The Pros & Cons of Using a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster

Taking that first step into the mortgage world, or starting the mortgage process for the first time, you may find the entire experience a bit daunting. There are many options for homeowners and homebuyers to take for themselves, which is why it’s best to get it right the first time. This is something that can be achieved with the help of an expert Mortgage Broker in Doncaster.

Depending on what you are looking to achieve and the current situation, we will provide open and honest Mortgage Advice in Doncaster to help First Time Buyers in Doncaster through their mortgage journey. We understand the process can be complicated, which is why obtaining expert Mortgage Advice in Doncaster will be very beneficial. Here at Doncastermoneyman, we are confident in our ability to search 1000’s of deals to find you the most suitable mortgage.

In this article, we have gathered information on why approaching a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster will be more beneficial, rather than going directly to a mortgage lender themselves or their local bank. 

Why go to a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster? 

Cost-Effectiveness 

You may believe that going direct and finding your mortgage deal will save you money, but that’s not the case. Some Mortgage Brokers in Doncaster may charge a fee on the end result; however, this does depend on the company.

It might be more cost-effective if you have a straightforward case, however, for those with a complex case, it’s worth going to speak to a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster like ourselves. Not going to an expert can result in you ending up on the wrong deal or being declined for a mortgage. Having constant rejection will harm your credit score which can impact your chances of applying for a mortgage next time.

Having a devoted Mortgage Advisor on your case will be benifical, our team well be by your side throughout the entire mortgage journey, to try and achieve your mortgage goals. We aim to recommend you the most suitable deal first time, saving you time and money. 

Local Bank Branch Relationship

Having brand loyalty can be one of the reasons why many customers decide to turn to their local bank directly, instead of going elsewhere. Previously before the increase in technology and online banking, customers would approach their local bank to obtain a mortgage.
 
Their branch would provide an expert and someone knowledgeable to supply them with the help and guidance they needed. Nowadays, the process is a lot different with credit scoring being introduced.

Because of this, your branch manager won’t physically go through the case themselves. Instead, a complex online system will determine whether or not you are eligible for a mortgage. Now, regardless of which bank you are with even being a loyal customer, your local bank may still decline your application. 

Exclusive Mortgage Products

Going direct will only give you access to limited products. Because they can only offer you deals from their own company, nobody else’s. Not to mention, you don’t find mortgage lenders in banks, there are many more mortgage options available to choose from. That’s why the deal that the bank offers you might not be the most suitable deal, there could be a much better deal elsewhere.

Receiving expert Mortgage Advice in Doncaster will be the best way to find the most suitable deal. One of our expert Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster will be able to go through your case and find you the most suitable deal from our large panel of lenders. This is another benefit of approaching a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster instead of just a bank.

Approaching a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster can provide you with exclusive deals that you can’t find elsewhere. There will be a good selection of options when you go to a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster, we have helped many first time buyers, home movers, or applicants who are wanting to know their Remortgage options.

Changes to Regulation & Consumer Protection 

After the effects of the 2007-08 credit crunch, a massive improvement in the mortgage market needed to happen. One of these changes was stated in the 2014 Mortgage Market Review, which instructed lenders to no longer sell mortgages to their customers without extensive, expert Mortgage Advice in Doncaster.

People could no longer approach a bank to tell them they wanted a mortgage and be instantly granted with no background checks. Not every staff member in the bank could grant you a mortgage, which was something that happened regularly regardless of if they were qualified to do so or not.

The new changes also bought in consumer protection, which a bank wouldn’t have given you. Now, you can place a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman in the event you feel misadvised. Another way to make a claim is through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

Having this in place means reassuring a customer that they will be safe and advised accordingly regardless of what mortgage journey they take. This applies to both mortgage brokers in Doncaster and other mortgage lenders. 

Book an Appointment with a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster 

Approaching a bank instead of a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster might be more time-consuming. If you approach a bank, it can take days, weeks, or months to try and talk with someone at a bank. Furthermore, when you do begin the process, you’re not updated as much through the mortgage journey.

