A Guide to Offset Mortgages in Lincoln

Offset Mortgage Advice in Lincoln

Overall the popularity that surrounds taking out an offset mortgages has dipped since the rise of that mortgage type during the 1990s, though thankfully for customers who want this, they can still be a great option for home buyers.

They can especially be useful if you believe that you are due to receive a lump sum at any point in the near future, perhaps from say an inheritance.

How can an offset mortgage help?

When your offset mortgage begins, you will have a savings account opened in your name by the mortgage lender, with the aim of that being to run alongside your mortgage and help to pay it off. Rather than garnering any interest, it will instead offset your savings against the balance of your mortgage.

To provide an example of how this might work, let’s say that you had a mortgage that is worth £100,000 and you have saved up £15,000 with your savings account, then you will only pay interest on the £85,000 that is remaining on your balance.

Offset mortgages are considered to be much more flexible options for home buyers. The reason for this, is that until your mortgage has been completely offset, you are able to take out and put in as much into your savings as you see fit.

This provides you with an emergency backup, as you are able to take out funds at any point if you need to do so, though it’s important to note that withdrawing money will increase your balance, thus increasing your overall cost.

One of the positives around offset mortgages, is that it saves interest, as opposed to adding it on, so you won’t be paying any tax on any amount of funds that you put into your savings. Higher rate taxpayers are a big fan of these types of mortgages!

Things You Need to Know About Offset Mortgages

If you are due a lump sum at any point, such as an inheritance through perhaps a family member’s equity release, an offset mortgage can be a really great option. This is because it allows you to store your funds until you want to do something with it, free from interest.

You may also want to put any annual or quarterly bonuses you receive from your job into your savings, if you have no dependance on them. The more that is sitting in your savings, the better off you will be throughout your mortgage.

Thanks to the flexibility of this mortgage, you can freely dip into savings if you need extra funding, whilst leaving some still in to offset against your mortgage. It’s crucial to remember that you will need a substantial amount of money in there, to make an offset mortgage worth it.

An offset mortgage is a great choice for first-time buyers in Lincoln who are planning on overpaying their mortgage throughout their term. Looking ahead to the future, once you have finished your current mortgage period, overpaying could potentially allow for reduce interest rates or monthly payments.

With other mortgages that you could take out, any money that you put towards your mortgage cannot be taken back out once it has been paid. At this point, you may have limited mortgage options. This is certainly not great if you change your mind once you have overpaid or need emergency funds.

Of course an offset mortgage counters this, due to the freedom you have to put in and take out funds. So if you’re looking to overpay on your mortgage, this could also come in really handy.

In Conclusion

Before diving into a mortgage, it is important to consider all of the options you have available. Speaking to a qualified mortgage advisor in Lincoln is a great way to make sure you are on the right path when it comes to your mortgage.

We often find that any customers who opt for an offset mortgage, are more likely to continue with said mortgage, as opposed to remortgaging like other homeowners at the end of their fixed period.

As an open & honest mortgage broker in Lincoln, you will be assigned a dedicated mortgage advisor who will show you the impact of offset mortgages and how it could possibly save you money over the duration of your mortgage term.

For further questions regarding offset mortgages, or if you would like to remortgage in Lincoln, feel free to book online today and take advantage of the free mortgage appointment we offer to all customers, no matter their situation.

Types of Mortgages in Lincoln Explained

As a first time buyer in Lincoln taking on your first ever mortgage process, you will probably want to do a bit of research first. During that research, you will quickly realise the variety of options at your disposal.

Below you will see a list of the most popular types of mortgages available on the market and hopefully, our short MoneymanTV videos will give you a better understanding of what each option has to offer.

If you have any questions regarding any of the below mortgage options, then please do not hesitate to get in touch and we will do our best to help.

What is a Fixed Rate Mortgage?

A fixed-rate mortgage will mean that you will benefit from having consistent mortgage payments for a duration of your choosing. Typically first time buyers in Lincoln will select somewhere between 2 to 5 years.

The reason for this, is if interest rates were to drop below what you’re paying and you’re still tied in for a few more years, you could be paying more than you would need to, without a way to get out early (unless you were to pay a charge).

The good side is that no matter what happens to inflation, interest rates or the economy you know that your mortgage payment, which generally speaking is your biggest outgoing, will stay the same.

What is a Tracker Mortgage?

A tracker mortgage is a type of mortgage wherein the interest rate will follow alongside the Bank of England’s base rate.

So in other words, the mortgage lender that you are with will not be setting the interest rate themselves. Typically you will instead be paying a percentage above the Bank of England base rate.

