No matter, if you are a first time buyer in Doncaster looking to put your foot on the property ladder or wanting to know your remortgage options. It’s always beneficial to look into Mortgage Advice in Doncaster as it can help you in the long run to obtain a mortgage, saving you time and money.
Speaking to a mortgage broker in Doncaster can help make up the difference between an application getting accepted. Whereas going independent could lead to your application getting rejected. Here at Doncastermoneyman, we search 1000’s of deals, saving you time and your money to make sure you get the most suitable deal to tie in with your circumstances.
A devoted Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster’s job is to find you the most suitable mortgage deal tailored for your circumstances. Here at Doncastermoneyman, our advisors are flexible around your work and family which is why we’re open 7 days a week until later.
Our Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster will be with you every step of the way, they’ll help you overcome hurdles that crop up, like for example, taking the stress away from property surveys and valuations.
First Time Buyer in Doncaster may find the experience daunting. That’s why our teams of Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster can walk you through every step, from initial mortgage enquiries to completion. You’ll be kept in the loop at all times.
Perhaps you are looking for Mortgage Advice in Doncaster because you are wanting to know your remortgage options. Some people choose to remortgage for home improvements, purchase their next property, or look to borrow additional funds.
If you’re wanting to take the initial leap and become a landlord or are experienced in doing this already, our Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster have a lot of industry knowledge on buy to let mortgage advice in Doncaster too.
The main advantage when using a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster is to help the entire process of buying a home go as efficiently as possible. As sometimes buying a home can be an extremely stressful experience for some applicants.
Our customers like to know they have got someone on their side. On hand to respond to all their questions and queries, we will also help you with:
Our mortgage advisors in Doncaster aim to help try to maximise your chance of being accepted the first time.
Open & honest Mortgage Advice in Doncaster 7 days a week, our team are proud to have the quality of service we provide to our customers. We put our people at the heart of our business and always aim to exceed their expectations. Book your free mortgage appointment to speak to a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster today.
Self employed applicants can sometimes encounter hurdles when obtaining a mortgage.
The good news is with the support of an experienced Mortgage Broker in Doncaster working by your side, we may be able to overcome these mortgage hurdles together.
First things first, there are specific lending criterias that fit sole traders and Limited Company Directors. Each lender has its own policy and the maximum amount they will allow you to borrow can vary between lenders.
The maximum amount you can borrow for a mortgage will be assessed on your net profit, this can be confirmed by speaking to your Accountant, or direct from the Inland Revenue.
Some lenders average your last two or three years’ net profit but other lenders use your latest year. If your net profit has decreased the lender will usually base everything on the latest year and you will have to explain why it has dropped.
Any Limited Company Director who owns 20-25% or more of the shares in the business, will be deemed by lenders as a self employed applicant.
The same rules are applied with the averaging too, as the average figure will be worked out by your salary and declared dividends.
At some point, your Limited Company will be performing well in terms of net profit but the Directors are not drawing their dividend – these types of applications can impact the maximum borrowing capacity because they aren’t able to declare as much income.
There are some lenders out there that will consider using your share of the net profit, as opposed to salary and dividends.
The minimum trading period for any applicant who are self employed in Doncaster or Limited Company Directors is one year. That being said, some lenders will want to see two or three years more.
If you have recently formed a Limited Company after a period as a sole trader under the advice of your Accountant, then there are other lenders out there who can look into this, depending on if it’s the same line of work.
If you would like to further discuss your options, don’t hesitate to get in touch and book your free mortgage appointment today to speak with a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster today.
They’ll guide you through your process. We can also send you a form for your Accountant to complete, which will help us tailor-make a recommendation designed to meet your personal situation.
Help to Buy was introduced in the 2010’s, off the back of the UK government’ previous FirstBuy Scheme. With a series of pre-existing and new schemes placed under that banner, it was designed to help first time buyers get onto the property ladder.
Over the years we have seen schemes under this banner disappear, whilst others have carried on without that branding. The most popular and well-known of these was the Help to Buy Equity Loan Scheme, which was closed to new applicants towards the end of 2022.