Here at Doncastermoneyman, our dedicated team of Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster will get in touch with you at the time that is best for you, we understand that you may have a busy schedule. This is why our team works, from early until late, 7 days a week, including weekends and evenings. Our Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster will be available to answer any of your questions and keep you updated. You might find us contactable on some bank holidays.

We tend to find sometimes you may find yourself attending your appointment on the same day, however, this doesn’t have to be the case. You can speak to a member of our time around a time and day that suits your availability.

Every customer is entitled to a busy lifestyle. This is why our Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster are available throughout the week, so you can book your free mortgage appointment around the day and time that suits you best, subject to availability.

Providing open and honest Mortgage Advice in Doncaster is a core value within our company. If you are at the very start of the process or towards mortgage completion, our friendly team will always keep you in the loop. If any changes arise, your Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster will get in touch as soon as they can. 

Handling of Complex Scenarios 

Through our expertise in the mortgage industry, we have found some cases can be slightly more complex than others. Below are just some popular scenarios that can be a bit more difficult than a straight forward case: 

• Mixed Deposit from saving and gift.

• Zero Hour Contract Workers, will there be a consistent income?

• Looking to Make a Second Purchase, can they afford to make that additional purchase? 

• Self Employed Mortgage with No Fixed Income, this can be challenging for Self-Employed applicants. 

• Poor Credit History, a lender will not look favorably upon an applicant who has mismanaged in the past. 

• Affordability, can they afford a mortgage full stop? 

Back in the day, mortgage lenders could easily compete with one another by providing exclusive deals that were better than the others. Now, the main change in which deal you go with is if you match their lending criteria or not.

You might find a cheaper deal but it may not match your criteria. In order to see if you are eligible to obtain a mortgage, the mortgage lender carries out a hard search, which will result in leaving a footprint on your credit file.

When you apply for a mortgage with a lender and were declined an agreement in principle, this may harm your credit file. The most frustrating thing about it all is that it’s very unlikely you will be given zero reasons as to why you were declined in the first place. As an open and honest Mortgage Broker in Doncaster, our team will be able to go through your case and advise you on ways to increase your chances of being accepted.

Our mortgage Advisors in Doncaster

With access to a vast range of lenders, our team should be able to find you the most suitable deal that perfectly matches you up with its criteria and then begins to obtain you an agreement in principle. If you obtain an agreement in principle through Doncastermoneyman, this will usually be sorted for you within 24 hours of your free mortgage appointment.

Just remember, having an agreement in principle doesn’t guarantee you have secured the property you were after. It does, however, make your credit file much safer by having an expert go through it beforehand. Our team of Mortgage Advisors in Doncaster aims to get their recommendation right the first time. 

In Conclusion; Should I use a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster? 

There are advantages and disadvantages of approaching a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster. The difference is how efficient you want your service to be, as well as what you are hoping to achieve.

As a devoted Mortage Broker in Doncaster, our team has extensive experience in dealing with a wide range of customers who go through the mortgage journey. Whether you are taking your first step into the mortgage world, coming towards the end of their fixed period, or looking at your remortgage options in Doncaster, our team are more than happy to help!

Book yourself in for a free mortgage appointment or remortgage review to speak with an expert Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster. Our team are here to help with your mortgage goals, with availability that suits you, subject to eligibility. 

Self Employed Mortgage Criteria Advice in Doncaster

Self Employed Mortgages in Doncaster

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.

Sole Traders or Partners 

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.

Limited Company Director (20-25% or more shareholder) 

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.

Minimum Trading Period 

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. 

Self Employed Doncaster

Agreement in Principle: Frequently Asked Questions

A Brief Summary of an Agreement in Principle

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.

Frequently Asked Agreement in Principle Questions:

Will obtaining an agreement in principle affect credit score? 

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.

Should I avoid hard credit checks? 

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.

Is an Agreement in Principle a guarantee that I can get a mortgage? 

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.

Can I make an offer without an Agreement in Principle? 

