Put simply, the more deposit you have, the better, as a higher deposit will generally attract a lower mortgage rate. But, because mortgage products change all the time, do give us a call, as the percentage deposit you need will vary.
Mortgage lenders will have a maximum LTV (loan to value) that they’re prepared to offer you. For example, if you’re looking at a property with a value of £250,000 and the lender offers you £212,500, this means your LTV is 85%, so your deposit would be £37,500 which equates to 15%.
When buying a property, or re-mortgaging, rather than take your word for it, the lender will need a valuation of your intended property purchase, to ensure that what you’re asking to borrow, coincides with the property’s value. In fact, they’ll insist upon it.
It’s well worth investing in a survey too. This will tell you about the general condition of the property. If you’re investing in a property that’s older, or in a general state of disrepair, it would be well worth investing a little extra in a structural survey.
When saving for your deposit, don’t forget to save extra for things like solicitor fees, surveys, stamp duty, home insurance, removal costs, mortgage arrangement fees, etc.
To assess whether or not you can afford a mortgage, lenders will look in detail at things like your salary, any other income you receive. Plus, they will also need to know about any other outgoings such as car loans, credit card debt, personal loans, utility bills, childcare, general living costs. All this is taken into consideration when applying for a mortgage.
Also, be aware that lenders will look at your credit score too. They need to be confident that you can pay back your mortgage and that you pay back any other credit, essentially to make sure that you are a reliable borrower.
We’ve been in the property industry for a number of years now and as such, only work with trusted partners, such as conveyancing solicitors, etc. So if you need help, then do not hesitate to ask and we will put you in touch.
Comparison sites serve their purpose, but, because they don’t have access to the whole of market, the results you will see will be limited. Comparison sites will only show the results of the lenders who have paid to advertise on their site.
At Steeples Mortgages, we’re more than happy to chat things through with you, we much prefer the personal touch, be that by telephone, Zoom or in person.