For example, if the base rate is 1% and you are tracking at 1% above base rate, that means you will be paying an interest rate of 2% on your mortgage.

These were much more popular back in the mid-2000s, due to the interest rate only being a fraction above the Bank of England base rate.

They aren’t as popular as they used to be, though it is important to remember that it is a variable rate mortgage. This means that if the Bank of England base rate goes up, your mortgage payments will increase.

What is a Repayment Mortgage?

When you take out a repayment mortgage, you will be paying both capital and interest combined on a monthly basis.

So as long as you maintain your monthly payments for the duration of your mortgage term, the mortgage balance is guaranteed to be paid off at the end, with you retaining full ownership of your property.

This is considered to be the most risk-free way to pay your capital back to the lender.

Early into your mortgage, it is mainly the interest that you are paying and your balance will reduce very slowly especially if you have taken out a 25, 30 or 35-year term.

This situation works differently in the last ten years or so of your mortgage in Lincoln, where your payments are paying off more capital than interest, and the balance will come down much quicker than it otherwise would’ve.

What is an Interest Only Mortgage?

Whilst you will find that a lot of buy to let mortgages are set up on an interest-only basis, it is much more difficult to get a residential property on this type of mortgage in Lincoln.

Back in the ’80s and 90s interest-only mortgages were a lot more prevalent. As the name suggests, you would only be paying back the interest per month, which creates lower monthly repayments.

The idea was that you would take out a separate investment vehicle, such as an endowment policy or pension, in order for you to pay the balance back at the end of the mortgage term.

Whether or not there is going to be enough money to pay the balance of your capital will depend on the performance of your investment vehicle.

During the 00s some of these investments didn’t perform as well as people may have expected them to and some borrowers were left with a shortfall.

It is much less likely for lenders to offer an interest-only product to a residential purchaser nowadays, however, there are certain circumstances where this can be an option.

For example, if you are going to downsize when you are older or have other investments what you will use to pay the capital back, an interest-only mortgage may be viable for you.

Mortgage lenders are very strict when it comes to offering these products now and the loan-to-values are a lot lower than they were in years gone by.

What is an Offset Mortgage?

With an offset mortgage, the lender will set you up a savings account that will be left to run alongside your mortgage account.

How this works is that let’s say you have a mortgage balance of £100,000 and you were to deposit £20,000 into that savings account. You would actually only pay interest on the difference, so in this case £80,000.

This could actually end up being quite an efficient way of managing your money, especially if you are a higher rate taxpayer.

It is also very useful if you are looking at reducing your mortgage term, because your mortgage term will shrink as the money sits within your savings account.

Importantly, if you remove any funds from that savings account (which you are allowed to do at any point), your balance will go back up.

What this means, is if you deposited that £20,000, then paid off a further £5,000, bringing it down to £75,000 left to pay, then you drew out £15,000 for something, your balance would go all the way back up to £90,000, no matter what you have paid back.

This mortgage option was popular in the late 90s and early 00s, originally coming from Australia and becoming very popular in the UK when introduced by mortgage lenders.

Currently, however, this is not a very popular mortgage option. This could arguably be down to people not saving up as much money anymore. That being said, in the right circumstances, this could be a great option for you.

The Top 5 Mortgage Hurdles in Lincoln

Guide to Mortgage Hurdles | Mortage Advisor in Lincoln

Every now and again we encounter hurdles that our customers are faced with, whether they are a first time buyer in Lincoln or looking to remortgage in Lincoln.

Though these potential qualms can lead to some slight disruptions in the process, perhaps halting any further action until they’re ironed out, the process doesn’t necessarily need to end there.

In utilising the experience of a trusted and knowledgeable mortgage broker in Lincoln, you have the best possible chance of overcoming these hurdles, hopefully being able to once again proceed with your mortgage goals.

Below we have put together a list of the 5 most commonly encountered hurdles we have faced, when either helping customers to buy their property or remortgage their home.

Divorce/Separation

When relationships come to an end, it can be awkward enough making arrangements between you, without having to factor in a mortgage as well.

If you made any joint financial commitments during your time together, such as your mortgage, you need to cut these ties as quickly as you can, to avoid running into any trouble.

Customers regularly ask us the following 3 questions when it comes to divorce and separation.

1. How can I remove my ex’s name from my mortgage?
2. How do I remove my name from my ex’s mortgage?
3. Can I have 2 mortgages?

Removing your own name or your ex’s name is imperative, as failing to do so could see your credit score drop if you move out and they handle their finances poorly.