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.

How long does it take to get an Agreement in Principle? 

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.

How long does an Agreement in Principle last for?

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.

Agreement in Principle Mortgage Advice in Doncaster

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.

The Different Types of Mortgages Explained

Mortgage Advice in Doncaster

Whether you are a first time buyer in Doncaster looking to buy a property, moving house, or are ready to remortgage, 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.

What is a fixed rate Mortgage?

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.

What is a tracker mortgage?

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.

What is a repayment mortgage?

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.

What is an interest only mortgage?

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.

What is an Offset Mortgage?

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.

What is a capped rate mortgage?

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.

What is a flexible mortgage?

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.

Mortgage Broker in Doncaster

Agreement in Principle: Hard & Soft Credit Searches

As more and more time goes on, consumers seem to becoming much more savvier when it comes to their credit score. This is increasingly the case in those who are applying for first time buyer mortgages in Doncaster.

Of course the media contributes to this, with finances becoming much more publicly discussed. We actually find regularly that most of the customers who have contacted us for mortgage advice in Doncaster, have actually already taken a look at their credit report online.

Popular websites/apps for credit referencing are always Experian and Equifax, though there are plenty of them out there. We personally would recommend Check My File to new customers, as they can benefit from a 30-day free trial, which can be cancelled at anytime, otherwise going out at £14.99 a month.

They offer a colour-coded report that is easy to follow and can provide an overview of your credit, with information pulled from various sources, such as the aforementioned Experian or Equifax.

We usually find that customers are also now much more aware of the things that can negatively impact their credit score, one of which we will discuss in this article, that being having too many credit searches.

Of course, everyone gets credit searches taken out on them when they apply for any credit. Mortgages, loans, phone contracts, everything.

As a mortgage broker in Doncaster, we personally do not carry out any credit checks on you, though your mortgage advisor will ask for permission from you, as the mortgage lender will be conducting one of these.

Credit searches will usually come in one of two forms, those being a soft search or a hard search.

What is a hard credit search?

A hard credit search is where a mortgage lender will take a much more in-depth look at your credit report. Any company taking one of these out on you must seek permission before doing so, as they can (although not always) impact your credit score.

The bonus for customers having a hard credit search taken out on them is that your mortgage lender will already have a more complete overview of your financial state. If you are able to pass this, you are likely to achieve mortgage success.

This is not always a guarantee in any situation, but it is certainly a good sign. Hard searches leave a credit footprint on your file, which is a record that a hard credit search was taken out. A successful one can boost your credit score.

The issue is, the footprint doesn’t actually show whether it was successful or not. This means that if you are having multiple taken out on you (whether you failed previous ones or are just having multiple done for some reason), this can actually go against you and cause you to be declined.

The reason for this, is that multiple credit searches taken out in a small amount of time can make it seem like you’re applying for lots of credit in one time, which not only harm your credit score but put off a mortgage lender.

This isn’t to say that having a few will be too detrimental, there’s no need to worry too much, just always make sure you are cautious when having credit checks.

What is a soft credit search?

Quite the contrary to a hard search, soft searches are much less in-depth and would most likely be found with say, a price comparison website or as a means to verify your identity. More and more mortgage lenders these days, are also swapping to soft credit searches.

When a soft search is taken out on you, the company conducting the check will not be getting as much information as would’ve been the case if someone else had carried out a hard search. That being said, soft searches are incredibly unlikely to have any impact on your credit file.

Whilst less information is taken from these searches, if the end result is you obtaining a mortgage agreement in principle from the mortgage lender, the difference between hard and soft searches doesn’t necessarily matter, as an AIP is the goal anyway.

Further to these benefits, whereas a hard search can be seen by both yourself and other financial institutions, soft searches are not, only being able to be seen by you and nobody else. That means you can be unsuccessful in one instance and not worrying so much about the ramifications.

Benefits of an Agreement in Principle

If you would like to look at making an offer on a property, we would always recommend having an AIP to hand, as they will become a big help in your quest for mortgage success. These documents showcase to the estate agent and seller, that you’re in a position to proceed and have a mortgage lender waiting.

