What Does a Mortgage Broker in Halifax Do?

A mortgage broker in Halifax is a professional who arranges and negotiates mortgage loans for customers. In Halifax, a mortgage broker in Halifax provides services to homeowners, home buyers, and landlords who need mortgages for their properties.

A mortgage is a loan that is secured against a property, and it is repaid through monthly payments over several years.

Roles of a Mortgage Broker in Halifax

Although homeowners, home buyers, and landlords can search for and arrange mortgages themselves, many choose to hire a mortgage broker in Halifax for the range of services they offer. This is especially the case with first time buyers in Halifax.

A mortgage broker in Halifax can cross-reference customers’ information against thousands of mortgage products from multiple lenders, while banks limit customers to their own deals. Mortgage brokers in Halifax can also provide exclusive deals not available elsewhere.

Mortgage brokers in Halifax perform a variety of jobs before, during, and after the mortgage process. These jobs may vary between mortgage brokers.

For example, some mortgage brokers in Halifax offer a limited supply of niche mortgage lenders, while others provide a broader range of lenders, known as the whole-of-market.

Additionally, mortgage brokers in Halifax may recommend suitable insurance options to ensure homeowners can remain in their homes, regardless of what happens.

Before Applying for a Mortgage

At the start of the mortgage process, customers typically speak with a mortgage broker in Halifax’ appointment booking team to schedule an appointment with a mortgage advisor in Halifax.

Alternatively, many mortgage brokers in Halifax, such as ourselves, offer a user-friendly appointment booking system on their website for telephone or video calls.

During the appointment with the mortgage advisor in Halifax, customers provide additional information to help the mortgage advisor in Halifax understand their situation and find the most suitable mortgage deal.

Brokers may offer a limited supply of niche mortgage lenders or a larger panel of mortgage lenders. After recommending a deal, the mortgage advisor in Halifax can provide an agreement in principle within 24 hours.

Customers may also need to submit various documents, such as proof of identity, income, deposit, and VISA or right to work in the UK for foreign nationals.

During the Mortgage Application

After submitting documents, the mortgage broker in Halifax verifies them and provides a mortgage illustration that details the agreed deal.

The mortgage broker in Halifax also acts as an intermediary between the customer and the mortgage lender, handling communication and paperwork to ensure a smooth mortgage application process.

After Your Application

Once your mortgage application has been submitted, the mortgage broker in Halifax’s role changes somewhat. Now, the focus will be on liaising with your chosen mortgage lender to get your application processed as quickly as possible.

A mortgage broker in Halifax will generally have a dedicated processing team who will ensure your application is processed as quickly as possible, and will also be your primary point of contact throughout the process, should you have any questions or concerns.

Your mortgage advisor in Halifax will also be there for you if you have any queries or questions as well, but if it’s a specific question about your application, the processing team will be the ones to speak to.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll move on to the next stage, which is the exchange of contracts. This is where you and the seller of the property sign the contract that legally binds you to the purchase.

You’ll also need to provide your deposit at this point, which is usually a percentage of the purchase price (typically 5-10%). Your mortgage lender will then provide the funds for the rest of the purchase price.

Following exchange of contracts, you’ll enter the completion stage. This is when, if you’re moving home in Halifax or are a first time buyer in Halifax, the purchase is finalised and you become the legal owner of the property.

Your mortgage lender will transfer the funds to the seller’s solicitor, and once received, the seller will leave the property and hand over the keys to you.

Whilst it’s unlikely that you’ll need to contact your mortgage broker in Halifax during this final stage, they’ll still be there to help if you need them. For example, if there are any last minute issues with the transfer of funds, they’ll be able to help you in resolving them.

In Conclusion

So, as you can see, the role of a mortgage broker in Halifax goes beyond just finding you the best deal. They’re there to help you every step of the way, from the very beginning of the process, right through to completion.

They’ll help you to find the most suitable mortgage for your needs, and will ensure that the process is as smooth and stress-free as possible.

So if you’re looking for a mortgage broker in Halifax, be sure to choose one that offers a wide range of services, and has a team of experienced and knowledgeable mortgage advisors in Halifax who can guide you through the process.

The Different Types of Mortgages Explained

Mortgage Advice Covering The Different Types of Mortgages

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.

