With hundreds of mortgages available, it can be daunting getting started on the journey to securing a mortgage. There are many things you can do to make the process as easy as possible. Here we will highlight some of them.
Preparation
Get your paperwork in good order. Having the information to hand from the outset will stand you in good stead and will make the process less stressful for all involved.
A good example of the kind of information you will need to organise is the information required to apply for your ‘decision in principle’. This is often seen as the first step to buying or remortgaging a home. It helps you understand how much you could borrow before you apply for a mortgage.
To get your decision in principle you will need to provide confirmation of your personal details, know your regular outgoings, debt repayments and regular living expenses. Plus your salary and any other income that you receive on a regular basis. You will require at least a months’ worth of bank statements. You’ll need at least your last 3 months of payslips, your last P60 and evidence of any other income. If you’re self-employed you may have to provide several years’ business accounts.
An decision in principle is obligation-free and having one shows that you can, in theory, afford to buy a property. To get one, you’ll either need to approach a mortgage lender directly or via a mortgage broker.
Seek advice – Mortgage brokers
For something as important as a mortgage it makes sense to get expert help from someone who deals with them day in, day out. A mortgage broker has a key role to make sure you never pay more than you need to. They are able to review the mortgage market and apply for a mortgage for you based specifically on your financial circumstances. Due to their knowledge of each lenders underwriting criteria, they can advise you on which lenders are likely to accept you and which ones aren’t. This helps avoid delays and is important as it may have an impact on future applications. Brokers have access to software that allows them to search mortgage deals much faster and more thoroughly than you could yourself. A good broker can save you a lot of time and stress.
For more benefits of using a mortgage broker please read our article.
Get ahead
If you arrange your mortgage as early as possible, you’ll be in a stronger position with sellers and estate agents. On average, offers typically take 3 weeks to come through, from when you apply for your mortgage to receiving your mortgage offer. Each offer lasts for a fixed amount of time, usually between 3-6 months. If there are likely to be any problems with your application it is best to know at the start and have time to remedy. The best advice is to start the process before you start seriously looking for somewhere to buy. If you have an existing mortgage, it’s always best to lock in a new mortgage to start as soon as your previous deal ends.
Henry Knight from Springtide Capital advises: “We urge anyone coming to the end of their current deal to start talking to a broker at least seven months prior to that deal finishing. Acting early and decisively will be hugely beneficial.”
To help you navigate it all and to discuss your mortgage requirements today contact Springtide Capital on 020 8154 7280
Sources:
How to buy a home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Why use a mortgage broker? | Springtide Capital