The key to achieving this is to prove affordability, as the mortgage lender will be hesitant to lend to one name, when they previously had the security of two names. If you can afford it on your own and your ex agrees to leave the mortgage, it should theoretically be smooth sailing.

Affordability is also a factor in whether or not you can have 2 mortgages, as you will need to have enough income to live, but also afford two different mortgage payments.

The best way to determine your affordability is to speak with an experienced mortgage advisor in Lincoln. We have spoken to many customers in situations like these, so will do our best to help you overcome this issue.

Childcare Fees

In our experience as providers of mortgage advice in Lincoln, we find that families are typically not turned down for a mortgage because of childcare costs, though you may be offered a lower mortgage amount.

The reason for this is because with parents often working and forking out for childcare, their outgoings can often be in the hundreds of pounds on a monthly basis.

Many mortgage lenders would consider this type of cost as an outgoing, much as they would for a car loan or hire purchase agreement.

Even taking away the element of nursery fees that a parent may pay, parents are still generally offered less of a mortgage amount than their contemporaries, who perhaps have no children of their own running up costs.

The good news, however, is that if you have any childcare costs regularly going out, you may be in receipt of tax credits. There are mortgage lenders out there who will bear this in mind, along with child benefit too.

There are other mortgage lenders out there with an alternative approach, not treating childcare costs as a specific outgoing and relying more so on Office of National statistics data for typical outgoings and this often leads to a higher maximum mortgage amount.

New Job

Usually if someone is starting a new job, they will be in receipt of a bigger salary, being able to put their additional income towards a new or existing mortgage.

That being said, if there have been any gaps in employment, a new job can present itself as more of a problem than a blessing for some mortgage lenders out there.

Luckily there are a selection of mortgage lenders out there who will be able to work with a newly signed employment contract, even if you are only a month into your job or are yet to start. Probationary periods are usually also okay.

Benefit Income

Benefit income and how much of it can be assessed will be entirely dependant on the mortgage lender, as many of them take different views towards this type of income.

On a positive note though for customers with this type of income, benefits such as child tax credit, working tax credits, disability benefits, pension income can usually be taken into account by a mortgage lender.

It is in situations like these where speaking to a reputable and experienced mortgage broker in Lincoln will be of benefit to you, as they will be able to take a look at your case, review your circumstances and look to find you a mortgage lender where you are more likely to achieve mortgage success.

Evidencing your Deposit

For any type of purchase, all mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers alike will be required to evidence the source of all of the borrowers’ (the person buying a house and/or looking to take out a mortgage) deposit funds.

This is done in order to satisfy UK Anti-Money Laundering Legislation, which is incredibly strict and designed to protect against fraud. Additionally, your solicitor and estate agent may ask for evidence of your deposit.

It’s the belief of our team, that this is often one of the most complicated parts of the mortgage application process.

Whether you have put down a deposit from savings, premium bonds, the sale of another property, gifted from a family member or friend, from overseas family, or from taking out a personal loan, you are required to have the paper audit trail to show exactly where these funds came from.

Book a Free Mortgage Appointment

In order to be best prepared for your mortgage in Lincoln and to reduce the risk of potential hurdles, it is recommended that you speak with a mortgage advisor in Lincoln.

They will be able to best advise on how to handle your situation and will search through 1000s of mortgage deals to match you up with the most appropriate one.

Book a free mortgage appointment today and get started on your mortgage journey.

Please note that the above information is for reference purposes only and is not to be viewed as personal financial or mortgage advice.

Help to Buy Mortgage Schemes

Help to Buy Mortgage Advice in Lincoln

Following on from the infamous UK credit crunch in 2007-08, the government needed a way to try and bring some life back to the mortgage market.

In order for them to achieve this, they set about introducing new ways to help first time buyers get onto the property ladder. They called these Help to Buy Schemes.

There are a large variety of different Help to Buy Schemes that are available out there to customers. You may find that whilst you match with some of them, you also may not match with others.

Here is a list we have compiled, summarising each of the Help to Buy Schemes and a bonus scheme we feel would be beneficial to some customers out there.

Help to Buy Shared Ownership Scheme

The Help to Buy Shared Ownership Scheme was brought into the mortgage world with the intention of allowing applicants to purchase a percentage of a property and then pay off the rest of the cost as monthly rent.

For the most part, the percentage of the property that is owned tends to be between 25-75%, though this can differ.

The percentage that is left over will more than likely be owned by the local housing association. If you come into more money at a later date, you can increase the percentage of which you own.