This puts you head and shoulders above anyone else who doesn’t have this, except maybe a cash buyer. As a mortgage broker in Doncaster, we are typically able to obtain a mortgage agreement in principle for you within 24 hours of your initial mortgage appointment.

Mortgage Advice in Doncaster for Newly Qualified Teachers

Newly Qualified Teacher Mortgage Advice in Doncaster

Firstly, Congratulations! You have passed all of the necessary exams and are now a newly qualified teacher. Now all you have to do is find a teaching position and start gaining some teaching experience.

For some, to be closer to that job, you may be required to look at relocating to Doncaster. If you already own your own home, you may benefit from the help of a mortgage broker in Doncaster.

We have dealt with many customers who feel stressed trying to balance the strain of homeownership whilst settling down within your newfound role in teaching.

Hopefully, with the help of a mortgage advisor in Doncaster, your process will go a lot smoother and quicker, reducing your stress levels.

Newly Qualified Teacher Mortgages

The challenging part is finding a lender willing to offer a mortgage to newly qualified teachers. Mian reason being NQT having little to no work history or being on a temporary contract.

The good news is, some lenders may even offer good deals with those working within the teaching industry from time to time and always a good idea to go to a mortgage broker. For instance, with the help of a mortgage broker in Doncaster, they can search thousands of deals and match your situation to the right lender’s criteria.

What sort of mortgages for NQT teachers is available?

The different types of mortgage available for newly qualified teachers commonly include:

• Help to Buy Mortgages in Doncaster
• Shared Ownership Mortgages
• Variable-Rate Mortgages
• Fixed-Rate Mortgages

Here are some things that lenders may consider during your process:

• No previous employment history is required.
• A 12-month first post-contract can sometimes be treated the same as a permanent role.
• Mortgages are available up to one month before starting the first contract (so you can apply in August, just as an example).
• Up to a 95% loan to value.

How a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster May Help

Our team of mortgage advisors in Doncaster have much experience working throughout this industry, helping various people with similar situations such as yourself. 

Most importantly, there are lots of benefits to home buyers using a trusted first time buyer mortgage broker in Doncaster.

For more information get in touch, and we can book you in for a free mortgage consultation. From there, we take some details from you to determine whether or not you have a chance of obtaining a mortgage suitable to your circumstances.

Mortgage Advice in Doncaster: Should I use a Mortgage Advisor?

No matter your mortgage situation, it’s essential to seek mortgage advice in Doncaster at the start of your mortgage journey, whether you are a first time buyer or looking to remortgage in Doncaster. 

Getting expert mortgage advice can be the difference between an application getting accepted and being rejected. Taking matters into your own hands can work against you as you aren’t as experienced in looking for certain things.

Our team can search through thousands of mortgage deals for you, which will hopefully save both your time and money during your mortgage process.

What does a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster do?

It’s the job of your dedicated Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster to find you the mortgage deal that is the most appropriate for your circumstances. Some say that there’s no significant difference between an advisor and a broker, which is partially true and untrue.

Mortgage advisors are trained professionals working either for a mortgage broker, independently or for more prominent banks or building societies. The difference comes into play when looking at the companies those advisors work for, compared to Doncastermoneyman.

However, here at Doncastermoneyman, we can tell you our team of specialist mortgage advisors in Doncaster are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and have access to a large panel of various mortgage lenders pick and choose a deal depending on how appropriate it is. 

Many of those advisors working directly for the lender will only offer their products, along with biased advice.

Our mortgage advisors in Doncaster have in-depth knowledge of lending criteria and experience providing expert advice to customers with all types of individual situations.

Why do people get Mortgage Advice in Doncaster?

For first time buyers looking to take that first step onto the property ladder, the process can be confusing. 

It’s here where our dedicated mortgage advisors can take the reigns and walk you through every step, supporting you through the most stressful moments, leading up to when you get your keys and, if necessary, beyond.

