Gifted Deposit FAQ’s | Mortgage Advice in Leicester

What is a gifted deposit?

A gifted deposit is either a portion of or the entire amount of deposit you need to put down on a property and obtain a mortgage, given to you purely as a gift (agreed in official documentation) and with an understanding that you will not repay it.

How can gifted deposits help out?

Gifted deposits in Leicester are very useful if you are financially capable of covering the monthly mortgage repayments, but are struggling to save up for the initial deposit as a first time buyer in Leicester.

This can occur perhaps due to a lower income or frequent larger outgoings, such as rental payments and home energy bills. We hear of this a lot when we speak to first time buyers in Leicester.

In receiving a gifted deposit, you may also allow yourself to gain access to much better rates of interest during your mortgage process, especially if that gift is above the minimum 5% deposit requirement.

Who can gift the deposit?

Generally it will mainly be parents (birth and adopted) and carers who are able to gift you the deposit. This is often discussed online using the terminology “Bank of Mum & Dad”.

Other extended family members may also be able to help out with a gifted deposit. This entirely depends on the mortgage lender that you end up with though, so it is worth speaking to a mortgage advisor in Leicester ahead of time, if that is the case.

Do your parents know you need help?

We’re often quite surprised at the amount of customers who have no idea their parents are able to help with their mortgage! We also encounter a good portion who feel like they maybe can’t ask their parents for help.

The truth is, the majority of parents out there are more than happy to help their children to find a home of their own, comfortably living as opposed to struggling whilst living in a rental property.

Typically speaking, taking out a mortgage may save you more money per month than you would get from renting, as depending on the conditions of your mortgage, you could be paying much less per month.

The deposit that is gifted often comes from inheritance, although parents can sometimes gift it much earlier if they have enough money saved or have released equity from their own home.

Gifted Deposit vs Loans

The majority of mortgage lenders won’t agree to accept a loan as a means of paying off your deposit. It will be often relate to the lender not being so sure if you have the ability to afford paying both back at the same time.

Is there a maximum or minimum gifted amount?

Whilst there aren’t limits to the amount that can be gifted to a home buyer, it’s worth remembering that some lenders will want you to have at least 5% from your own savings.

In general, the more you can afford to put down, perhaps combining savings and gift, the better the deals you are going to have access to.

Who could benefit from a gifted deposit?

It will usually be first time buyers and people moving house in Leicester who will benefit the most from gifted deposit.

You may also be able to use a gifted deposit to cover the initial 5% deposit for the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme, though this will again depend on the mortgage lender.

What proof is required?

Your donor will be required to sign a gifted deposit form stating that it is not a loan and is in fact a gift. Additional proof such as ID, address and bank statements may be required.

Our Mortgage Advice Service in Leicester

As an open & honest mortgage broker in Leicester and surrounding areas, we always aim to provide our customers with the highest level of customer service, through a fast and friendly mortgage advice service.

We always rise above for our loyal customers, no matter the mortgage situation they are currently going through. When someone gets in touch with us for mortgage advice in Leicester, we will consider all cases, no matter how complex.

Availability of a Mortgage Advisor in Leicester

A trusted and experienced mortgage broker in Leicester is available seven days a week, from early on until late. Our advisors will be ready and waiting to offer their support at all times.

Book your free mortgage appointment today with an expert mortgage advisor in Leicester and we’ll see how we are able to help you on your mortgage journey.

Top 5 Mortgage Hurdles You May Come Across

Hurdles Obtaining a Mortgage in Leicester

When you are going through the mortgage journey, there is a small chance that you will encounter some kind of issue. Sometimes, these can be challenging to deal with!

Having worked in the mortgage industry for over 20 years, we have a vast amount of experience as a trusted Mortgage Broker in Leicester, and have encountered a vast range of mortgage hurdles throughout the years.

This means that it’s very likely we have encountered your situation before and will have an idea of how to overcome it.

On the rare occasions that we haven’t encountered your circumstance before, we will work hard in finding the best solution to help you along the mortgage journey. The hurdles you may face can be ones you are unaware of especially if you are First Time Buyer in Leicester, however, we hope to help you with this.

With a plethora of mortgage hurdles out there, it would be a challenge to cover them all. Below highlights the top five hurdles you may encounter in the midst of your mortgage process.

Common Mortgage Hurdles

Childcare fees

Having your mortgage application turned away due to you having children is a rare occurrence, however, it can put you at a bit of a disadvantage if do.

The lender wants to be fully certain that you can manage all your mortgage payments as well as current expenditures. Childcare costs do come under the expenditure umbrella each month.

