Mortgages at Hackney & Leigh
Mortgage Calculator

What is a Mortgage?

Put simply it is a loan secured against a property. For most people it will be the biggest ongoing cost when purchasing a house.

Before beginning your “house hunt” it is a good idea to get a mortgage agreed in principle with your lender so you know what you can afford to buy and to save you time later.If not, you might get beaten to a property by another buyer.

These pages should help you to navigate the mortgage process. Why not try our handy Mortgage Calculator.

If you need anymore information or help please do not hesitate to contact us and one of friendly team will assist you.

What Can Be Mortgaged?

  • Freehold (but as a general rule lenders are unlikely to loan on a freehold flat)
  • Leasehold – must have at least 25 years beyond the term of the mortgage outstanding
  • Shared equity
  • Shared ownership
  • Buy to Let
  • Semi-commercial (>40% residential)
  • Non-standard properties – always best to establish the precise nature of construction as some properties are acceptable if they have been renovated under an approved scheme
  • Local occupancy restrictions (section 106 agreements) – Your lender will need to see a copy of the agreement which relates to the local occupancy clause. Not all lenders are familiar or comfortable with certain restrictions

Types Of Mortgage

Fixed rate

The rate is fixed for the duration of the deal, typically 2 – 5 years.  Fixed rates will often have a Completion Fee payable which needs to be considered carefully as this can turn what appears a low rate into effectively a higher one (APR).  Fixed rate mortgages are usually recommended where the main objective is knowing that the mortgage payment cannot increase for a period of time and are very popular with first time buyers.

Tracker rate

Rate tracks the Bank of England (BOE) rate which is reviewed each month.  The borrower usually pays a premium above the BOE rate (typically 2 – 3%).  As the BOE rate at 0.75% is nearly the lowest it has been for more than 200 years.  The rate is, by definition, variable and thus suits people who are able to absorb interest rate increases.

Discounted rate

Similar to a tracker mortgage but rather than being linked to the Bank of England rate is linked to the lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR).  Borrowers will receive a discount for a period of time, typically 2 – 5 years.  The rate is therefore variable.

Buy to let

A mortgage arranged to purchase a Buy to Let Property and is usually restricted to a maximum of around 75% loan-to-value. The remaining 25% deposit is often raised by remortgaging one’s own residential property. Most lenders insist that the rental income covers a minimum of 125% of the monthly interest payments which are the stress test on the mortgage and can therefore be deemed ‘self-financing’ although there are minimum requirements for household income too.

Remortgages

The term remortgage refers to a situation where a borrower is changing lenders or possibly raising a mortgage on a property that is already mortgaged.  Remortgages generally attract the similar rates of interest as standard purchase mortgages and as such, borrowers can review their deal on a regular basis.  Most lenders will pay the valuation fee and legal fees as part of a remortgage package, making it an even more attractive option for borrowers.

Let to buy

The term Let to Buy describes a situation where a borrower cannot (or chooses not to) sell their existing house before purchasing another property.  Usually the lender will need to be satisfied that the rental income more than covers the existing mortgage and will normally require a deposit of 10 – 20% on the new property. The deposit is often raised as a further advance on the existing property.

Repayment Methods

Repayment

With this type of mortgage the borrower is guaranteed to repay the mortgage by the end of the term of the loan assuming they make all the required payments.  The mortgage payment is made up of a combination of monthly interest and capital and the  borrower will see a gradual reduction in their mortgage balance over the term of the loan.  By definition, the rate at which capital is repaid speeds up towards the end of the mortgage as more of the capital element of the monthly repayment is applied to repaying the loan.

Interest only

Your repayments with this type of mortgage only cover the interest on the amount you have borrowed and pay nothing off the original loan. You must put a plan in place to be able to pay off the capital at the end of the mortgage.

