First time buyers
First time buyers can find today's mortgage market somewhat daunting, and, all too often, downright confusing. This can be exacerbated if the first time buyer has a bad credit rating or limited credit history.
As a whole of market mortgage broker, we have extensive experience of assisting first time buyers with previous credit issues including missed payments, CCJs and defaults. We provide professional mortgage advice to first time buyers with bad credit, including those who have been turned down elsewhere. Contact us to see if we can help you.
Quite often the biggest issue facing first time buyers is whether or not they will be able to borrow enough to purchase the property they want. One of the best ways to help yourself as a first-time buyer is to seek out professional advice. A specialist advisor will provide the best possible service by looking at your situation and advising you on the most suitable mortgage deals.
Saving a deposit is the place to start. The bigger your deposit, the wider your choice of mortgage loans will be. And if your deposit is worth at least 10% per cent of the property you want to buy, many more lenders will be prepared to lend to you.
But tempting as it may be, avoid borrowing the money for your deposit from a bank or building society, or on a credit card. Before your mortgage is agreed, you will have to declare the loan with all other monthly expenditure on your mortgage application, which cuts the amount mortgage lenders will let you borrow.
In the past, many lenders were happy to lend one hundred per cent - or more - of the value of the property, but the credit crunch put paid to that for now.
Affordability
Mortgage lenders have traditionally used income multiples to decide how much to let you borrow - although again, since the housing boom hugely inflated prices, this calculation can produce an affordability 'gap' because house prices have risen beyond these calculations.
Some lenders let you borrow based on 'ability to pay', which sometimes allows applicants to borrow a little more. If, for example, you have a clean credit record, no children and two incomes, some lenders may be willing to give you more because you have a higher disposable income.
Incidentally, lenders are often prepared to offer you a little more if you choose a five or ten year fixed rate mortgage, because the monthly repayments stay the same for a long time, which is easier for borrowers to manage.
Never borrow more than you can afford. It may be tempting to try to outbid the competition for a property you like, but be realistic. Unless you take out a fixed rate mortgage, interest rate rises can increase your monthly repayments, and added extras like furnishing your new home or ongoing bills like insurance and travel costs to your new home could become a burden.
Fees
First-time buyers can be surprised by all the mortgage-related fees and charges.
Mortgage application fees, lender valuations and stamp duty will all add up and that's before you move on to solicitor fees and surveys.
- Low credit score
- First time buyers
- Limited credit history
- Specialist bad credit lenders
- Impartial advice
We know which lenders might give you the green light