The reason why lenders have to factor this in is because these costs can often go into hundreds of pounds per month. Generally, childcare costs never decrease, they are always going up! From a lender’s point of view, childcare costs are the same as a car loan or hire purchase agent cost.

Regardless of if you don’t pay nursery fees, having children can mean you are offered less than other buyers who don’t have children. One advantage is that this type of family can usually be in receipt of tax credits and some lenders will acknowledge this along with child benefits.

Divorce/separation

In the unfortunate circumstance that you decide to separate from your partner, you may encounter some problems relating to finances, especially if you have one together.

If you are still financially linked with someone else, lenders may struggle to accept your application. This is because they don’t want you to have two different sets of mortgage payments to meet each month as it might be a lot to handle.

Our team often get asked the same questions when people reach out to us for Specialist Mortgage Advice in Leicester, below are just a few:

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 get a second mortgage in Leicester?

If you are faced with mortgage hurdles like these, it can get very challenging, very quickly. The good news is that there is often a solution to these scenarios, it’s just working out the steps to overcome them. Having a Mortgage Broker in Leicester to provide a helping hand, you will have a lot of weight lifted in these difficult times.

Benefit income

When it comes to benefit income, different lenders will have varying viewpoints, one is how they are going to assess it. The good thing is that all benefit income like child tax credit, working tax credits, disability benefits and pensions can all be factored in one way or another. The lender decides whether to consider it or not.

Feel free to contact our team if you are looking for more information about mortgages and benefit income. Here at Leicestermoneyman, we will look over your situation for you and try to match you with a lender that will consider your benefit income, our goal is to get it right first time!

New Job

In many cases, a new job includes a larger salary. This additional income is usually put towards something like a new mortgage. You may think this means you have a higher chance of getting a mortgage, but this is not always the case.

It’s common to have a probationary period when you start a new job. Probationary periods are usually okay, but there will no doubt be some uncertainty there. You might a lender will only accept you when you have job security, it depends on the lender and mortgage costs.

To determine your work patterns, lenders will look at your previous places of employment. They need to know you aren’t jumping in and out of work. Gaps in employment can hurt your application.

You might find some lenders who will work from a newly signed employment contract even in month one or if your new job is about to begin.

Evidencing a deposit for a mortgage in Leicester

All mortgage lenders and mortgage brokers legally need evidence of where the borrowers’ deposit funds come from. This is to prove that the applicant has raised funds legally and to combat money-laundering. Your solicitor and estate agent may request evidence of your deposit also.

This is the part of the process we feel is the most complicated when applying for a mortgage and can result in some mistakes if not carried out correctly.

Your deposit might be from savings, premium bonds, the sale of another property, gifted from a family member or friend, from family overseas, or from a personal loan, either way, you need to have the paper audit trail for the accumulation of funds.

Can I Get a Mortgage With Bad/Adverse Credit in Leicester?

Bad Credit Mortgage Advice in Leicester

It is a common practice nowadays to seek Specialist Mortgage Advice in Leicester when clients have bad credit or not paying off their bills on time. 

Something as small as a missed or late payment from your bills may result in a default attached to your credit report. Which may harm your capability to obtain a mortgage because it implies that you cannot keep up with repayments on time.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, having any missed payments or defaults in your credit file may require some additional help from a Mortgage Broker in Leicester like ourselves. This is because most High Street Banks will reject your application for a mortgage, especially if you only have a small deposit.

Your lender will need to know the date the default was registered against you and how long ago it was. The more details are given, the more likely it is that the lender will be able to help you. Especially if it was down to a life-related event such as ill-health, redundancy or separation.

We tend to find that clients often make mistakes in the past, and these financial mistakes can come back to haunt them. We may also be able to help you if you have had historic mortgage arrears or a CCJ (County Court Judgement).

Bad Credit Mortgage FAQs

Below are some helpful responses to frequently asked questions about Bad Credit mortgages in Leicester and nearby areas. If you can’t find what you need in our bad credit FAQs, one of our Mortgage Advisors in Leicester will be more than happy to get back to you. 

What will my mortgage advisor in Leicester need to see?

Your advisor will need to see an up-to-date copy of your credit report and show any previous credit problems you had in the past. You can find a copy of your recent credit report online for free.

Before applying for any mortgage, doing multiple credit searches can damage your credit rating. However, it’s still vital that you obtain an up-to-date copy of your credit report. 

I have a good income but bad credit. Can I still get a mortgage?

