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10 tips to securing the right mortgage

Here are our top 10 tips for securing your mortgage

One

Get clear on what you can realistically afford. What is your financial position, do you have savings in case of disaster, do you understand your income vs. your outgoings? A quick financial audit might help to get a budget set.

Two

Pay off credit card debts, sort out any unnecessary direct debits, and get your finances on an even keel. A potential lender will form their own point of view on how affordable any mortgage might be – make it straight forward for them to see that you can cope.

Three

Make sure you have your P60s or, if you are self employed, your past 2 years of accounts. You’ll also need the past three months of bank statements and details of all of your savings. Having this paperwork to hand will make the process run much more smoothly.

Four

Consider using a mortgage adviser to help you find a great deal and to manage the process – this could take a lot of the hassle and stress out of a house move.

Five

Think about your employment plans – try not to move jobs just before you start house hunting or need a new mortgage. If you are still in a probationary period at work, could you wait until you are out of it to start the process?

Six

Once you’ve found a potential property look at the size of your deposit and the “loan to value” (the percentage of the total property value which you are looking to borrow). Interest rates often get better the smaller the LTV (loan to value).

Seven

Think about the mortgage repayment period and find the right balance for you between paying it off more quickly (and this incurring less interest) or reducing monthly outgoings by stretching out the repayment period.

Eight

Are you eligible for Help To Buy schemes? These schemes are designed to help you get a foot on the property ladder.

Nine

Don’t forget to factor in the costs associated with the new house in your future budget. Will the bills in your new home be higher than you are used to? Is there work, which needs to be done? Factor this in to any budget.

Ten

Consider your plans for the new house. Is this a stepping-stone to move up the property ladder, or are you buying your “forever home”. Knowing how long you plan to stay will help you to decide whether a deal with an early redemption penalty might be acceptable.

This article was kindly provided by Active Chartered Financial Planners.

 

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10 tips to securing the right mortgage