Find the perfect mortgage for your first home!

To get a first-time buyer mortgage a lender will want to know that you are low risk.

So, what will help in getting your application over the line?

• The deposit you have – e.g., saving up a 5% cash deposit, getting help from a relative, or using one of the Government mortgages schemes 
• Using a guarantor – this is someone who promises to make your payments if you can't. Typically, this is a parent who would be happy to step in on your behalf to cover repayments.
• Your previous credit history – Having a good credit score shows you have handled credit responsibly in the past. If you are making a joint application, ensure your partner has a good credit profile. Use a credit monitoring app such as Checkmyfile or Kreditkarma to keep tabs on your credit score.
• Your income – typically most lenders will base affordability on a multiple of income. 4x to 4.5x income is standard in the industry. Some lenders will stretch to 5x income and if you are in a profession such as a doctor or a lawyer you may be able to get up to 7x.

To maximize your chance of success we work with a specialist mortgage brokers who understand the first time buyer government schemes and know what product would be suited to your circumstances.

Before you start hunting for your first home you will need to save for a deposit.

As a rule of thumb, you will need at least 5% of the cost of the home you want to purchase.

For example, if you want to buy a £250,000 house you will need to save £12,500 (5%) for the deposit.

Saving more than 5% will give you access to a broader range of cheaper mortgages available on the market and a lower interest rate.

A mortgage is a long term loan (5+ years) taken out to buy property or land. 

Most mortgages are taken out for 25 years to spread the cost of buying a property, but the term of the loan can be longer or shorter.

Mortgages are typically taken out through banks and building societies. These lenders will charge interest on the mortgages they offer as well as other fees e.g., Product fees which are added to the loan and early repayment charges if you redeem the mortgage early.

Lenders secure the mortgage you take out by placing a 'charge' on the title to the property. This allows the lender to sell the property if you are not able to keep up repayments on the mortgage.

Before you start hunting for your first home you should have a good idea of what your budget is.

Mortgage lenders need to ensure that the amount you borrow is something you can afford to pay back over time. 

As part of their calculations, they will typically apply a multiple of income to determine what they are prepared to lend to you.

While a multiple of income is used by many lenders, other factors will also come into play such as the deposit you have and your monthly outgoings when assessing affordability.

Lenders as part of this assessment can tap into independent data to determine what they see as a reasonable cost for items of expenditure such as food, travel, and entertainment costs based on the number of adults and children (if any) in your household. Lenders will typically analyse your spending behaviour through looking at your last 2 to 3 months’ bank statements. 

Existing credit costs such as car loan repayments or credit card bills will also be included.

What level of deposit have you saved up? 

Most UK mortgage lenders will require you to have at least a 5% deposit.

If you can put a larger deposit down, then lenders are more likely to offer you a higher income multiple.

In calculating out how much you can borrow most lenders offer an AIP “Agreement in Principle” which is an indication of what loan they are prepared to offer you and on what terms based on your circumstances.

You can get an AIP using our mortgage service. You will need to provide:

• Income and expenditure details - The selected lender will run through your monthly income and expenditure to see if you meet their eligibility criteria. If the mortgage is in joint names this will involve you and your partner’s details.
• Permission for a credit check – Once income and expenditure has been assessed and the lender’s criteria have been satisfied, they will want to do a credit check. With your permission, this will be either a “hard” or “soft” credit check depending on the lender. If you are looking for just an indication of what you can borrow then our expert brokers will do this through a lender that applies a “soft” check, so no imprint is left on your credit record.

In simple terms, a first time buyer is someone who has never owned property before.

According to UK Government guidance notes:

"To count as a first time buyer, a purchaser must not, either alone or with others, have previously acquired a major interest in a dwelling or an equivalent interest in land situated anywhere in the world. This includes previous acquisitions by inheritance or gift, or by a financial institution on behalf of a person under an alternative finance scheme".

In the 2017 budget, the Government announced that Stamp Duty Land Relief would apply to homes under £500,000 if the property is used as the main residence. 

To get a 95% mortgage, a lender will want to know that you are low risk.

So, what will help in getting your application over the line?

• The deposit you have – e.g., saving up a 5% cash deposit, getting help from a relative, or using one of the Government mortgages schemes
• Using a guarantor – this is someone who promises to make your payments if you can't. Typically, this is a family member who would be happy to step in on your behalf to cover repayments.
• Your previous credit history – Having a good credit score shows you have handled credit responsibly in the past. If you make a joint application, ensure your partner has a good credit profile. Use a credit monitoring app like Checkmyfile or Kreditkarma to keep tabs on your credit score.
• Your income – typically, most lenders will base affordability on a multiple of income. 4x to 4.5x income is standard in the industry. Some lenders will stretch to 5x income, and if you are in a profession such as a doctor or a lawyer, you may be able to get up to 7x.

To maximise your chance of success, we work with specialist mortgage brokers who understand the challenges of getting a mortgage suited to your circumstances.