This all comes down to your circumstances and affordability. Some customers find themselves a little perplexed by their credit reports. It might look bad, they may have had issues, but they have a stable income and enough deposit to reduce a rate and obtain a decent mortgage deal. It makes you wonder if you are in that same position but the lender still won’t let you borrow the amount you’ll like or need. That’s because it all comes down to risk. 

After all, your lender needs to be convinced that you afford all your repayments on time without a likelihood of any arrears occurring. In the event of these arrears, the lender may need to repossess the home, which is something that everybody wants to avoid. 

There may be a chance for those who are looking to get a mortgage while having bad credit, you just may have to pay higher rates. For more information, it’s best to speak to a Specialist Mortgage Advisor in Leicester, with their help they can hopefully find you a potential mortgage.

I’ve had mortgage problems before. Will that stop me from getting a mortgage?

One day you may find yourself in financial trouble and no longer able to keep up with the mortgage payments. These circumstances are unfortunate, and whilst it could be a short blip that you can pay back not too long after, the damage is done, and it will be on your credit report as a missed payment.

You may be faced with other credit issues too, and when it comes to getting a Remortgage or a new mortgage after Moving Home in Leicester, you may find yourself struggling to obtain a new mortgage. As previously stated, this always comes down to risk. Can the lender trust you? Will you be in the same position again?

The good news is, with the help of Specialist Mortgage Advice in Leicester, we have had helped previous customers who have had a mortgage and have since ended up with Bad Credit. If you are in a similar situation, speak to a Mortgage Broker in Leicester like ourselves, we may be able to help you achieve your mortgage goals.

What other types of adverse problems are customers faced with?

Customers may find themselves in a position to have adverse issues regarding their credit, all of which can impact your affordability for a mortgage. These issues vary from, but are not limited to;

• Bankruptcy
• Credit Card or Loan Defaults
• Missed Mortgage Payments
• County Court Judgements (CCJ’s)

Whilst this is an awful situation to be in, it’s not the end of the world. Your mortgage process may be longer, more challenging, and you may end up on a higher rate, but there are lenders out there, who might have a mortgage deal on their panel, who will accept your mortgage application.

To boost your chances of success and open yourself up to better rates, you need to focus on improving your credit score. We have a handy guide on different ways to improve your credit score, which will hopefully put you in a much better place for obtaining a mortgage in the future.

Get in Touch for Bad Credit Mortgage Advice

If you require any Mortgage Advice in Leicester regarding a Bad or Adverse Credit situation. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team. Utilising their knowledge working in the industry, working extra hard to try and put you in the best possible position to eventually obtain you a mortgage.

Mortgages for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQT’s) in Leicester

Newly Qualified Teacher Mortgage Advice in Leicester

Good job! You have just achieved a massive goal after passing all of the required exams to become a Newly Qualified Teacher. It is now time for you to find yourself a job within the classroom, utilising your teacher qualifications!

If you have found your dream job in teaching but you’re located in an area that isn’t ideal for your dream job, it may be time to start looking at your options for Moving Home in Leicester.

This will take you on a journey of finding a place to move, juggling the process of homeownership and getting settled in your newfound teaching role.

Through our time providing open and honest Mortgage Advice in Leicester, this is a situation we commonly come across. We have a brilliant reputation for helping lots of newly qualified teachers with their mortgages whilst they focus on their careers.

Newly Qualified Teacher Mortgages

It may be quite challenging to try and find a mortgage lender who will want to offer a mortgage to a teacher who is newly qualified.

The common reasons behind this is that the applicant has no work history or that they are on a temporary contract.

The good news is that it’s not impossible to find a mortgage for a Newly Qualified Teacher. This is where our team of dedicated Mortgage Advisors in Leicester can help as they have excellent knowledge and experience in this.

Through their experience, they have seen some mortgage lenders have favourable deals on offer to people who are wrong within this specific work sector.

The overall goal is to find the best mortgage lender to go with, this can be the most challenging part of the process.

Here at Leicestermoneyman, our mortgage advice team in Leicester can look through thousands of mortgage deals with the aim to find a deal fitting for your situation and has favourable rates.

What mortgages for NQT teachers may be available?

Even though it can be difficult, you are not completely restricted in the options that are available to you.

Below are some of the more popular mortgage types that we find are available to Newly Qualified Teachers.

• Fixed-Rate Mortgages – One of the most common mortgages, allowing your payments to stay the same for a length of time.
• Shared Ownership Mortgages – Turning your mortgage payments into part rent, part mortgage. Making repayments potentially easier.
• Tracker Mortgages – A form of variable rate, where interest will follow the Bank of England’s base rate, whether that is up or down.

