The way this usually happens is by gifting the person looking to find their home, the deposit required. Known through the industry as the “Bank of Mum & Dad, Gifted Deposits are only intended to be a gift, and not as a loan. The lender will need proof that this has been agreed, before it can be used towards your mortgage.
When looking for a 95% mortgage, you want to make sure you have the right type of mortgage. Each mortgage type works differently, with that choice allowing you to find one that is most appropriate for your personal and financial situation.
Some homeowners and home buyers prefer Fixed Rate or Tracker Mortgages, mortgage types which mean you either keep interest rates at a set amount for the term given or have your interest rates tracking the Bank of England base rates.
Alternatively, you might find that Interest-Only or a Repayment Mortgages are more your style. Interest-Only allows cheaper payments until you need to pay a lump sum at the end (mostly now used for Buy-to-Lets), whereas a Repayment mortgage (a normal mortgage if you’d like) means you’ll be paying interest and capital combined per month.
Seeing as a mortgage is such a large financial outgoing, you need to be prepared and need to be aware. You might find things like higher interest rates, remortgaging difficulties due to less equity and then negative equity all cropping up if you’re not.
There is no need to worry though, as all these can be avoided if you’re savvy enough with your process to begin with. The more deposit you put down for a property, the less risk the lender will see you as.
A larger deposit, of say 10-15%, would not only reduce the rates of interest by a noticeable amount, but would also give the property more equity and reduce the risk of negative equity, thanks in part to you borrowing less against the property.
So, whilst the risks may seem intimidating, planning ahead and saving for a bigger deposit to access something like a 90% or even an 85% mortgage will be a massive help in your mortgage journey and something you’ll be able to reap the rewards from in the future.
Over time, the inflation of property prices has far outweighed the increase in wages. People nowadays are looking to build their own house rather than stay at rent somewhere and spend much money on paying rentals. The move from renter to homeowner needs proper planning and takes time. Therefore, many people, especially first time buyers in Halifax due to their low affordability levels, plan to buy a property with a friend or a partner. This is because the dual-income sources lead to a sufficient pool of income that convinces a lender to offer a higher mortgage amount.
When you jointly pool in your income, you decide mutually to divide the cost between the two, thereby making it more affordable. However, this is a Specialist Mortgage and comes with some risk. This article will answer some questions we often receive and shed some clarity on buying a property with a friend or partner in Halifax.
Owning a property involves a lot of regulations and technicalities. This is even more apparent in joint properties as one owner might want to sell the property, whereas the others do not. However, in Halifax, lenders allow up to four people to co-own a property at one time. If anyone owner stops contributing to the monthly mortgage payments, the other owners still have a right by law to stay in the property unless the court states otherwise. With this in mind, you need to be cautious with whom you choose to buy a property.
Any plans to increase the Mortgage down the line, require consent from all involved. With this in mind, it is also essential to discuss long term plans for owning your property if someone opts for a different route or situation change.
This concept is associated with couples who are married or are in a civil partnership. Such people are usually involved in joint tenancy. In case any one of the applicants pass away, the ownership will already be transferred to the other owner. This is where mortgage life insurance comes in handy, as at that point, the Mortgage would be repaid. However, you’ll require consent from other applicants if you want to sell or remortgage the property in the future.
Tenants in Common is usually chosen by the likes of relatives or friends buying a property together. This option allows you to own the property jointly, but it does not need equal shares. If one party is making more money than the other is, this works out well.
You can also act individually if you are a Tenant in Common, so you could realistically sell or give away your share, without the other person losing their stake in the property.
All parties involved in joint ownership or have relevant shares in the property are liable for the mortgage repayments. Generally, if one member fails to make the payments, the other covers the cost to prevent any debt from building up.
Any arrears made on a mortgage may stop you from getting one in the future. An ideal way to think of joint mortgages is that you don’t own 50% of a property, you own 100% of it conjointly.
Removing someone from Mortgage can be challenging as lenders need to do a vigilant check on your affordability level to confirm that you can pay the Mortgage all by yourself.
None who has applied for a mortgage together ever thought of separation in the longer run, but unfortunately, time does not always stay the same. Therefore, it is vital to remember how big a financial commitment to getting a mortgage is and how challenging it gets when all of a sudden, you decide to make changes. So it’s always recommended to assess your personal life thoroughly before agreeing to something big.
Handling over the evidence to a lender that you have been managing mortgage payments since your ex moved out, does not qualify the fact that you alone can make it a sole name mortgage.
Lenders would much rather there be a second income if one person is unable to afford their half. The process of removing someone involves a brand new affordability assessment, much like they would when you first applied for a mortgage.
If your lender declines your request to do so, you should get in touch with your mortgage advisor in Halifax to see if any other lenders would agree to let you transfer into your name.
It may also be worth your time to see if any family members can help you out with this. They can often gift a lump sum amount to reduce the amount owed or even replacing your ex-partner on your Mortgage.
Even if you and your partner are set apart, and you end up moving home in Halifax, you are still responsible for repayments. Even if you agree with your ex that they will pay the payments responsibly, there might be a time when your ex cannot pay thereby making you liable for costs.
If you promise to send them money every month, you need to be watchful of your credit report because if he defaults, it will negatively affect your credit score.
Being tied up to an older mortgage also limits your ability to borrow for any new homes you might be looking to buy, as the lender will take your current repayments into account, seeing them as existing credit commitments.
Lenders might not always agree to your demand, because rendering such a vast amount comes with a risk. So always plan carefully whom you need to get into agreement with. It is better to agree on a plan in advance, to avoid difficulty if things ever go wrong in the future.
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Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
We are entered on the Financial Services Register No. 627742 at www.register.fca.org.uk
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Halifaxmoneyman.com & Halifaxmoneyman are trading styles of UK Moneyman Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
UK Moneyman Limited is Registered in England, No. 6789312 | Registered Address: 10 Consort Court, Hull, HU9 1PU.
Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
We are entered on the Financial Services Register No. 627742 at www.register.fca.org.uk
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