It may be that you need mortgage advice in Doncaster because you are looking to remortgage for home improvements/release equity or purchasing your next property to move into or add to your portfolio.

Our team of specialist mortgage advisors in Doncaster in Doncaster can help find suitable mortgages for a landlord looking at buy Let mortgages.

Benefits of using a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster

One of the many benefits of using a mortgage broker in Doncaster is that the process will likely go a lot smoother than it would’ve been if you had opted to go alone. Buying a home can be a very stressful experience, and our customers like to know they have got someone on their side to answer all their questions and queries. Here are some other ways we are also able to help:

• Elaborate On the various mortgages available and the different types of deals.
• Help you get ready for your application to increase your chances of success.
• Try and save you money by searching for a mortgage with lower interest rates and fees.
• Give you advice on how much you could afford to borrow.
• Have access to special mortgage deals that are not available on the open market.

Our mortgage advisors in Doncaster job is to ensure you have the highest chance of being accepted the first time possible. Nothing is ever guaranteed, but with our help, you’ll hopefully be one step closer.

Opening Times

We are proud to have the quality of service we provide to our customers seven days a week.

We put our people at the heart of our business and always aim to exceed their expectations. Get in touch with your mortgage broker in Doncaster today and benefit from a free mortgage consultation with a member of 

What is a 95% Mortgage?

A 95% mortgage is as simple as the name would suggest; you are borrowing against 95% of the price of a property, and then you are covering the remaining 5% with your deposit. An example of this is if you looked at buying a property that was worth £150,000 with a 95% mortgage, you would be putting down £7,500 as your deposit and borrow the remaining £142,500 from the lender. 

95% Mortgage Advice in Doncaster

Off the back of the March 2021 Budget, Boris Johnson announced a Mortgage Guarantee Scheme for mortgage lenders, making 95% mortgages more readily available from the bigger high street banks.   

This is fantastic news for First-Time Buyers and Home Movers alike, as this scheme will continue running until December 2022. Certain terms and conditions will apply though, which is something your Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster will be able to look at, to see if you qualify.    

All our customers who opt to Get in Touch will receive a free, no-obligation mortgage consultation where one of our dedicated mortgage advisors will be able to make a recommendation on the best possible route for you to take.

Can I get a 95% mortgage?

95% mortgages are usually accessible by both First-Time Buyers in Doncaster & those who are Moving Home in Doncaster. Whilst saving for a 5% deposit sounds like a pretty straightforward concept, you’ll still need to have an acceptable credit score and prove that you are able to afford your monthly mortgage repayments, in order to access a 95% mortgage.

Improving your credit score

A good credit score is essential in the process of obtaining any mortgage, especially a 95% mortgage. Things like paying any current credit commitments on time, ensuring your addresses are updated and checking that you’re on the voters roll, can all help with your credit score.

Affordability 

Affordability is another one that is important to take note of. By giving the lender details of your income and monthly outgoings (things like your bank statements will be necessary for this) and any pre-existing credit commitments, your lender will be able to get a general overview of whether or not you are able to afford this type of mortgage.

Can my family help me get a 95% mortgage?

Nowadays we see lots of family members helping each other get onto the property ladder, especially parents looking to further their children’s lives. The way this usually happens is by gifting the person looking to find their home, the deposit required. Known through the industry as the “Bank of Mum & Dad, Gifted Deposits are only intended to be a gift, and not as a loan. The lender will need proof that this has been agreed, before it can be used towards your mortgage. 

How do I choose the right 95% mortgage?

When looking for a 95% mortgage, you want to make sure you have the right type of mortgage. Each mortgage type works differently, with that choice allowing you to find one that is most appropriate for your personal and financial situation. 

Some homeowners and home buyers prefer Fixed Rate or Tracker Mortgages, mortgage types which mean you either keep interest rates at a set amount for the term given or have your interest rates tracking the Bank of England base rates.