Each lender has different criteria they follow which means there are different factors they take into consideration. You may find that some mortgage lenders do not need to see previous employment and may let you have access to up to a 95% loan-to-value.

In some cases, a 12-month contract may be seen in the same way as a permanent job role instead of being seen as a temporary one.

Finally, we have come across some lenders who are willing to begin the mortgage process before your start date as long as the applicant can provide evidence of a signed contract and a start date.

This can be really beneficial as you may be in a position where you are ready to start making your first mortgage payments with your first month’s pay from your new job by the time that the mortgage process has been completed.

How a Mortgage Advisor in Leicester may Help

We have a fantastic and hardworking team of mortgage advice experts in Leicester who have extensive experience and knowledge within the mortgage world. Through this, they have encountered a variety of home buyers in their mortgage situation.

Utilising the service of a Mortgage Broker in Leicester can have a lot of benefits, especially for those in the teaching industry. Our team will work hard in taking any stress away from the process, searching thousands of deals on your behalf whilst you can focus on your new teaching job. As well as this we can recommend a conveyancing solicitor and so much more!

We offer all our customers a free mortgage appointment with one of our expert Mortgage Advisors in Leicester who can help you explore all your mortgage options and get to know your financial situation in more detail.

Should I Use My Estate Agent’s In-House Mortgage Advisor?

Estate Agent Mortgage Advice in Leicester

During the start of your mortgage journey, you’ll most likely have to deal with an estate agent. If you end up in conversation with a larger estate agent, they will want you to use their own in-house team of mortgage advisors & conveyancers.

A lot of first time buyers in Leicester fall into this and are persuaded to use their services, usually spending more money than they otherwise would’ve had to.

The good news is that you don’t need to use their advisor at all, a point we’ll expand upon later on, and you may also open yourself up the either the same deals or better by going elsewhere.

Speaking to a Mortgage Advisor in Leicester outside of the estate agent could be a much better route for you to follow. The advisor working for the estate agent will give you a biased view that only benefits them and their profit.

A dedicated mortgage broker in Leicester will help you see the positives and negatives of each side. If you do still choose to go with the estate agents mortgage advisor, that is okay, though it’s important to remember that you have options.

We always aim to be transparent & efficient, looking to give the best possible experience and the best advice for our customers personal and financial circumstances, whilst providing a fast & friendly mortgage advice service.

Sales tactics of estate agents

If you do opt to use the services of your estate agent’s in-house mortgage advisor and conveyancer, have a good think about where their service cost is coming from.

They could potentially be charging you for their services without asking you and adding it onto the costs of other services, hoping you won’t notice.

Taking on expert mortgage advice in Leicester will reduce your concerns of this, as you will be well informed and aware of what you’re paying for. Your dedicated advisor will break down the cost of everything for you.

Even though it is highly illegal for them to do so, if you have opted not to use their services, they may refuse to put your property offers forward.

For example, you could be instead using the services of a mortgage broker and they may push forward someone else’s offer to completion over yours, purely out of spite that you didn’t use their services. Once again, this type of practice is illicit behaviour.

Estate agents may get even attempt to charge their customers extortionate fees for in-house conveyancing. Even with a straightforward purchase, you may find yourself being charged somewhere within the realm of £1,500, which is far too much.

Any time this occurs, you have full consumer rights to be given a full breakdown of exactly why it costs this much and where their calculations came from.

An experienced mortgage broker in Leicester will only want to do right by the customer. By coming to us for mortgage advice, you can avoid the tactics mentioned above.

How can I get a mortgage in Leicester?

Finding The Right Mortgage Advisor

Making sure you use the right Mortgage Advisor can be difficult; but can you make it easier?

From time to time, mortgage cases may require specialist care from a trusted mortgage advisor in Leicester. The in-house mortgage advisors from the estate agents don’t care for the details, so long as they can make a profit from it, even if it’s detrimental to you.

Speaking to an expert mortgage broker in Leicester you’ll find yourself matched up with an appropriate advisor with experience in a situation that’s at least similar to yours. They will work with you to ensure you get the right outcome.

An example of this would be the buy-to-let mortgage experts we have on hand for any landlords, new or experienced, looking to get a mortgage.

Once you’ve completed your free mortgage appointment and obtained an agreement in principle (we can normally get this for you within 24 hours of your appointment), your mortgage process can finally get underway.

We utilise our many collective years of providing open & honest mortgage advice in Leicester, helping thousands of customers achieve their home owning goals and dreams. Our customer reviews are a great inside look at how much of a difference our service makes to homeowners.