Your payments will be a combination of both your mortgage payments plus your rent. This means you are more or less paying 100% of the ground rent and service charge on your home.

Even if your share is the minimum amount, this is still the case.

Help to Buy Armed Forces Scheme

The Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme was brought forward in 2014 coming hot off the heels of the success that the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme had achieved.

This scheme worked in a similar way to its predecessor, though solely targets members of the Armed Forces.

If you are eligible for the criteria of this scheme, it could be quite the difference maker in your mortgage goals, especially as of 1 January 2023, The Forces Help to Buy Scheme will become an enduring policy, ensuring its availability to all service personnel now and in the future. 

We sincerely hope that this mortgage scheme stays around, as the Help to Buy Armed Forces Scheme is a massive help to existing members of the Armed Forces who need a boost to get onto the property ladder.

Bonus: Lifetime ISA

The Lifetime ISA is often a scheme left out of the conversation. It’s not everybody’s cup of tea, though it is handy to keep yourself aware of its existence, as it can help you secure your dream home as a first time buyer in Lincoln.

The Lifetime ISA is basically a fancy savings account where your money can grow free of tax. The government provides a nice little boost to your savings, giving you an extra 25%.

This means that if you are able to meet the £4,000 maximum amount, you will receive a pretty handy bonus sum of £1,000.

There is a catch of course, and it’s that you will have to pass specific criteria in order to utilise this scheme. You can find more information about this scheme on the Lifetime ISA website.

How Much Can I Borrow For A Mortgage in Lincoln?

How much can I borrow for a mortgage in Lincoln?

When customers get in touch with us for Mortgage Advice in Lincoln, more often than not, the first thing that we get asked, especially when we are speaking with First Time Buyers in Lincoln, is “How much can I borrow for a mortgage?”

Let’s reflect upon the background of affordability assessments and how they apply to the mortgage world post-2014.

Historic rules when borrowing for a mortgage

Prior to the methods of modern credit scoring, your mortgage would’ve been manually assessed by your local building society manager. Lenders gradually moved towards more uniformed methods of income assessment, in order to provide a consistent approach as we headed into the 1990s.

Maximum lending “caps” were introduced to prevent customers from borrowing any more than three to four times their annual income. As we grew closer and closer to the infamous credit crunch in the mid-to-late 2000s, these income multipliers were relaxed, with lenders being more generous.

A handful of those mortgage lenders were allowing their customers to “self-certify” their incomes without subjecting them to any background checks, such as an analysis of their payslips. This, as you may be aware, caused the market to crash and getting onto the property ladder from 2008-2010 was quite difficult.

Lenders very quickly battened down the hatches and created a massively careful (arguably over-corrected) lending environment. No matter if you were directly approaching a lender or opting to speak with a mortgage broker in Lincoln, the outcomes would mostly always be the same.

Nowadays approach to how much I can borrow

The Mortgage Market Review (MMR) was introduced off the back of the market recovering after the credit crunch. From here, lenders were given a new set of guidelines that they had to follow. The income multiplier methods of yesteryear were phased out and replaced with new, more complicated affordability calculators.

These new calculators gave the lenders a more detailed analysis of an applicant’s spending habits and net disposable income. What this meant, was that the lender could take a deeper look into your bank statements to make sure that unaffordable mortgages were not given out to customers as they had been in the past.

There is still a “lending cap” in place and it is roughly about 4.75 times your annual income, but your expenditures will also be looked at. Something that is worth noting, is that lenders seem to penalise low-earners and even things like gambling can have an adverse affect on your chances of being able to borrow.

When it comes to your bank statements, mortgage lenders will keep an eye on various factors, so during the months leading up to your application, be careful as to what exactly your expenditures are. Occasionally lenders take pension contributions as a fixed outgoing so would often lend to, for example a public sector worker with a big pension deduction less than a private sector, and things of a similar ilk.

How can a Mortgage Broker in Lincoln like us help?

If you are looking to maximise your borrowing capacity in order to help your mortgage application, then we believe you’ll benefit from speaking to a Mortgage Broker in Lincoln.

You’ll receive a free initial appointment, where a Mortgage Advisor in Lincoln will take some information, before heading off to research the market on your behalf, working to find a deal that best suits your needs and circumstances.

Getting Mortgage Advice in Lincoln before taking out a mortgage could be crucial in helping you understand the mortgage process better. By speaking to a mortgage broker like us, you will have your own Mortgage Advisor in Lincoln who will explain how everything works and support you from the beginning, right through to the end of your mortgage journey.