What this means is that first time buyers are no longer able to use a Help to Buy in Birmingham or anywhere in the UK, though this doesn’t necessarily mean that support for home buyers has ended. There are still a variety of schemes that can help to buy in Birmingham!
The Shared Ownership Scheme is an excellent option for first-time buyers in Doncaster who may not have the means to purchase a property outright. This scheme allows you to buy a share of a property (typically between 25% to 75%) and pay rent on the remaining portion. Over time, you can increase your share in the property through a process known as “staircasing.”
Benefits of the Help to Buy Shared Ownership Scheme in Doncaster:
For members of the armed forces looking to settle in Doncaster, the Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme offers unique advantages. This scheme is designed to make homeownership more accessible for those serving in the military.
Key features of the Forces Help to Buy Scheme:
While not a Help to Buy scheme, the Lifetime Individual Savings Account (LISA) is another useful tool for first-time buyers in Doncaster looking to save for a deposit. With a LISA, you can save up to £4,000 each year, and the government will add a 25% bonus to your contributions.
Key benefits of a Lifetime ISA for first time buyers in Doncaster:
Doncaster offers a vibrant housing market, but the journey to homeownership can be challenging, especially for first time buyers in Doncaster. With expert mortgage advice in Doncaster, provide valuable tools and resources to make this dream a reality.
Whether you’re interested in shared ownership, are a member of the armed forces, or want to explore options like the Lifetime ISA, there are ways to navigate the housing market in Doncaster with confidence.
The overall desire for using offset mortgages has dwindled since the 1990’s, though they are still viable options for customers who are looking to put aside a portion of disposable income.
They’re also really handy if you believe at some point you are going to come into a lump sum of money.
In order for a mortgage lender or any kind of loan provider to be able to lend money to clients, they need to have a source of funds to draw from.
That is the point of savings, and is why you gather interest on what you pay in. In exchange for having an account with them, you are rewarded.
The way that an offset mortgage works, is that you will be given a savings account by a mortgage lender (typically one who is a bank or building society), alongside your mortgage balance.
When you pay into your savings, your mortgage balance decreases by how much you paid in. If you take out of your savings, that mortgage balance increases by how much you took out.
You still pay a monthly mortgage payments towards reducing your balance, as you would on a standard mortgage, but you only pay interest on what is remaining on your balance, not your savings.
For example, if your mortgage is worth £100,000 and you have £50,000 in savings, then you pay interest on the remaining £50,000.
If, hypothetically, after a while you were able to pay off some of your mortgage, bringing that amount down to £45,000, but then draw £15,000 out of your savings, your balance increases to £65,000 and you receive a new set of mortgage payments per month.
This also means you’ll be paying more on interest, as there is a higher amount remaining in your mortgage balance. In addition to this, the general interest on the mortgage side of things, will typically be higher than a standard mortgage anyway.
Offset mortgages don’t tend to be that popular anymore, but they are still really handy to have in certain situations. Perhaps you are due a lump sum at some point in the future, such as a future inheritance from a family member.
Because this account allows you to freely deposit and withdraw your money as you see fit and is interest-free, it’s a handy place to store any additional savings until you know what you want to do with them.
Another circumstance where these can be very beneficial, is if you have a well-paying career and are due monthly, quarterly or annual sizeable bonuses from your job, that don’t factor into day-to-day living expenses.
You can place this disposable income into your savings account, lower your monthly payments, meaning you are paying interest on a lower amount.
An offset is also an excellent opportunity for first time buyers in Doncaster who want to overpay on their mortgage.
Overpaying allows you to reduce your mortgage payments for your next mortgage term, leading to a reduction on your interest rates too, with any additional mortgages you take out.
The difference with regular overpayments, is that you won’t have a savings account, you’ll just be paying off your balance. This means you can’t dip into it as an emergency fund if you need to, or if you change your mind on that overpayment.
Offsets are great for people who want to do this as you do have a savings account. This means if you want to overpay and reduce your balance, you can just pay into that savings account. If you want to take out some of what you paid in for any reason, you have the freedom to do so.