Kickstarting Your Own Mortgage Journey

Some people would rather take on the world of mortgages by themselves, and this is okay! The internet is a wonderful place and you can now do most of what you would need to do, by yourself on your browser.

By utilising price comparison websites, you may be able to find the best mortgage deal for your circumstances through your own research and understanding.

An obvious benefit to doing this would be that you’d save money on additional fees. Providing you have confidence in what you’re doing and understand the process, you could get through it awfully quick, more so than someone going to their bank.

The catch is that online mortgage shopping is quite difficult to do. Before you make any agreements, you should always make sure you have the best fit for your circumstances. Here are some tips if you’re doing this;

• Can you match the criteria for the “Best Buy” rates? Check before you apply for anything, to reduce the risk of harm to your credit score.
• Have you conducted the right research? A lot of comparison sites have commission based relationships with lenders. It’s their job to direct you to these companies for a payday. If they do not have a commercial relationship with a certain lender, they may just leave that deal off the list.
• In the event you encounter a problem along the way, you could be at a financial disadvantage. Pay attention to valuation and applications fees if you are not 100% sure you have been accepted, as they won’t be refundable.
• Progressing your application and sorting out any future concerns is solely your responsibility.

Should I Use My Bank or a Mortgage Broker?

Using Your Bank’s Mortgage Advisor

Making an appointment with a bank to speak to a mortgage advisor may be challenging. This isn’t always the case, though it also may just be the wrong choice for you to make. Here are a few things to look out for;

• The bank won’t shop around for the best deal, they will only present their own products, some of which may not even be suitable for you.
• No matter how long you’ve banked with them, you may find yourself getting declined. We’ve had genuine instances where 20 plus year customers have been turned away for lack of information.
• Mortgage appointments with a bank tend to have a long waiting list, with some lenders’ waiting lists being almost 6-months long.
• Your bank may have inexperienced mortgage advisors and struggle to help with difficult circumstances. Instead of solving problems, they have been known to just turn people away.

Using a Mortgage Broker in Leicester

Taking on the services of a mortgage broker that has no association with any estate agents ensures that you, as an inexperienced first time buyer in Leicester, have someone there to do the hard work for you, without any conflict of interest risks.

We work for you and only you, with no external ties. Whilst we do have mortgage lenders on panel, we don’t work for them, we simply match customers up to their various unique deals.

Our team do what they can to make sure you’re happy with your mortgage journey and the outcome you end up with. Managing Director Malcolm Davidson is here to explain both the positives and negatives of using a trusted mortgage broker:

The Importance of Changing Your Address in Leicester

Mortgage Advice for First-Time Buyers

As a first time buyer in Leicester applying for a mortgage, you need to be aware of your credit score. You will find that the least amount of addresses you have on your record, the better, though this seems to be something that people are more knowledgeable and aware of nowadays.

The Importance of Keeping Consistent With Your Addresses

Our experienced mortgage advisors in Leicester have found they are many applicants who have moved out of their parent’s address into rented accommodation, yet believe that it is a good idea to keep their previous address registered on bank statements, credit cards, and electoral roll.

People believe this is beneficial despite being a flawed strategy. Almost every time, if you have moved to a new address, there will be some record of this on your credit report. Your address could be recorded from a delivery address when you have ordered something online or car/home insurance search and many more.

Getting all your accounts (credit cards/ current accounts) and electoral roll changed over to your new address can be the best strategy when you are thinking of taking out a mortgage. At the time of updating your address on your credit file and electoral roll, it’s best to double-check the date in and date out. The consequence of making mistakes with these dates is that it may appear on your records that you are living in two places at once. 

This will show a more open and honest way of trying to apply for a mortgage which will benefit you greatly in your Mortgage application and when it comes to approaching a Mortgage Advisor in Leicester.

Get in Touch For Mortgage Advice in Leicester

The Pros and Cons of Using a Mortgage Broker in Leicester

As could likely be predicted, we personally feel like there are some really great reasons why you should use a mortgage broker in Leicester. This isn’t born out of bias, however, as we understand there are pros and cons to both, no matter if you’re a first time buyer in Leicester, looking to remortgage in Leicester, or have another situation.

Regardless of if you’re going via a branch or online, you are still able to go direct to the mortgage lender yourself. Below are all the pros and cons to either of your options.

Pros & Cons

When thinking about going direct to a bank or building society, the first thing that springs to mind is that you won’t be required to pay a broker fee, which in turn would possibly save you money. In the past, another positive that people thought of was “the bank manager knows my finances inside out”, though after credit scoring systems were introduced, this no longer became a factor.