Why Should I Use a Mortgage Broker in Lincoln?

The Benefits of Our Mortgage Advice Service

The majority of people out there maybe only think about their mortgage goals or existing mortgages every few years. Here at Lincolnmoneyman, we think about mortgages every day.

There is never a minute of our working hours where we aren’t engrossed in a case, working hard to try and help someone find a favourable outcome.

Because of the time and effort we put into being so efficient and valuable to the customer, we are well versed in lender criteria, understanding which of those on our panel would be most likely process your mortgage application.

We also like to ensure you are on the best rate available to you, eliminating any stress and long delays as best as we can.

Here are the 3 main advantages of seeking mortgage advice in Lincoln:

1. Comparing Mortgage Deals
2. Understanding of Mortgage Criteria
3. Reducing Stress Levels

Comparing Mortgage Deals

Long before you could just Google the answers, comparing mortgages was a long and tedious process. Customers would use up their Saturday mornings going from bank to bank, to building society and so on, looking around to try and find the best deal on offer.

Although most of this can be cut out now, it’s still not completely straightforward, especially for those who are maybe first time buyers in Lincoln. With all the fees and charges and exit penalties from existing deals, it can be very confusing.

We use daily-updated mortgage sourcing software so that your dedicated mortgage advisor can recommend the most suitable mortgage for you, the customer. It’s our goal as a company, as a team, to save both your time and your money.

Understanding of Mortgage Criteria

You may be able to source a good deal, but it’s an entirely different ball game when it comes to actually being accepted for that deal. It’s not as simple as finding and asking for it, as you’ll have to match the lenders criteria for it.

There are lots of different reasons why people get declined for a mortgage nowadays, including low credit score, length of time they have been employed or self-employed (self-employed mortgages in Lincoln are always becoming more popular, so it’s important to do research ahead of time if you are your own boss), and failing the affordability calculator.

There are even more than that, but what is important to take away from this, is it is not something to be taken lightly. If you jump into the unknown, unprepared and ultimately unmatched, this could lead to a damaged credit rating. Every time you apply for a deal, the mortgage lender will carry out a credit search.

Too many applications to deals you don’t qualify for can come across to other lenders like you’re constantly being declined for something, which in turn could lead to the right lender with the right deal declining you as well. Your best bet is to speak with us first, so we can try and match you up with the right lender the first time.

Reducing Stress Levels

It has been said that other than dealing with the loss of a close family member or going through a divorce, that moving house is the most stressful experience you will face in your lifetime. This is especially the case if you’re selling a property and trying to complete your new purchase at the same time.

It’s our job to reduce your stress levels and work hard to make sure your mortgage application runs as smoothly as it possibly can. The best advice we can give, is to suggest getting in touch and speaking with a mortgage advisor in Lincoln, prior to finding a new home. In doing so, you will know roughly how much you are able to borrow and what your monthly mortgage repayments will be.

There’s a lot to work through with the legal aspects of your property purchase, packing and dealing with estate agents. We regularly hear from customers that they were glad to have a Mortgage Advisor in Lincoln by their side throughout the mortgage process. Get in touch and we’ll see how we are able to help you!

Sales Tactics of Estate Agents & Builders in Lincoln

Regardless if you are a First Time Buyer in Lincoln with a keen eye on the property market or you are a Home Mover in Lincoln looking to sell your existing home and settle down in another, over time it will likely have become common knowledge that estate agents and builders have a reputation for driving a hard sale.

During your process, they would much rather that you use their in-house mortgage advisor and any other services they have to offer.

Estate Agent Sales Tactics So That You Take Their Mortgage Advice

Throughout our tenure as a longstanding, hard working mortgage broker in Lincoln, with zero ties to estate agents, banks or building societies, we regularly find that those who get in touch have been pressured by an estate agent at some point during their process, trying to get them to use their in-house financial services.

Here are just some of the stories we have heard from customers;

Refusal To Put Forward an Offer

Though it may seem shocking to hear, there have been a lot of instances with estate agents out there refusing to put through an offer forward, specifically if you opt to use an external mortgage broker, rather than using the estate agents’ in-house advisor.

They have also been known to refuse putting offers forward to the vendor, because they have received an offer from someone else who did in fact use their in-house services.

Overpriced Service Costs

Something else that we hear all too often, is estate agents quoting largely overpriced conveyancing fees to their customers. We have seen many of our customers over the years come forward to say they have been subject to that same tactic

One customer we had was quoted more than £1,500 for a basic, straightforward purchase with an estate agent. By enlisting the help of one of our dedicated mortgage advisors, we were able to recommend another conveyancer in the nearby area and get the cost down to £750.