You can watch many more Helpful Mortgage Guides on moneymanTV here or go directly to our “Mortgages Explained” YouTube playlist here.

What is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage?

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.

What is a Tracker Mortgage?

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%.

What is a Repayment Mortgage?

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.

What is an Interest-Only Mortgage?

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.

What is an Offset Mortgage?

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.

Gifted Deposit FAQ’s | Mortgage Advice in Halifax

What is a gifted deposit?

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.

How do gifted deposits work?

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.

Who can gift the deposit?

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.

Do your parents understand that you need additional help?

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.

Gifted Deposit vs Loans

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.

Is there a maximum or minimum gifted amount?

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.

Who could benefit from a gifted deposit?

The types of applicants who benefit the most from having a gifted deposit are First Time Buyers in Halifax and Home Movers in Halifax.

Gifted deposits can also be incredibly helpful when used alongside the Help to Buy Scheme, as depending on the lender, the 5% required deposit for the scheme can be paid via gift.

What proof is required?

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).

What is a 95% Mortgage?

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. 

95% Mortgage Advice in Halifax

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.

Can I get a 95% mortgage?

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.

Improving your credit score

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 

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.

Can my family help me get a 95% 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. 

How do I choose the right 95% 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.

How can a bigger deposit help with my mortgage? 

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. 

Getting Prepared For Your Mortgage in Halifax

Mortgage Advice in Halifax

So, you’ve saved up for your deposit (or got the green light from “Bank of Mum and Dad”) and made the decision to move home. What’s the next step? Put simply, and in the best boy scout traditions, it’s time to get prepared.

Know where you stand

We’d recommend speaking to an experienced Mortgage Broker in Halifax as early on in the process as possible, so you know how much you can borrow for a mortgage and how much it will all cost. Obtaining an up to date credit report should also be at the top of your list, you don’t want a meaningless squabble with your mobile phone provider holding you back from buying a home. Taking the above two steps will give you a meaningful expectation of how possible this is going to be and what your budget is.

Getting organised

Your Mortgage Broker in Halifax will obtain a fully credit-checked Agreement in Principle on your behalf but you’ll have to prove who you are, where you live and how much you earn. There really is loads of paperwork for you to get together so it’s a good idea to open a file for yourself and start collecting everything in advance.

Proof of ID

In terms of proving who you are you’ll need to produce some photo ID such as a Driving license or passport, if you’re a non-UK national working over here on a Visa you’ll need that too.

Proof of address

In addition to the above, you’ll need to prove where you live. You’ll need to produce a utility bill or original bank statement dated within the last 3 months.

Last 3 months’ bank statements

The analysis of your spending habits has become one of the most important determining factors in whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage or not. Your bank statements should evidence your income and regular expenditures. Lenders will not be happy to see gambling transactions on your account. Nor will they like it if you go over an agreed overdraft limit or if your direct debits bounce regularly.

Proof of deposit

You will have to prove you have the funds in place for the deposit and also evidence this for anti-money laundering purposes. Try not to move monies around your various accounts too much as it will make evidencing the audit trail more difficult. Lenders like to see your savings building up so you’ll need to account for any large credits into your accounts.

Quite often money for deposits has been gifted by family members. These funds need to be evidenced also and the “donor” will need to sign a letter. This is to confirm it’s a non-refundable gift, not a loan.

Proof of income

In terms of affordability, the most important thing is to be able to prove your income. If you are employed this tends to be by way of your last 3 months’ payslips and most recent P60. Lenders can take into account regular overtime, commission, shift allowance and bonus.

If you are Self Employed then you’ll need your Accountant’s help. This will be to request your tax year overview.

A list of your expected outgoings

It’s a good idea to do your homework. Write down an estimate of your anticipated 1outgoings after you move house. You can work out an idea of how much the council tax and utility bills will be. In addition to that, you can work out your regular expenditures, such as food and drink. This will demonstrate how much disposable income you have available to pay your mortgage from.

As you can see from the above, it’s a real paper trail when you are applying for a mortgage but if you want your application to run like clockwork you’ll need to put the time aside to get everything together.

My own view is that it’s better to get all this at the outset and collate everything that the lender could possibly ask for. As this saves time and frustration later down the line if you’re subsequently asked for paperwork you could have had ready at the outset.