On top of this, some mortgage lenders will have exclusive mortgage products on offer, that can only be obtained by going direct. They offer these as a way of attracting a good spread of business from their consumers and other brokers, turning exclusive products on and off whenever they believe it to be necessary. On the other side of the coin, some products may only be accessible by going to the broker and not by going direct to the lender.

From 2014 onwards, lenders were restricted from selling their mortgages on a non-advised basis to any customers of their services (those with bank accounts, for example). Up until that point, some applicants felt like members of staff who were not qualified for giving advice, were pushing their services on them.

They also felt like they weren’t able to benefit from some of the consumer protection that would normally come with mortgage sales performed by professionally trained mortgage advisors in Leicester.

The changes took a long while for lenders to come to terms with and towards the back end of 2014, it was not uncommon for customers to have to wait a long time to get a mortgage appointment. This is unfortunately still the case today sometimes. When you have had an offer accepted on a house, this is the last thing you need or want!

Because of the issues present with going direct, much like the wait for an appointment, more and more applications were made with mortgage brokers who could freely offer a same day service, something we are able to do ourselves. When you get in touch with us, we get you booked in with a mortgage advisor in Leicester as quick as we can, either on the same day or at your earliest convenience.

Affordability is an important factor too, as the quality of a lenders deal won’t matter if you have no way of affording it. Buying a house is such a large step in people’s lives, that they often would rather get professional and personal advice from a qualified and experienced mortgage advisor in Leicester.

Handling Difficult Cases

Nowadays we find that a lot of mortgage applications aren’t as simple anymore. For whatever reason it may be, there are so many things that can make a case more complicated. Some examples of these are:

• Mixed source of deposit (savings/gift)
• Poor credit history
• Let to Buy (keeping your current house and buying another)
• Affordability
• Contract workers/zero hours contracts
• Self-Employed Income

In the past, mortgage lenders were able to stand head and shoulders above the competition by simply offering a deal that was similar to one offered by another lender, but with slight differences to make it more appealing. Fast forwarding to where we are now and it is all so much more different, with lending criteria being the difference maker between deals and lenders.

An example of this, is that some lenders may lend more than other lenders might have to Self Employed applicants. Some also take a more sympathetic view on previous discrepancies that are showing on your credit report.

Your situation will be unique to you. It may be similar, but it will never be the same as another case. When you explain your position to an experienced mortgage broker, it is highly likely that there will at least be at least something similar that we have encountered before, allowing for a more personalised service. Hopefully, our hard working mortgage advisors will be able to get you a favourable deal with good interest rates.

It’s more than just getting a mortgage though. Even if the application itself is fairly easy, our customers who are first time buyers in Leicester rely on our experience and knowledge for more insight into the mortgage process.

For example, we are able to sit and discuss how much they are going to offer on the property they are buying. From there, our team of mortgage advisors in Leicester can recommend our customers other necessary professional services such as solicitors, whilst also explaining the different types of property survey and protection that is available to them.

Responsive Service

One of the main pros of using a mortgage broker in Leicester, we believe, is that we are a lot more responsive than the mortgage lenders have been known to be. Our team work from early until late, all throughout the week (including out of hours), dedicated to our customers and ensuring the process is as speedy and stress-free as it can be.

Something that does get overlooked from time to time when looking at why customers may prefer to use a broker, is that everyone nowadays everyone has such a busy schedule. You might need a mortgage but don’t have the required time to sort it out. In these cases, your mortgage advisor can take the weight off your shoulders and work through it for you.

Professional applicants especially will see the benefits of this service, as they have clients of their own that they charge out their services to and often don’t have the time to work through it themselves. The customers we deal with regularly appreciate the benefits of having an expert on their side.

Perhaps in the future we’ll see lenders wanting to limit their links to brokers and wanting to take their business back. If this does happen, we don’t see it being likely that they will hire more staff in their branch networks. The future of all industry seems to be based around technology and the mortgage market may very well be heading this way too.

That may work for customers who are more than happy to do business with a “robo-advisor”, especially for cases that are easy and don’t require a thorough analysis. For the majority of people, however, there’s an element of “realness”, that “human touch” that can’t be obtained by going this route, and can only be found by speaking to a real mortgage advisor in Leicester.

To find out more information on our service or to present any mortgage queries that you have, please Contact Us and we’ll book you in for an appointment with a mortgage advisor in Leicester as soon as we can.