So, if you’re looking to make regular additional payments on your mortgage over time, we would absolutely recommend taking advantage of an offset savings account as you go.
Speaking to a trusted and experienced mortgage broker in Doncaster like us, is a good way to understand what options are available to you ahead of time.
Offset mortgages are great, but they might not be right for you, which is something a mortgage advisor in Doncaster will check before you proceed.
Generally speaking, we find that customers who have offset mortgages, won’t remortgage in Doncaster, as they will just keep their current mortgage going.
If you have any questions or need any help regarding offset mortgages, book your free mortgage appointment today using our online booking feature, and we’ll see how we can help you out. We are here from early until late every day, subject to appointment availability.
Whether you’re a first time buyer or are moving home in Doncaster, buying a property can be stressful and overwhelming. It shouldn’t be this way though, you should be able to enjoy the whole experience.
It would be extremely beneficial if you could prepare yourself during the lead-up to your home buying journey. You should start by asking questions about the property and where it is located.
New build properties tend to be more popular and in higher demand. If you come across a new build that you’re interested in, take a property viewing before you go any further.
You need to find out how many people have been interested in the property; you have to ask the question, or it may show you online. If there’s been no interest in the property, there may be a reason for it, e.g. it could be overpriced or there’s something wrong with it.
A property chain is where you are waiting for your seller’s purchase to go through before you can move in. This can go on and on; your seller’s seller could always be in the same situation as you. If you aren’t in a chain, you may be able to move through your process quickly.
It can sometimes be hard to find out if there is a property chain, however, it’s always worth asking the question as the seller may tell you.
If you are a first time buyer in Doncaster, you will not be part of a chain as you are not selling a property, only buying.
Some homes may come with ‘extras’ or incentives to persuade you to buy the house. This could be something like them asking what appliances you would like in your kitchen.
Older homes may come with unwanted appliances owned by the seller. It’s wise to check with the owner what these appliances are and whether they are included in the sale or offered at an additional price.
It’s wise to clarify as you may be left with unwanted items that you then need to remove and dispose of.
Try to speak with the neighbours and get a feel for how they are and their opinion on the area.
On new building developments, this may be a little more difficult.
You will want to find out about the running costs that are involved with the property too. What are the costs for gas, heating, electricity, water (particularly if it’s a newer home with a water meter). Also, things like Council Tax charges.
When viewing the property, get a good look at the garden, make sure that it’s what you’re looking for. Everyone enjoys spending time in the garden, even if it is mostly in summer!
Ask whether the garden is southern-facing and check how well natural light enters the garden etc.
During your property survey, damages and repairs should be highlighted, however, it depends on which survey you took out. Ask lots of questions, particularly with older properties, as you want to make sure that you aren’t buying a property that’s going to need lots of repairs.
As with any property purchase, in the future, you may need to make improvements to energy efficiency, insulation, garden work etc.
Whenever you get the chance to, ask lots of questions before you buy a home. You want to learn everything about the property you could spend your whole life in!
Estate agents and the seller should be happy to answer your questions, and if they are, maybe it could be a warning sign if they are withholding information. If you do find out information about the property that could reduce its overall price, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Don’t be too keen and offer to high to start with and remember to take into consideration other factors such as when you would be able to move in and that fits your expectations.
First time buyers in Doncaster who struggle to get onto the property ladder by themselves may feel that the most practical solution is to move in with a partner or friend. There can be many benefits to doing so. It will take less time to save for a deposit, and lenders prefer two or more people to buy a property together, sharing the equity in it and the responsibility for the mortgage payments.
In some cases, you’ll find that some mortgage lenders may allow up to four people to co-own property together. But, because multiple parties are involved, this can cause some discussion with changes in circumstances. If one borrower decides to stop their contributions to the mortgage payments, the lender will still pursue the rest of your group for payment.
All the joint owners still hold a legal right to stay within their home unless a court rules otherwise. Even if someone is withholding their contribution, they’re still part-owner of the property.
With this in mind, you need to be very selective about whom you buy with.
