AD| Thinking of buying your first home, but unsure where to start? Buying your first home is probably one of, if not, the most significant purchase you’ll make in your life. It can be an incredibly exciting, yet overwhelming process, especially for those who might not know what to expect from this.
In addition to this, looking for the right mortgages can sometimes be difficult to navigate and hard to understand - it can be a complicated process and many of us will not understand any of the terminology used - so it's best left for the experts. But if you're looking to start your journey of buying your first home, here are 4 important mortgage tips that you need to consider.
Save Your Deposit
Getting the money together for your deposit is probably the hardest part of your home-buying journey. It can take years to save up enough to cover the initial deposit, and even then, you can still be unsure of exactly how much savings you will need. The rough amount of your deposit that will be required for your mortgage is worked out as a percentage of the value of the house that you're looking at buying. The mortgage is then based on the amount that is left, and that is the amount you would be borrowing.
Using a Mortgage Broker
A mortgage broker is an individual who will give guidance on the mortgages currently available to you, based on your own personal finances, and help you to apply for the best one suitable. Using a mortgage broker, such as Mortgage Light, usually makes the process so much clearer and simpler for you. Their job is to find you the best deals. Their expertise means that they will also know what type of mortgage would be best suited for your personal circumstances, meaning you get the product that will work best for you.
Using a mortgage broker and advisor can save you a lot of money, time and stress. There’s a reason why they exist - the mortgage market is confusing! Mortgage brokers are an extremely helpful service to consider if you want to make sure that your experience of obtaining your mortgage for your first-time home is as simple, stress-free and enjoyable as possible.
Pay Off Any Outstanding Debts
Before you begin to apply for a mortgage for your home, work out your financial budget and aim to reduce any debts you may currently have. Perhaps you've taken out a large loan or need to pay back your credit cards. By setting up regular payments, you are demonstrating to your mortgage lender that you can manage your debts and money carefully and responsibly. By having reduced debts, it might help you in the long run as lenders may potentially allow you to borrow more money for your mortgage. If you're struggling with paying back any money you owe, creating a payment plan or strategy could be useful as this will help you keep on track with your finances.
Check Your Credit Score
As well as keeping your outstanding debt payments in order, it's also important to consider your credit score when applying for your mortgage. The better your credit score, the more likely your application will be successful. However, if your credit score isn’t too good, there are many things you can do to help boost your rating. In a nutshell, make sure to make your payments on time, register to vote, stay within your borrowing limits and even demonstrate good use of credit cards to prove that you are capable of paying money back in a timely manner.
Convinced? I hope so! Particularly if you are a first-time buyer, using a mortgage advisor and broker will be some of the best pennies you’ll spend during your big purchase. Good luck!
Are you looking to buy your first home? Does the idea of a mortgage give you a headache?