Buying a New House in Leicester

Mortgage Advice in Leicester

Obtaining a home as a first time buyer in Leicester will be one of the biggest purchases you will ever make. It’s best to take your time when buying a home, as you need to be sure that the property you are looking at ticks all the boxes for you. Therefore, you must ask important questions that will help you make a decision.

If you are unsure of what to ask the seller, have a look at our shortlist of questions you could ask:

1. How much interest has been shown in the house?

In many cases, a new home that has been recently added to the property market can spark a lot more interest and become high in demand. Therefore, it’s best to act quickly to secure the plot. To have an insight into the amount of attraction there has been towards the house, you could ask the seller how many people have already viewed the property to see the amount of ‘competitors’ you may have.

2. Is there a chain?

A property chain is when you are waiting on the occupant that is in the property you are buying off to move out to their new property which they have to wait for. When it comes to a chain, it can mean that it will take longer to move due to the property already being occupied, however, if there isn’t a chain, this could mean you will be able to move in quicker.

From a seller’s point of view, a first time buyer in Leicester or someone who is not in a chain could be seen as more desirable as this could lead to a quicker sale. From a buyers point of view, these points can be a huge advantage and something to mention during your ‘negotiations’. 

3. Is there anything extra included in the sale?

In some cases, new homes can come with ‘extras’ that could persuade you to buy the house. Sometimes this is intentional and other times, the seller may simply wish to leave their older furniture behind. If you’re looking at buying an older home, you may find that there are unwanted items included, such as outdated furniture or well-used appliances.

It’s wise to check just to clarify, are things like cookers, fridges, and carpets, for example, could be included in the sale (or offered at an additional price). Make sure you clear as you may be left with unwanted items that you then need to remove and dispose of.

4. What are your new neighbours like?

Your experience with neighbours can make or break owning your own home. You risk losing enjoyment if you are stressed all the time with the people next door. Gaining an understanding of the neighbours can give you a good indication of what living there will be like, saving you that stress down the line.

5. What is the local area like?

Your personal criteria for the local area when hunting for a home, could be that you need a shop nearby or somewhere that’s only a short commute to work

Asking what the local area is like could mean you wanting to know about any leisure spots nearby e.g bars, gyms and restaurants or wanting to know what are the schools like if you are thinking of having a family in the future.

It’s best to do your research about the local area before committing yourself to any purchase. As people’s opinions are subjective so it’s best to make your own judgement.

6. Are there any running costs?

Associated costs such as heating, council tax, water (newer homes tend to have a water meter) are something to ask as it is part of running a home that you need to know. Many people are more aware of the running costs involved in owning a home or if not, you could ask a family member or friend.

7. What is the garden like?

Even though the British weather isn’t always sunny, some people still like spending time in the garden. Therefore, you may want to ask if the garden gets as much natural light and whether it’s south-facing etc.

8. Will any home improvements be needed?

When you move into your new home, you will often find that you will want to decorate it to your tastes. Home improvements can be essential to some older properties due to many needing ‘fixes’ or repairs. You may want to make improvements on the property such as insulation, efficiency, or garden work.

9. Are there any remedial fixes?

Buying an older property can come with repairs on some items. The seller can fix these issues if you have requested it to happen before the sale goes through or, in some cases, the seller may reduce the price. There can be some minor repairs if you are looking at a new build because of settlement or simple faults you identify after you moved in.

To make you aware of the remedial fixes that would be needed on a property, you may want to look into the different types of property surveys. Our mortgage advisors in Leicester can help recommend the most suitable survey for your property. Generally speaking if it’s a new build property, you will only need a basic valuation as you would hope with the property being new, that it is structurally sound. Whereas, if you are purchasing an older property, you may want to look into a home buyer’s report or full structural survey which should outline any defects with the property such as damp, subsidence etc.

When you are buying a new home whether it’s a new build or older property, make sure you ask the questions you need to know about the house. Asking the right questions, may be the difference between you buying the property or not.  

Help to Buy Mortgage Advice in Leicester

Make the most of Help-to-Buy Scheme in Leicester

The Help-to-Buy Scheme in Leicester is a widely known way for many first-time buyers to find their footing on the property ladder, though it can be confusing for many who are researching for the first time. There have been various different aspects that come under the terminology, so you may not fully understand what you’re getting into.

The most common one that is still around and the one you would be using as a first-time buyer, is the Help-to-Buy Equity Loan Scheme. You can rest assured that you will have us to support and guide you throughout your mortgage process. Not only will we assist you with understanding the scheme, but we will scour the market until we find the best mortgage deal for you and your personal circumstances.

