The mortgage rate is the amount of interest you’ll be charged on the loan against the property. Mortgage rates vary based on several factors, including your deposit amount, the length of your mortgage term and whether you’re choosing a fixed-term deal or variable rate.
A fixed-term mortgage secures a guaranteed mortgage rate for an agreed term. This is typically two to five years, but some providers offer fixed-term mortgages for up to 15 years. The variable rate means your mortgage payments could go up or down, throughout your term, in line with the Bank of England base rate.
A mortgage is a type of loan you get from a bank or building society to help buy a property. The size of the mortgage you need for a property will depend on how much you’ve saved up to put towards a deposit and the amount you still need to reach the purchase price.
The amount of mortgage you then take out will be a percentage of the purchase price. This is called a loan-to-value ratio, or LTV.
A loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is used to indicate how much of your new property is paid for by your mortgage (in percentage). You can calculate this by subtracting your deposit as a percentage from the house’s total price value.
For instance, if you’re purchasing a property that is valued at £200,000 and you’ve already paid a deposit of £50,000, you will be left with a 75% LTV. This is because your deposit is worth one-fourth (25%) of the house’s total price.
Generally, a larger LTV will come with higher interest rates as there’s more risk to the lender. Instead, paying a bigger deposit or buying a cheaper property in relation to your finances, is likely to get you a more favourable mortgage rate
You’ll find mortgage deals from across the market, including some of the biggest providers in the UK, including Barclays, HSBC, TSB Nationwide, NatWest and Santander, as well as other lenders such as the Post Office. Some deals are available direct from the lender while others are only available through a mortgage broker.
You can apply for a mortgage through a bank or building society. You’ll need a few documents on hand to start the process, including proof of identity, utility bills, and bank statements.
When you apply, you’ll be asked a series of questions about yourself and your finances. This is so the lender can calculate what kind of mortgage you’ll be able to afford. Your potential lender will also run checks to determine your financial status and credit history. If your application is accepted, you’ll be sent a mortgage offer.
A mortgage in principle or an agreement in principle is confirmation of how much a bank or building society is prepared to lend to you based on the information you’ve provided. This can help show that you’re ready to buy when it comes to making an offer on a property.
But it’s important to remember that a mortgage in principle is not a guarantee that an offer will be made. A lender can still refuse or reduce the amount at the point you come to make a full mortgage application, as this will assess your full credit history and financial situation at the time of application.
The best mortgage rates are typically offered to borrowers with larger deposits and the highest credit ratings. If you want to secure a decent rate, it may well be worth building your credit score before you consider applying for a mortgage.
There are a few ways to help improve your credit rating, including:
- Registering on the electoral roll.
- Checking your credit report for any errors or out-of-date info.
- Always paying your bills on time.
- Cancelling any unused accounts and cards.
- Avoiding applying for different types of credit over a short period of time.
Before you start looking at properties, it’s a good idea to get a mortgage agreement in principle to help establish your budget.
You’ll need to provide your mortgage broker or lender with details about your finances to get one.
Agreements in principle are normally valid for 90 days, which should give you plenty of time to find your perfect home. Once your offer on a property has been accepted, you can start the full mortgage application.
This is a specific type of mortgage where another homeowner – generally a family member or close friend – agrees to cover for your mortgage expenses should you not be able to yourself. Guarantor mortgages are particularly useful in the case of first-time buyers, as they’re likely to have a limited deposit and a poor credit history.
That said, these mortgages come with a huge dose of financial responsibility for both you and your guarantor. If you’re both unable to meet your mortgage repayments, you could put your homes at risk.
Therefore, it is important to ensure that you can afford this type of solution. Bear in mind that guarantor mortgages don’t often offer the best mortgage rates on the market.