  • With repayment vehicle – this is usually some kind of investment such as a stocks and shares ISA or endowment policy.  The loan is therefore paid off right at the end of the term by using the investment
  • Without repayment vehicle – these types of interest only mortgages usually rely on some other form of asset to repay the loan such as the sale of another property, or in the case of a Buy to Let property, the property being mortgaged when it is eventually sold

Part & part

This type of a mortgage is a combination of repayment and interest only.  They are usually granted where someone has an asset they wish to use to repay the mortgage but not sufficient in value to repay it all.  In recent years, borrowers have often converted part of their endowment mortgages into part and part mortgages in order to repay any potential shortfall.

How Much You Can Borrow ?

This is based on numerous factors and varies between different lenders. Below offers a rough guide of what might be needed and how the mortgage is calculated.

Evidence Of Employment

Employed

Usually evidenced by last P60 and latest payslip.  Applicant must not be on probationary periods.

Self-employed

A minimum of 2 years’ accounts are required and an upward trend in profits will generally be expected.

Company directors

Company directors usually receive a PAYE salary and company dividends which will need to be seen.

How Is It Calculated?

Single applicants

Are normally able to borrow 3.75 to 4.25 times gross salary.

Joint applicants

Are normally able to borrow 3.0 to 3.25 times joint basic salaries.

Other Factors

Existing commitments

Any loan payments are annualised (multiplied by 12) and deducted from gross salary before applying the usual income multipliers.

Secondary income

Tax Credits such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit are acceptable provided they will be received for a reasonable period of the loan.

Second jobs

these are acceptable provided it is reasonable to continue with both employments for a reasonable period of the loan.

Overtime / bonus / commission

This is usually restricted to 50% and provided it is earned regularly over a reasonable period of time.

What Costs Can I Expect When Getting A Mortgage?

Valuation or survey fee

There are different types of reports depending on the nature of the inspection. Fees are typically around £150 – £200 (double for Homebuyers Reports).

Application or completion fee

These are payable upfront and not usually refundable. Completion Fees are only payable once a mortgage completes and can often be added to the mortgage.

Mortgage indemnity insurance

An insurance for the lender to cover any potential shortfall if the property is repossessed and sold at a loss.  Most lenders these days will pay the fee but the insurance company reserve the right to chase the borrower if they pay out!

First mortgage payment

This is normally a part payment which comprises interest from date of completion until the end of the current month. The first full monthly payment falls due in the following month.

Other Costs When Buying A House

Stamp duty land tax

Don’t forget Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid on all residential properties above £125,000.

Legal fee

Can vary widely so best to ask for several quotes. Legal fees are charged for both buying and selling properties and therefore dearer for people moving house. If you do not have a solicitor to act on your behalf then please do contact us and we can recommend someone suitable.

Estate agent’s fee

This will have been set with your agent before your property was put on the market.

Removal fees

Make sure you hunt around for a few quotes and ask friends who they have used.

Decision In Principle

A DIP is a Decision in Principle which is an agreement with your lender on how much you can borrow before a mortgage is finalised.

Evidence required

You need to produce evidence of income, identity and  3 months’ bank statement.  In exchange the lender issues a mortgage certificate which indicates the maximum amount you can borrow.  Anecdotal evidence suggests that estate agents are often looking for this type of reassurance before putting offers to vendors.

Impact of adverse credit

Any adverse credit entries within the last 3 years will have a bearing on the decision to lend, particularly in high loan-to-value cases. Any cases are unlikely to proceed if there is any evidence of late / missed payments, CCJs or similar.

Buying at auction

Buyers need the reassurance that a mortgage offer will be made so usually the lender will carry out all the checks necessary (including valuation) beforehand. This is clearly an expensive exercise as the applicant has no way of knowing if any bid made will be acceptable to the vendor.

The Approval Process

  • Initial screening against lending criteria
  • Credit search
  • Underwriting – the name given to the process of agreeing the loan
  • Valuation / survey – Different types of survey exist from standard valuations, Homebuyers’ Report to full structural surveys
  • Mortgage offer / acceptance
  • Solicitor’s instructions
  • Report on Title – the name given to the document / request from the acting solicitor to the Society for the mortgage funds to be released
  • Completion
  • First mortgage payment
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.