If one of the co-owners wishes to increase the mortgage further down the line, all borrowers need to consent. It is best practice to plan for down the line, just if someone ends up with a different plan in mind or a change in circumstances.
It is familiar for couples who are married, in civil partnerships or simply cohabiting to opt for joint tenancy on a mortgage. Tenants are often relatives or friends looking to buy a house together. You will need the other applicant’s consent if you want to sell or remortgage the property further down the line.
Both co-owners will jointly own the property for a tenancy in common, but there is no legal requirement to do so in equal shares even if one party earns significantly more per month than the other.
If you are a tenant in common, you can freely sell or give away your share of the property to someone else if you wish to remove yourself from that setting.
In these cases, if one of you were to pass away, the property will own the other owner on the mortgage. We always recommend taking out life insurance during their mortgage process. The beneficiary can use life insurance to pay off a mortgage.
All mortgage borrowers are jointly and equally liable for keeping up to date with the mortgage payments. If one party stops paying, the remaining parties have to make up for the remaining to prevent possible mortgage arrears.
It’s essential to keep on top of every payment. The reason for this is that falling into arrears could stop you from getting another mortgage further down the line. If you interpret it to view your mortgage situation like this, you don’t own 50% of a property. You own 100% of it jointly.
If things don’t mainly go how you’d intended them to, whether it be a disagreement with your co-owners or the breakdown of a marriage/relationship, you may look to either remove others from your mortgage or remove yourself from their mortgage.
When this happens, it is worth speaking to a trusted specialist mortgage advisor in Doncaster to see what your options might be. Please see our article “divorce & separation mortgage advice in Doncaster for more information on divorce and mortgages.”
An Agreement in Principle is the first step to getting a mortgage. You can obtain one of these from a mortgage lender. As the name implies, the lender will agree in principle to let you take out a mortgage with them.
Any Agreement in Principle gets carried out before the final checks, and whilst it is not a guarantee that you will get accepted for a mortgage, it is a good sign that you are on the right track on your mortgage journey.
Despite what people say, a Mortgage in Principle, a Decision in Principle, and the abbreviations AIP and DIP all mean the same thing.
Once armed with your Agreement in principle, you will be fully prepared to increase your odds of having your offer accepted on a property against any other potential First Time Buyer in Doncaster.
You may also even open yourself up to the chance of negotiating with the seller at a lower price. As you have demonstrated to the property seller, you are looking to purchase that you are a serious buyer and do have the funds to proceed.
We regularly see more lenders choose to go with soft searches instead of hard searches. The main reason is that a soft search won’t affect your credit score, as they don’t usually leave a footprint, whereas a hard search does.
Having too many hard searches can cause more harm than good, especially if you don’t pass each time. That’s not to say a soft search will not affect you, but it can happen.
A soft search does not go as in-depth as hard searches. However, no matter which one the lender chooses to use, they will have their reasons for selecting either a soft or hard search.
If you do not have hard searches done regularly, then having one done shouldn’t make too much difference. The main issues are when you start having loads of hard searches taken out on you within a short space of time.
It’s essential to understand that if you are well aware that you do have a good credit rating, you should put off on the idea of getting one done, especially if a mortgage lender says that a hard credit search is the most suitable option for you.
Unfortunately, even armed with an Agreement in Principle in hand, we cannot guarantee you’ll be successful as other factors come into play. For example, the lender still needs to see all your documentation and evidence to make a final decision.
We receive regular phone calls from customers after getting declined during their application process, as they have failed to read the small print in their Agreement in Principle.
On top of always reading the small print, you will need to provide your mortgage lender with proof of ID, the last 3 months payslips and bank statements to show evidence that you can handle money responsibly, all before a lender will offer your case.
Please remember that the required documentation for a Self Employed Mortgage Applicants in Doncaster is slightly different.
You can make an offer without an Agreement in Principle to hand. However, we believe you would be much better off having one with you.
Any credible estate agent will ask you for one of these, as they will want to know that you can go ahead with the mortgage process.
One of our team of Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster can usually obtain you with an Agreement in Principle within 24 hours of your initial appointment.
