Agreement in Principle and Soft Credit Searches
Mortgage Advice in Beverley
More and more people these days pay much closer attention to their credit rating, especially First Time Buyers as they tend to worry about being accepted. Consumer awareness of credit scoring is higher now than ever before. We’d say at least half of the people who contact us for the first time, have already looked at their credit report online.
There are many different credit reference agencies out there. Most people will have heard of Experian or Equifax, but we recommend potential new clients to use Check My File for a 30-day free trial, which is £14.99 a month thereafter and can be cancelled at any time. This is because of this report “sweeps” several of those reference agencies and collates the information into an easily understandable colour-coded report.
Often, clients ask if we will be doing a credit search on them, because they are aware that too many searches can have an adverse effect on their credit score. Lenders always run credit checks but we always seek a client’s permission before doing so. There are 2 different types of credit searches that Banks can run on a customer: hard searches or soft ones.
What is a hard credit search?
A hard credit search is an in-depth look at your credit report. Any financial institution carrying out one of these should seek your permission to do so. The advantage of a “hard” search is the lender is looking into your situation quite closely. If you pass the credit score then it’s fairly likely that your application will ultimately be successful. The only thing that can really go wrong from then on, is if for some reason you cannot provide satisfactory documentation to back up the information you have disclosed. Either that, or it turns out you have provided false details.
The bad news about a hard search though is that it leaves a “footprint” on your credit file. This means anyone who looks at your report in the future can see you have had a search carried out. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you have several footprints registered in a short period of time then it could look like you applying for lots of credit at the same time.
The footprint does not state whether your application was successful or not. However, if you have several searches over a few weeks, then lenders’ systems could wrongly assume you are being declined on the basis of; “Why else would you go to lender number 2 unless lender number 1 had said no?”.
The odd hard footprint on your record from time to time is no big deal. There’s no need to worry too much about this, just be careful not to have too many.
What is a soft credit search?
A soft credit search is a “lighter touch” look at your financial situation. This is the kind of search that would routinely be carried out on price comparison websites. This would give you an indication of what products might be available to you. It can also be useful if someone wants to verify your identity.
Some mortgage lenders do soft searches in the first instance. More and more lenders seem to be changing to doing this type of search. Whilst the financial institution doing a soft search obtains less information about you than if they had done a hard search, an agreement in principle from one of these lenders is usually still an extremely strong signal that your full application will be accepted.
You will be able to see that someone has carried out a soft search on you if you check your credit file. The good news though, is that these searches are not visible to other financial institutions like banks. This means that you can apply for an agreement in principle for a mortgage, without it damaging your credit score. This is irrespective of whether it is successful or not.
If you are wanting to make an offer on a property, we always think it is an excellent idea to have your mortgage agreement in principle in place prior to contacting the estate agent. You want to give yourselves the best possible chance of securing the property you want at the lowest price so if you can present yourselves as having your finances in place then you are definitely putting yourself in a stronger position. Having the agreement in principle also sometimes puts the agent off trying to “cross-sell” their own in-house mortgage services to you.
How Much Can I Borrow For A Mortgage in Beverley?
Mortgage Advice in Beverley
The two most common questions we are asked on a daily basis are, “Can I get a mortgage in my situation?” and “How much can I borrow?”. In this article, we explain the latter which has changed quite a lot in the past decade.
Historic Rules
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, most mortgage applications were manually underwritten. That is to say, there was lots of “human intervention” in the process of approving mortgage applications. You’d make an appointment with your Building Society Manager, and they would interview you.
They would encourage you to save with them for a while until you prove yourself credit-worthy. The manager would then grant you the equivalent of an agreement in principle. This would then be followed by advice on how much they were prepared to lend.
This sounds very much like a highly personalised process with a common-sense approach. That being said, it could lead to inconsistent decision-making. The manager has the discretion to interpret the lending manual. In other words, it would be possible to approach the same Building Society in a different town or city. You could possibly obtain a different outcome.
With a view to eradicating the above and more importantly, cut costs, Lenders moved to automated affordability calculations. “Caps” were applied so they would lend you more than, say, 3 or 4 times your household income.
As the 2000s progressed, lenders were becoming more and more generous in how much they would lend. Some lenders would offer self-certified mortgages. This was where no background checks would be carried out as regards how much an applicant actually was earning!
The market crashed and to all intents and purposes, 2008-2010 were very difficult years if you were trying to get on the property ladder. The lenders battened down the hatches and created a very cautious (over-corrected) lending environment.
Nowadays Approach
The market recovered and in 2014 the regulator launched the Mortgage Market Review (MMR). This was a new set of guidelines for Lenders to adhere to. Gone were the old-style income multipliers which took little account of household expenditure. Before 2014, two applicants earning the same could borrow roughly the same as each other.
This was irrespective of how much they spent each month. Then came new affordability models. These took a much more forensic view of how mortgage applicants managed their money on a monthly basis.
There is still a “cap” in place (most Lenders will not go past 4.75 times your annual income) but your spending habits are analysed also. So, for example, if you have high childcare costs, lots of credit commitments and a student loan you will be offered less than your work-colleague who doesn’t have any of that expenditure.
We are still constantly surprised by the large variances lender to lender in how much (or little) they will lend. Some lenders seem to penalise low-earners (perhaps they are not looking for that type of applicant), some take pension contributions as a fixed outgoing so would often lend, say a public sector worker with a big pension deduction less than a private sector and so on.