That figure is exactly half of the quoted price from the estate agent, showing the difference between going in-house and exploring your options.

Demanding Information & Being Pushy

Let’s say that you have made an offer and are waiting to see if a seller will accept your offer. Generally, you’d expect a phone call either saying yes or no – that would be the logical outcome. Instead, what we often see happen with some cases, is the estate agent will call up and demand you tell them who you went with for conveyancing.

What happens following that, is the estate agent may even refuse to take the property off the market, unless you agree to use their in-house service. As touched upon earlier, their quotations will be tremendously overpriced and completely unfair, but they will apply the pressure and make you feel like you’ll lose the house if you don’t.

As a trusted and loyal mortgage broker in Lincoln, these kinds of scenarios are definitely something we can help you prepare for. So then the questions that remain are…

Are These Tactics Legal? Do I Have To Use My Estate Agents In-House Mortgage Advisor?

No, all of these tactics are highly illegal. You have the freedom to go with any company you choose when it comes to your mortgage process. Use any broker, any conveyancing, any solicitors that you want to use.

At the end of the day, it’s your choice and you are under no obligation to use the estate agent’ services. Their main purpose is to simply foresee the sale between yourself and the seller of the property in question.

Popular Estate Agent & Builder Sales Quotes Include:

• “Everything is likely to go through quicker if you use us”
• “We will do all of the chasing of the solicitors for you and they’ll be more responsive to us due to the amount of work we send them”
• “You need to come in and see our mortgage advisor for your offer to be qualified”
• “Your offer is more likely to be accepted if you use our mortgage advisor”
• “If you use our services it will give the vendor peace of mind that everything will go through smoothly”
• “We’ll give you a free carpet/washing machine if you use our (extortionately priced) recommended conveyancing service”
• “We get better deals than most brokers”
• “Keeping everything under one roof is easier with one point of contact”

Be Careful & Stand Your Ground

Please consider, when negotiating on the price you wish to pay for, is it really within your best interests for the person handling the sale to know your financial situation and the amount you may be able to borrow? This is something they could use against you down the line when trying to convince you to use their services.

Keep on your toes and make sure that if you really don’t want to use it, you stand your ground and don’t give in to their pressure. It’s your mortgage, your offer, and if all goes well, your future home. Please Get in Touch with a trusted mortgage advisor in Lincoln today, and we will ensure you are prepared for these tactics ahead of your mortgage process.

Fast & Friendly Mortgage Advice in Lincoln

Our 10 Step Mortgage & Home Buying Guide for First-Time Buyers

To help first-time buyers get the most out of their mortgage process, we have put together a list of the 10 steps involved for first-time buyers in Lincoln. It is our hope that with this, you can be as prepared as possible ahead of your own mortgage journey.

There are 10 main steps you’ll go through in the process of buying a home and obtaining a mortgage. These are as follows;

• Free Mortgage Consultation
• Mortgage Affordability Assessment
• Agreement in Principle 
• Find A Solicitor
• Make an Offer
• Submit Your Documents
• Formal Mortgage Application
• Valuation/Survey
• Mortgage Offer
• Completion

First Step: Get in Touch for Your Free Mortgage Consultation 

So let’s say you’ve decided to take that next big step in your life and purchase your very own home, taking out a mortgage as a first-time buyer in Lincoln. It probably goes without saying that this will probably be the biggest financial choice you ever make. Once you realise this, the concept can be a little daunting, especially when you have no experience in any of this.

It’s at this point where a dedicated mortgage broker in Lincoln may be able to step in and provide assistance to you. We always strive to take the stress away from our customers, working hard to make sure they all are all happy, have a favourable mortgage deal and their very first home.

Once you Get in Touch with a dedicated mortgage broker in Lincoln, we’ll book you in for a free initial mortgage consultation with an experienced and loyal mortgage advisor. From here, we’ll take some details from you and take a look at your plan, before we eventually kick off your mortgage process.  

Second Step: Mortgage Affordability Assessment – How are you doing Financially? 

During your free mortgage consultation, a trusted mortgage advisor in Lincoln will be able to run through a Mortgage Affordability Assessment. The process for this is pretty quick and is very important, as this is where your dedicated mortgage advisor will run through your monthly income with you, looking at your regular expenditures.

This basically just means looking at what you spend your money on, and is done so they can determine whether or not you are financially capable of affording the monthly repayments of the mortgage amount you’re looking to borrow.

