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What can I afford to buy?

May 30, 2018
What can I afford to buy?

If you’re a first time buyer, you’ll need to have a deposit saved ready for your house move. If, however you have the deposit but are unsure if you can afford a mortgage, you should ask yourself the following six questions.

This will help you understand the sort of things you should be taking into account when considering if you can afford to buy a house at this time, or whether you need to re-think your plans.
 

1. What’s your credit rating?


Your credit rating is one component used by banks and mortgage companies to assess the risk involved in lending money to you, looking specifically at how responsibly you use your existing credit. To understand your current credit rating, you can check it through credit reference agencies such as Experian, Callcredit, or Equifax. Regularly checking it enables you to correct any mistakes that may be impacting your score, as well as understanding what you can do to improve it – this includes closing any credit cards you no longer use and getting yourself on the electoral roll.
 

2. How much do you earn?

 
As a rule of thumb, the more you earn, the more money you’ll be able to borrow for your mortgage. If you’re due a pay rise or promotion, speak to your financial advisor to understand if you could still get the right mortgage on your current salary or whether you should wait for your change in circumstances before applying. When doing your calculations, consider that most banks work on a loan-to-income ratio of four and a half times your income. This does vary from lender to lender, so you should only use this as a guide. If you’re looking to purchase a new home, speak to a New Homes Mortgage Advisor (NHMA) who will be able to give you impartial advice on mortgages from across the market.


3. What are your outgoings?


Mortgage lenders consider your outgoings such as any existing credit cards and finance arrangements (including car loans), as well as your day to day spending before deciding to lend you any money.If your outgoings are too high, you may be considered high-risk, so it’s worth looking at ways to reduce your expenses as early as possible. Create a personal budget and stick to it. This will also help in preparing you for the costs involved in owning a home.
 

4. What is the value of the property you’re looking to buy?

 
One of the first things lenders evaluate is the value of the property you wish to buy.They will consider the size of your deposit and the impact this has on the Loan to Value (LTV) ratio for the proposed mortgage – the smaller the LTV, the lower the mortgage payments and the more affordable the property. It’s important to consider how the type of home and location can impact on the asking price, and to ensure you don’t try and overstretch yourself.


5. Are you employed or self-employed?


If you’re self-employed, you’ll likely need to provide additional evidence of your viability to borrow money. This could include a minimum of two years’ worth of accounts, so before you begin an application it’s worthwhile sitting down with your accountant to ensure everything is in order and your accounts are up to date. You should also look around for any specialist mortgages designed especially for people who are self-employed.

6. Are you buying on your own or with your partner?


If you’re planning on buying a home with your partner, you will usually be able to borrow more money for your house move by combining your income. Pooling your savings may mean a bigger deposit and lower mortgage payments, which you can jointly pay. When making a joint application, lenders will consider your combined financial situation meaning you’ll both be required to provide the necessary documentation to apply for a mortgage. Once you’ve evaluated your current situation asking yourself the above questions, speak to your mortgage advisor to find the best available mortgage rate for your circumstances. 

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