It really is horses for courses and if you need to maximise your borrowing capability to obtain the home you need to buy then you’ll definitely need a Mortgage Broker in Beverley on your side who can research the market on your behalf to see if anyone will lend you the amount you need.
The Importance of Changing Your Address in Beverley
Credit Score Mortgage Advice in Beverley
It’s very likely that you will be asked what your credit score is like when it comes to applying for a mortgage. There are a plethora of factors that can affect your credit score. For instance, the fewer addresses you have on your record, the better your credit score.
As mentioned, fewer addresses on your file can support your mortgage application when done correctly.
We do find that many applicants, particularly First Time Buyers in Beverley, leave their previous addresses on their records. They may have done this accidentally or as a way to keep their credit score from lowering but they do need updating.
What information needs correcting?
There is a range of documents you will need to update whether it be bank statements, credit cards and electoral roll information. We do find that many applicants disregard this information as they believe it won’t harm their credit score, however, it can create a significant amount of damage.
You may be in a situation where you get an unpaid ticket that is sent through to your old address. If you don’t let the post office know to make sure all mail gets forwarded, the longer it goes unnoticed which can result in receiving a CCJ.
Receiving a CCJ on your credit file could result in losing lots of points on your credit file. This will damage your credit history and make things more difficult for you when it comes to being successful in your mortgage application.
Check before you apply
We do recommend that you give your application a thorough check from start to finish. Begin with your address by making sure that the address on all of your accounts (credit cards / current accounts) and electoral roll are all registered to your current address.
This is usually targeted at applicants who are currently living in rented accommodation and haven’t changed their address from their previous property.
It’s best you double-check everything when applying for a mortgage just in case you miss anything. Keep on top of your address, making sure everything is updated can make a positive impact on your mortgage application.
Find out the exact date you moved into your rented apartment / new home and when you moved out. This will prevent any cross-over that may show you were living in two different addresses at once.
If you don’t do this could lead to confusing the lender and could potentially cause damage to your credit file or mortgage application.
It will be very beneficial to have a Mortgage Broker in Beverley to provide a helping hand as they will make sure your application is perfect before it’s submitted. They will also check that all information is updated correctly to have the best possible chance of being accepted.
Impress the lender
Demonstrate to the lender that you tried your best to get your application accepted. You may have evidenced your deposit to show how you have saved up or you have consciously updated your address. Either way, it will massively help your application and impress them.
In the situation when you have an outdated address that is connected to one of your accounts, your lender will see that you didn’t check to see if any of your addresses needed updating. This could show to a lender that you haven’t taken things seriously.
Mortgage Advice in Beverley
To conclude, it’s important to change your address and any other factors stated above in order to prove to the lender that you are serious about this financial commitment. Therefore, we do strongly suggest that you check up on your file to make sure your application is up to date. If you are wanting a second set of eyes on your application, take advantage of our free mortgage appointment in Beverley.
Here at Beverleymoneyman, we have a team of expert Moving Home Mortgage Advisors in Beverley who are available 7 days a week. We look forward to helping you secure a great mortgage deal and get your application looking ready to go!
Confused About the Help to Buy Schemes?
Whilst it is widely accepted that there is a national housing shortage, the government has launched several schemes over the years. These have been under the “Help to Buy” banner, designed to get people onto the property ladder.
Unfortunately calling all the schemes Help to Buy has caused confusion amongst consumers! Here’s a look at what’s out there right now.
Schemes Currently Available
Forces Help to Buy
If you’re in the armed forces, you can borrow up to 50% of your salary, up to a maximum of £25,000 interest-free towards a new home.
Some FAQs about the Help to Buy Schemes
What if I’m Self Employed?
If you’re Self Employed in Beverley, there are still a lot of options available to you. It’s a good idea to get hold of your Accountant and speak to a mortgage broker in Beverley for mortgage advice.
Do I have to buy a new build house?
It varies. The Forces Help to Buy can be a new or old property.
Do you need a good credit rating?
There may be options available to you even if you have a poor credit score. Mortgage lenders are becoming increasingly competitive on criteria and many challenger banks are entering the market. Again, please seek mortgage advice from a reliable mortgage expert!
How much deposit do I need?
A minimum of 5% as a rule.
Can my deposit be gifted by my parents?
Yes, family members and sometimes friends can gift (not a loan). This is a popular way for First Time Buyers to get on the property ladder. It’s also popular for home movers moving to a bigger home. In a recent Government Survey, 27% of such buyers relied on family and friends to help with a deposit.
Do I need to pay the government back?
Yes, with the Help to Buy Equity Scheme the government loan is interest-free for 5 years. After this, you’ll pay fees. Hopefully, the property will have increased in value and you can potentially remortgage the property at any time. This likely would be to raise funds to increase your share. Remember, the government will also receive their share of any profit made.
Is Help to Buy just for First Time Buyers?
The Help to Buy and Forces Help to Buy Scheme are for both First Time Buyers in Beverley and Home Movers in Beverley
How do I use the Help to Buy Scheme?
The first stage would be to have a free mortgage consultation. This is to work out your maximum borrowing and also to get a mortgage agreement in principle certificate. This puts you in a strong position to make an offer. Once you have this in place you’ll be a “Qualified Buyer”, the next step is to go and view houses!
For more information and further terms and conditions about any of the above schemes please refer to the https://www.ownyourhome.gov.uk/ website.
