Payday loans won't help your mortgage application.

I have mentioned previously the impact that Payday loans can have on a mortgage application and lenders decisions. It is fair to comment that the incident rate on these went quiet for a while, but over the last few days there has been a marked increase in enquiries from those who might have used a Payday loan in the last twenty four months.  I need to reiterate that these are classed as an ‘adverse entity’ with most lenders (not that some would admit it!).  However, even the lenders who accept customers with historic CCJs, defaults, or missed mortgage payments registered against them, may choose not to accept someone who has taken out a recent payday loan.  So, although these may be right for a customer in certain circumstances, they will almost definitely limit the number of lenders available to you when you come to apply for or change mortgages.   With this in mind, lenders will also look closely at an individual’s payment profile, how many recent credit searches have been incurred by financial institutions and more. The more credit searches you have on your profile, over a recent period of time, the more likely your credit score will be lower as a result.  Every financial institution, including Payday loan lenders, will credit search you, so beware!

The other issue tends to be around lender affordability.  Difficult to detail when I have minimal words, but in the main, lenders will stress test all mortgages against a possible rate rise and underwrite the customers based on their ability to pay at the higher rates.  The regulators want lenders to ensure the customer can afford their mortgage for at least the next five years.  So, for example, a shorter term deal may be stress tested at a pay rate of 3% plus 3 percentage points higher than the prevailing rate at origination, so in this case 6%.  Whereas a five year (or longer) deal may be stress tested against the pay rate, which might only be 3 or 4% in current climates.  This can make quite a difference when it comes to calculating the affordable loan amount over the first five years of the loan, subject to the lenders terms and conditions.

There are however many opportunities, whatever your circumstances and lenders are willing to have a conversation in order to do the right deal.  Of course, rates and terms will vary depending upon the type of mortgage written. Lenders have varying degrees of risk assessment calculations and this will determine the loan to value and charging rate levels.  Finally, remember to always read the small print and understand all fees involved.  The lowest rates on offer may not always be the most cost effective over a period of time for you.

The Bank of Mum and Dad is huge!

First Time Buyers trying to get on the property ladder will turn to the Bank of Mum and Dad to borrow more than £6.5bn this year, according to a report from Legal & General.  This equates to nearly 25% of UK property transactions and similar to being the country's ninth biggest mortgage lender!

The report suggests that the 'millennials' are the biggest recipients with 70% of the funding going to people under the age of 30.   

Although, a report from Prudential has also suggested that Mum and Dad worry about how their money is being spent and would like control over the gifted funds.  One in four worry it could be given to their children's spouses in the case of divorce and one third are mindful their children could squander the gift altogether!

First Time Buyers currently have a good number of options available to them, including mortgages up to 95% of the property value and where possible, parental guarantor mortgages. 

We've also seen a marked increase recently in enquiries for Right to Buy properties and those looking to purchase on a Shared Ownership basis:

Right to Buys are usually via the local council selling their properties to the existing tenant at a discounted price.  This discount can be up to £78,600 (£104,900 in London)  and applicants must have been a public sector tenant for at least three years.  Some lenders will allow borrowing of up to 100% of the purchase price.  If you resell your home within five years you will usually have to repay some or all of the discount you received, however remortgaging is usually allowed in this time period.  There are other schemes available to housing associations and the Government has plans to extend Right to Buy to more housing association tenants.

Shared Ownership Schemes are normally provided through housing associations.  You buy a share of your home, between 25% and 75% of the property value, and pay rent on the remaining share to the housing association.  You usually have the opportunity to purchase a bigger share of the property later on (normally called ‘staircasing’).  Local housing associations must confirm your eligibility in order to join these types of schemes.

Both schemes are proving popular in the local area and a wide number of lenders are looking to lend in both scenarios and to a number of different customer types, even those who may have had financial credit blips in the past.  So always seek advice.

Mortgages for the over 65's. Yes!

AToM were exhibiting at the excellent Landlord and Property Investor Show at the ExCel over the weekend and in addition to the many Buy to Let enquiries received, there were a huge number from people who thought they could not obtain a Residential mortgage over the age of 70!  

On the high street, this may still remain true in some cases as these lenders generally allow a mortgage term to last until the applicants normal retirement age.  This used to be 65, it tends to now be 67, but the reality is it can be much later.  Most lenders increased their maximum age at the end of mortgage maturity to age 70.  However, we all know that people are working a lot longer now and repayment of such a large amount of money may not be possible in these restrictive conditions.  So the option is to raise further finance to repay the original loan or sell the property.  Thankfully, the first option is less onerous than it used to be.  Many non-household named lenders will look at lending to customers to a lot later in life, assuming the customers can prove their continued ability to pay.   This can take the maturity age up to age 80, 85 or even 90 and above.  If the customer has a good and regular amount of income, a high level of equity in the property and can satisfy the lenders affordability requirements, then some lenders will be happy to lend.

This is the same with Buy to Let, where at least one lender we have access to allows the applicant to apply right up to age 80, with a 30 year mortgage term!  Many others have no restriction on age either.  Responsible lending and affordability are key in any lenders decision making. 

Age really is no longer an issue and simply needs specialist advice from someone who offers a range of lenders from the 'whole of market', not just a restricted panel of lenders or the high street.