You will find that having our brilliant mortgage advisors in Leicester on hand is not only incredibly helpful in securing your mortgage but also in working through the sometimes complicated processes of the government Help-to-Buy Scheme.

How does the Help-to-Buy Equity Loan Scheme work?

The scheme was set up by the government, primarily to help homeowners, including first-time buyers. If you decide to make use of the scheme, the following will apply to you and your mortgage process:

• You will require a minimum of 5% deposit.
• Up to 20% of the property’s value get treated as an equity loan from the Government.
• The balance will be covered by a specialised Help-to-Buy mortgage.

How do you qualify for the Help-to-Buy Scheme in Leicester?

If you think that you qualify to use this scheme but are not sure whether or not you will have the ability to do so, simply get in touch with us and one of our dedicated mortgage advisors in Leicester will take a look at your circumstances. Once we have gotten a measure of your situation, we will be able to check whether you fall within the criteria of the offer.

Our mortgage service is tailor-made specifically to suit you and your needs regarding a mortgage. The Help-to-Buy Equity Loans apply to new-build properties up to a maximum value of £600k. The purchase price of the property gets made up of your 5% deposit, 20% government loan, and 75% balance covered by the mortgage that we will locate for you.

Help-to-Buy mortgage advice in Leicester

Once you get in touch, we will take the time to talk you through the whole mortgage process. If the property that you wish to buy fulfills the terms, we can discuss the scheme with you in larger detail. Whether you are purchasing from a builder or via an estate agent, we can communicate with them on your behalf.

As soon as you contact us, we will arrange a convenient time to suit you for your free, no-obligation mortgage consultation. If you are not clear on the figures and how the process works, we will go through the calculations with you until it is all understood.

We will take the time to ensure that not only are you happy with the figures but that they are affordable and fit in well with your financial circumstances and levels of income.

The Different Types of Mortgages Explained in Leicester

The different types of Mortgages in Leicester we provide

When you start your mortgage process in Leicester, you will come to realise that there are lots of different options available to budding homeowners and existing homeowners alike.

Whether you’re a First-Time Buyer looking for your first home, are Home Movers looking for your next home or are looking to Remortgage in Leicester, there are many different routes you could take.

This article will cover a list, alongside related videos, of the most popular types of mortgages available on the market to customers. If you have any further questions mortgage-related, then please do not hesitate to contact us and speak to one of our dedicated Mortgage Advisors in Leicester.

What is a Fixed-Rate Mortgage?

A fixed-rate mortgage means that your mortgage payments will remain as they have been for a set period. You can set the length of the fixed term yourself, with common options typically being 2, 3, or 5 years or longer.

No matter what happens to inflation, interest rates, or the economy, you can rest assured that your mortgage payment, usually your biggest outgoing, will not change at any point during your term.

What is a Tracker Mortgage?

A tracker mortgage means that your interest rate will follow on with the Bank of England’s base rate. This means that the lender that you are with does not set the rate themselves.

You will be paying a percentage above the base rate of the Bank of England. To provide an example of this; if the base rate is 1% and you are tracking at 1% above base rate, that means you will be paying a scale of 2%.

What is a Repayment Mortgage?

When you take out a repayment mortgage, you are paying capital and interest together. So as long as you keep your payments going for the full length of the mortgage term, the mortgage balance is guaranteed to be paid off at the end, with the property becoming yours.

It is the most risk-free way for your capital to be paid back to the lender, in the early years it is mainly the interest that you are paying, and your balance will go down at a slower rate, especially if you have taken out a 25, 30, or 35-year term.

This situation will switch up in the last ten years or so of your mortgage, where your payments are paying off more capital than interest, and the balance will come down at a much quicker rate.

What is an Interest Only Mortgage?

While many Buy to Lets in Leicester get set up on an interest-only basis, it is much more challenging to get a residential property on that same basis.

It is a lot less likely for lenders to offer an interest-only product nowadays. However, there are certain circumstances where this may be a viable option.

These include downsizing when you get older or having other potential investments that you will use to pay back the capital. Lenders are being a lot more stricter when it comes to offering these products now, and the loan to values are a lot lower than they once were.

What is an Offset Mortgage?

With an offset mortgage, the lender will set you up a savings account alongside the mortgage account you have with them.

This works in a way where, let’s say you have a mortgage balance of £100,000 and £20,000 gets deposited into your savings account, you would only pay interest on the difference, so in this case it would be £80,000. It can be a very efficient way of managing your money, especially if you pay higher rates of tax.