An Agreement in Principle expires between 30-90 days after being obtained. That said, you don’t just have to jump at the first house you see. Take your time when looking for a home. A mortgage will be one of our most significant financial commitments.
If your Agreement in Principle has expired, one of our Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster can quickly get you a new one.
Finding your dream home only to be declined by a lender can be both frustrating and disheartning. This is why we always recommend to new/existing customers to get an Agreement in Principle as early as possible, to ensure you are prepared for the mortgage process.
For more information regarding an Agreement in Principle and how they can help improve your chances of getting an offer accepted, Malcolm has put this video together.
Shared Ownership is a government scheme that helps First Time Buyers in Doncaster and home movers in Doncaster purchase a percentage of your home (usually from 10% to 75% of the home’s value), and pay rent on the remaining share. Later on, you can buy more significant shares when you can afford to do so.
If eligible for this scheme, partial homeownership is an excellent way for first time buyers in Doncaster to get onto the property ladder and a way of owning your home without the need for a heavy deposit upfront.
Firstly, a deposit needs to be put down on the property. The minimum deposit that you need to put down can vary. For example, the percentage can change for better or worse depending on how good your credit score and financial situation is.
This scheme will still require you to take out a mortgage, but only on the percentage that you’re buying. For example, if you plan to buy 40% on a property worth £170,000, you’ll only need to take out a £68,000 mortgage.
Furthermore, rather than providing a deposit based on the full house price, you only have to put down a deposit based on the mortgage you have taken out. So, in this example, a 5% deposit would be £8,500.
You will start paying off your mortgage once the offer you put down gets accepted and you have moved in the property. As mentioned before, you will also have to pay rent on the remaining share of the property.
Despite having two sets of payments, your overall monthly costs should not be as expensive as taking out a ‘regular’ mortgage.
When taking out a mortgage, you will need to consider lots of different costs. Shared Ownership mortgages will likely come with set-up/arrangement charges, booking and solicitor fees. Make sure to double-check that you are aware of these additional costs.
Of course, the costs can vary depending on the property that you are buying. As well as the deposit size, monthly payments, arrangement fees can differ from property to property.
To make sure you are eligible to qualify for the Shared Ownership Scheme, here are the requirements:
Although this may appear like a lot, it’s the same as most schemes. Each schemes’ differ from the other, as they are targeting applicants in different situations.
If you have credit problems, you may need to look at other ways to get a mortgage. There are lots of different government mortgage schemes out there that could help you get a mortgage.
For more information on these schemes, feel free to navigate to our website’s mortgage advice service page.
Our mortgage advisors in Doncaster have helped many buyers secure a mortgage through the Shared Ownership scheme. We have been helping First Time Buyers for over 20 years now!
If you are looking for mortgage advice in Doncaster, we can check whether you match any schemes’ requirements.
Please take advantage of our free mortgage consultation by booking yourself in for a mortgage appointment today.
Whether you are a first time buyer in Doncaster looking to buy a property, moving house in Doncaster, or are ready to remortgage in Doncaster, you’ll soon begin to realise there are many options out there for you when it comes to taking out your mortgage.
This article will feature a comprehensive list of the most popular mortgages available to customers currently on the mortgage market.
If you have any questions regarding any of the mortgage options below, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can now book yourself in for a free mortgage appointment to speak with a dedicated mortgage advisor in Doncaster, at a time that suits you and your lifestyle.
A fixed-rate mortgage will mean that your monthly mortgage payments will stay the same for the duration of your mortgage term.
The length you want to fix your payments is your choice, with typical options being around 2, 3 or 5 years or longer.
No matter what happens to inflation, interest rates or the nationwide economy, you know that your mortgage payment, which is usually your single biggest outgoing, will not change.
A tracker mortgage will provide you with an interest rate that mimics the Bank of England’s base rate.
That means neither you nor the mortgage lender will set the rate and change as and when the base rate does.
You will be paying back at a percentage that is above the Bank of England base rate. If we use this in an example, the base rate is 1%, and you are tracking at 1% above the base rate, which means you will be paying back your interest rate of 2%.
