What mortgage can I get with my salary?
Typically, mortgage lenders could lend you 4 or 4.5 times your salary if you meet the affordability criteria. So, for example, if you earn £30,000 a year, you may be offered £120,000-135,000.
If you are applying for a joint mortgage with a partner, then the mortgage lender will consider both salaries combined. For example, if both people earn £30,000 the mortgage lender will consider the overall salary as £60,000, meaning they could consider offering you £240,000-270,000.
Want a more accurate estimate of how much you can borrow?
Speak to a mortgage adviser. They can take a look at your exact situation and go through what you may be able to borrow. They can however not guarantee that your mortgage application will be accepted.
To be taken seriously as a buyer, it’s worth taking the time to get a mortgage agreement in principle. Not only will an agreement in principle help you search for a property in your price range, it can also help confirm to the seller that you are serious about buying, as it shows you can get a mortgage (subject to status and lender criteria).
Having a mortgage agreement in principle will really set you apart from other buyers in the market, and will also give the agent and seller faith that you can afford the property you’re viewing. Please note that an agreement in principle is an indication from a lender as to how much you may be able to borrow and not a guarantee that a lender will allow you to borrow the amount offered.
Can I use the equity in my house as a deposit?
Yes, you can! Your best course of action is to call your lender and find out how much you owe on your mortgage. Then ask one of our expert local agents to value your home or check its worth online now.
If your mortgage balance is less than your home is worth, you have equity in your property. Let’s use a quick example to show how this works.
Say you have a £100,000 mortgage on a house worth £250,000. The equity (or money in the property) is £150,000. If you bought a new house for £300,000, you could pay back the original mortgage and then use the £150,000 equity as a deposit. You could take out a mortgage for the other £150,000. Another factor to consider are Early Repayment Charges (ERCs) when paying back the original mortgage.
Early repayment charges are a fee charged by the mortgage lender if/when you pay back your mortgage early. They do this to compensate for any lost interest payments they may have received during your full mortgage term.
Knowledge is most definitely power when it comes to understanding mortgages and, fortunately, our advisers are on hand to make everything as straightforward as possible.
What are the best mortgage rates if you’re self employed?
There are slightly different steps to take if you are self-employed. If you’re in this position, speak to a mortgage adviser to get an indication of lender criteria, what you could borrow, and how much the repayments might be.
Are you investing in a buy-to-let property?
Similarly to being self-employed, purchasing buy-to-let properties will have slightly different criteria and things to consider, so speaking to a mortgage adviser is the best choice.
What costs are associated with buying a property?
Stamp duty or Land Tax cost
Often, stamp duty can be the largest additional cost of buying a home.
If you’re purchasing a main residence in England, you won’t pay any stamp duty on properties up to £125,000 - and if you’re a first-time buyer, that threshold increases to £300,000.* In Scotland, properties worth up to £145,000 are exempt and first-time buyer relief applies up to £175,000.** In Wales properties worth up to £225,000 are exempt from Land Transaction Tax.*** Different rates apply if you are purchasing a second home.
Survey and valuation costs
When you purchase a house, your mortgage lender will also want to conduct a valuation survey.
This is designed so that the lender knows the property is worth at least what you’re paying for it. It also helps your insurer calculate the reinstatement cost when arranging your buildings insurance (to cover the cost to completely rebuild the property in the event of fire etc.) Some lenders don’t charge a mortgage valuation fee but, if they do, they usually vary according to the value of the property and lenders will have their own fee scale.
In addition to the lender’s checks, it is always worth getting a detailed property survey. This will give you an idea of the property’s structure and condition before you buy it. Surveys costs vary as there are several options to choose from depending on property type and level of detail, so click here if you’re unsure of what’s available.
While a survey does involve an initial outlay of money, adding to the cost of buying a house, it does give you re-assurance that your future home is in a good condition, and you won’t have to pay for expensive repairs further down the line. You don't want to have your offer accepted only to find out that the boiler doesn’t work, or the electrics are ancient, which could mean that you may pay high repair costs down the line.
The cost of owning a home
Once you have moved into a property, it isn’t just the mortgage you have to pay every month. There are some other costs involved with owning a home. For example:
- Water, gas and electricity bills.
- Service charges for those living in a leasehold property or have a share of freehold.
- Council tax has to be paid by occupants of properties, varying from council to council.
- Buildings and contents insurance. Speak to us today if you're interested in taking out these types of insurance.
Want to find out more about any of the above. We can help.