The reason we look to get this done prior to putting you forward with a lender, is to give us a level of confidence in you regarding your ability to afford your repayments. In doing this, we can try to avoid the risk of arrears and any future repossessions that may crop up, as this is something the lender will definitely want to avoid if it can be controlled.

A Mortgage Affordability Assessment will also usually be taken out by the lender themselves, so the initial checks we undertake will help save the lenders time, our own time, but most importantly of all, your time. The last thing any of us need is an application that may be declined in the future due to failing on affordability.

Third Step: Obtaining a Mortgage Agreement in Principle

The following step in your mortgage consultation will be to get a hold of, on your behalf, a document called an Agreement in Principle. If you have done some of your own research on mortgages before receiving first-time buyer mortgage advice in Lincoln, you may come across this under a handful of different names.

Standard names used for this can include ‘Decision in Principle’, ‘Mortgage in Principle’, as well as ‘DIP’ & ‘AIP’. These are all exactly the same thing; the only difference is the name people may choose to use.

The reason you will need to have obtained an Agreement in Principle is to demonstrate that you have passed a lenders initial credit scoring system, either by way of a hard credit search (this leaves a credit footprint) or a soft credit search (this generally does not leave a credit footprint).

Even though this does help a great deal, there is still no guarantee you will be accepted for a mortgage. Still, it is a necessary and incredibly beneficial step to take, as it will also show the seller of a property that you are making a serious enquiry, possibly creating room for any potential negotiations with them when it comes to your offers.

The standard length of an AIP is usually anywhere between 30-90 days, and once it has expired, a mortgage advisor can easily renew this for you. Our brilliant team can usually get one of these turned around for you within 24 hours of your primary appointment with a dedicated mortgage advisor in Lincoln.

Fourth Step: Finding the Right Solicitor 

After you have gotten an Agreement in Principle, you will need to start looking for a conveyancer to help you with the legal dealings of homebuying. The term conveyancing is the name for the transfer of legal ownership of property between the different parties, whether you’re either the buyer or the seller.

Your conveyancing solicitor will handle the contracts for you, provide you with any necessary legal advice, conduct local council/authority searches on your behalf, help make arrangements with Land Registry and lastly transfer the funds you have acquired, so that you can pay for the property. As is likely evident from these tasks, this is a vital role in your process, so you must choose the right one carefully.

Something else you should know here, is that licensed conveyancers are property specialists and can’t deal with more complex legal issues, whereas a more general solicitor will be able to offer a full range of services, which can make them sometimes seem more costly. Whilst we do not offer these services directly, we do have an internal list of trusted companies that we will happily refer you to, if you need us to.

Fifth Step: Making an Offer on a Property 

Once you have spoken to a fast & friendly mortgage broker in Lincoln, have passed the Mortgage Affordability Assessment, gotten your Agreement in Principle and carefully found yourself a trusted conveyancing solicitor to help process the legal elements of your home buying experience. This means you’re halfway to the finish line! Your next step is to make an offer for your desired home.

As touched upon earlier on, with an Agreement in Principle now in your possession, you will have better success in negotiating with the seller regarding price. Be sure not to make an offer that could insult the seller, but also don’t be afraid to try and negotiate for a lower price.

Knowing you have an AIP, you are more likely to have an offer accepted, as you are prepared for the process, rather than someone who is willing to pay the asking price but hasn’t even gotten themselves in a position to start their mortgage journey.

Worst case scenario, the seller will say no, but it’s at that point you can either come to an agreement on a better price or walk away and find yourself another property with a price that suits you a lot better. Once you’ve had an offer accepted, it’s time to get back in touch with your mortgage advisor and move onto the final steps of your mortgage journey.

Sixth Step: Submit Your Documents 

A step now that is crucial to the process; submitting the required documents to go ahead with a mortgage. As can probably be expected when it comes to such large financial commitments, a lender will not just give money to anyone who gets in touch, wanting a mortgage. This has happened in the past and if you cast your minds back to 2007-08, it was disastrous.

The mortgage lender will require lots of different documentation to prove that you are who you say you are, your current income amount, where you live at the moment and how well you conduct your finances on a monthly basis. If you’re applying for a joint mortgage, they will need this same documentation from all involved.

The types of documents you will need to submit to the lender, include; proof of identification, proof of address, the last 3 months’ of your pay slips and latest P60 (employed), proof of any income such as state benefits or maintenance, proof of deposit, the last 3 years’ proof of earnings and Tax Year Overviews (self-employed in Lincoln) and the last 90 days of your personal bank statements. 