Even though these deals aren’t as popular anymore, consider that your mortgage payments will increase if the base rate increases. If it goes down, yours will go down too. Of course, this will benefit you.
When you take out a repayment mortgage, you will be paying back a combination of both the interest and capital each month.
Going off the basis that you can keep your payments going for the mortgage term duration, you will be guaranteed to have paid it off in full and own the home of your dreams by the end of it.
That said, this is generally considered the most risk-free way to pay your capital back to the mortgage lender across the industry. Early in your term, the amount you’ll be paying will be mostly the interest, with your balance reducing at a slower rate, especially if your period is 25, 30 or 35-years.
The process quickens up within the last ten years or so of your mortgage, where you will be paying back more capital than interest, with the balance reducing at a far quicker rate.
While we do still regularly encounter many buy to let mortgages being set up on an interest-only basis (this is an option that works out much better for many landlords), it is increasingly difficult to get a residential property on an interest-only basis mortgage.
The reason for this is because once you reach the end of your term, you will still have the entire mortgage amount to pay off all in one go, with no additional income to fund the amount you’re required to pay.
There are various unique circumstances where this can be a suitable option for customers, including downsizing when you are older or if you happen to have other investments you can use to pay back the capital.
Lenders are often stringent when offering these products now, and the loan to values tend to be much lower than they were in previous years.
The way an offset mortgage works is that your mortgage lender will set you up with a savings account that will work in tandem with your mortgage account.
For example, let’s say that you have a mortgage balance of £100,000 and you deposit £20,000 into your savings account, you will only be paying interest on the difference between those figures, which would work out at £80,000.
This can be a very efficient way of managing your finances, especially if you want to be paying higher rates of tax.
Like fixed-rate mortgages, capped rates have a maximum amount that a customer will pay each month with a maximum interest rate. With that in mind, if you’re capped at, say, 5%, you’ll never go higher than 5%.
These can be more beneficial if interest rates start to drop, so, for example, if the rates drop to 4%, 3% or 2%, then your mortgage will do the same.
Flexible mortgages allow you to underpay and overpay by unlimited amounts. Underpayments are only allowed if you’ve overpaid first and have agreed with a lender to do so.
Overpayments can be reasonably beneficial, though, as you could end up paying off the mortgage early and with significantly less interest. Mortgage flexibility is usually a feature of offset mortgages in Doncaster.
It was originally introduced back in 2014, with a huge £200 million put into the scheme. The intention was to provide a boost to anyone from the forces who needed some help in purchasing a home. The project was supposed to be brought to an end in December 2019.
To show their gratitude for the military’s commitment to their Queen and country, our government chose to extend this scheme further, choosing instead to make this an enduring policy.
Anyone who has served some time in the military may be able to access the scheme and borrow a deposit of up to half their annual salary (a maximum of £25,000), free of any interest.
Of course you do have to be eligible, with this all depending on the length of the term served, how much you have left to serve and medical categories.
The Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme can be used to either purchase their first home purchase or to move into a new home if you already own one.
Whether you previously thought you could or not, you now have a home buying lifeline if you are indeed eligible for it.
One of the best parts about this mortgage scheme, that is appealing to many home buyers, is that you don’t actually need any current savings in order to find your footing on the property ladder.
The funds will be raised from the loan that you receive via the Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme and can be used to put towards your deposit as well as any other costs, including but not limited to;
This scheme is a lot more relaxed than some other schemes available, and the Forces Help to Buy loan can be paid back over a duration of around 10 years, so you have no reason to feel rushed about paying it back.
For more information on this scheme from the government, click here.
As an experienced mortgage advice team in Doncaster, we will have your back from the first time you call up, right through until competition and even beyond that.
Your dedicated advisor will take care of you all throughout your mortgage journey, ensuring that you end up with the most appropriate mortgage result for your personal and financial circumstances.
We truly do pride ourselves on being able to provide a fast and friendly customer experience that is free of stress and worry. Get in touch with us today and we will see how we are able to further you and your home owning dreams.
It is important to remember that the Forces Help to Buy in Doncaster is not the same as the typical UK Help to Buy scheme in Doncaster.
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