Seventh Step: We’ll Progress Your Mortgage Application 

Now that you’ve had your mortgage agreed in principle, and had an offer accepted from the seller, we can go ahead and submit your full mortgage application. At a point where you’re now prepared and everything has been checked by your mortgage advisor in Lincoln & their team of mortgage administrators, we are ready to submit your application to the lender, hopefully obtaining you a mortgage.

Your advisor will send off all the collected evidence for this, and then it is just a matter of waiting for them to respond with either an accepted application or a declined one. Whilst there isn’t a specific time frame, our team will be able to chase the lender and find out an answer for you, until it has been made clear.

Eighth Step: Property Valuation / Survey 

In-between your mortgage application and being offered a mortgage, the lender will need you to have a property valuation survey taken out. This will usually be carried out by accredited companies nominated by the lender (someone that the lender knows they could trust).

The reason they do this is to gain an understanding of the true value of the property, against what you’re paying for it. If you’re paying above its market value, the lender may be less willing to lend to you. This is because if any arrears were to occur at a later date, they would lose out on their money. The act of refusing based on its actual value is usually referred to as a ‘down valuation’.

There are many different types of survey available, with differing prices on each of these. Some will just want to check how much the property is worth, whereas some may let you know of any structural concerns, as well as possible repairs that may be worth looking out for in the future. Your mortgage advisor in Lincoln will be able to give you a good indication as to the right property survey to have done.

Ninth Step: Receiving Your Mortgage Offer 

We’re almost at the end now. Your lender has analysed your case and performed an assessment of all the documented evidence. Once this has been done, you will receive a mortgage offer.

Our caring and committed mortgage advisors and administrators in Lincoln, that you’ve surely gotten to know fairly well throughout your mortgage process, will check over the offer on your behalf to ensure everything is correct and as you wanted it. After your mortgage offer has been received, it’s down to your conveyancing solicitor to take your purchase all the way through to completion.

Tenth Step: Completing The Process 

A big congratulations to you, you’ve now officially gone from first-time buyer in Lincoln to a first-time homeowner in Lincoln, with their own name attached to a property. At this point we hope your worries are now firmly behind you, and that you’re both happy and ready to begin your new life in your very own home.

All that is left is for you to get your keys and start moving in! We hope you enjoyed speaking to our team along the way and were given a fast & friendly mortgage advice service. If you have chosen a fixed rate mortgage, we will Get in Touch towards the end of your journey to help out with your remortgage!

Why Don’t People Overpay their Mortgages in Lincoln?

If you are a first time buyer in Lincoln and have some money to spare every month then maybe you could consider making overpayments to your mortgage. Looking to make additional payments on your mortgage can make a significant difference overall to the amount of interest you will be paying back over the term of the mortgage.

The sooner you begin overpaying the better, as the extra payments have a longer period of time to have an effect.

Some homeowners cannot afford to make extra payments. We feel that the reason is that for many, life simply gets in the way. We know overpaying is the “right” thing to do but let’s face it, there’s always something else you can be spending your money on and plenty of those things are more exciting!

Your Action Plan

The best approach is probably not to make ad-hoc additional payments. (You will likely not get round to it or miss months of additional payment). Take action today and plan ahead. I would suggest setting up a standing order, payable to your mortgage lender each month. Set up the standing order to go out on the same day as your regular mortgage payment. E.g. your mortgage payment is, say £500pm and is collected on the 1st of the month. You can afford to pay an extra £75pm, so set up a standing order for £75pm to go out of your bank also on the 1st.

The reason for the above is that very quickly you will start to “feel” that your mortgage is actually £575pm and you will get used to that within a matter of months. 

You’re Still In Control

The beauty of doing a standing order is that unlike a direct debit, a standing order is controlled by the payer, not the receiver. That means that if you have a financial emergency you can quickly log into your online banking and cancel the standing order so that it doesn’t go out next month.

Whilst it would be regrettable to have to stop overpaying, at least you would have benefited from the overpayments made up until that point. Some mortgages will even let you make reduced payments or take a payment holiday if you have been overpaying for a while. Before taking a payment break though it’s important to check with your lender. Make sure that you are eligible to do so to avoid a negative mark on your credit report.

Overpaying your mortgage is a great habit to get into. You don’t need to go hell for leather at it unless you feel so obliged. Even shaving a year or two off will be very welcome when you near the end of the term.

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 Lincoln

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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln & those who are Moving Home in Lincoln. 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.