Alternatively, you might find that Interest-Only or a Repayment Mortgages are more your style. Interest-Only allows cheaper payments until you need to pay a lump sum at the end (mostly now used for Buy-to-Lets), whereas a Repayment mortgage (a normal mortgage if you’d like) means you’ll be paying interest and capital combined per month.

How can a bigger deposit help with my mortgage? 

Seeing as a mortgage is such a large financial outgoing, you need to be prepared and need to be aware. You might find things like higher interest rates, remortgaging difficulties due to less equity and then negative equity all cropping up if you’re not. 

There is no need to worry though, as all these can be avoided if you’re savvy enough with your process to begin with. The more deposit you put down for a property, the less risk the lender will see you as. 

A larger deposit, of say 10-15%, would not only reduce the rates of interest by a noticeable amount, but would also give the property more equity and reduce the risk of negative equity, thanks in part to you borrowing less against the property. 

So, whilst the risks may seem intimidating, planning ahead and saving for a bigger deposit to access something like a 90% or even an 85% mortgage will be a massive help in your mortgage journey and something you’ll be able to reap the rewards from in the future. 

Mortgage Advice in Doncaster | Mortgage Payment Holidays

At the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government made a promise that all borrowers would be allowed a three-month mortgage payment holiday if deemed necessary. Most lenders followed along with the Government’s guidelines and did what they could to help their borrowers during what was a difficult few months.

We felt it appropriate to write a summary of what mortgage payment holidays are, what lenders are doing and who will be able to provide help and guidance through these next few months.

We feel that it is best to summarise what mortgage payment holidays are, what lenders are doing, and who can provide you with help and guidance through these next few months.

What is a Mortgage Payment Holiday?

Mortgage payment holidays are an agreement entered into with your bank, building society or mortgage lender to defer your monthly mortgage payments for a set period. In this case, 3-months.

It does not mean you never have to pay the amount back, but the interest you defer is added back onto the loan amount, while your capital balance will not decrease. In other words, your mortgage amount will increase slightly, and you will continue to attract interest on the whole amount.

When you are ready to continue the payments, this could mean that either your monthly payments are recalculated at a slightly higher level, or your mortgage term is increased somewhat. Most lenders will probably prefer not to extend your mortgage term as this could take you past their standard retirement ages, but the detail on this will follow in due course.

Dependent on your mortgage deal, you may be able to pay off a lump sum later in the year to bring your mortgage back to where it would have been.

Mortgage Payment Holidays are available both for those with residential or buy-to-let mortgages, which means landlords also have assistance if rental payments are affected.

What is the Government Proposal?

The full proposal is in detail below:
• Mortgage lenders will offer an automatic 3-month mortgage payment holiday for customers impacted, directly or indirectly, by COVID-19.

• The mortgage payment holiday will apply to customers who are up to date on their payments, not in arrears, and wanting to self-certify that COVID-19 impacts them.

• This means that lenders will not complete an income and expenditure assessment, or evaluation of alternate payment options as ordinarily required under MCOB.

• This proposal will allow lenders to be more responsive to customer needs and offer forbearance in a simple way to customers in an environment where COVID-19 also impacts the operation of collections teams made.

• Customers will be made aware that interest will accrue in the holiday period and they will need to make up deferred payments in the future.

• Customers who wish to undertake a full assessment of their ability to pay or financial difficulty may still do so.

Mortgage Payment Holidays | How do I apply?

We would recommend speaking to your Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster. They will asses your financial situation first before looking to defer your payments as your situation may not yet be pressing.

Approaching a Mortgage Broker in Doncaster like us will allow you to explore all of your current mortgage options and could make things feel a lot less stressful.

For a customer, up to date with payments, not in arrears and impacted by COVID-19:

• The customer would contact the lender and inform them that they are affected by COVID-19.

• The lender would accept these details from the customer and offer an automatic 3-month mortgage payment holiday.

• no evidence will be sought from the customer.

• The lender makes the customer aware that interest will accrue and will be contacted at the end of the three months to complete an assessment of the customer’s circumstances.

• At the end of three months, an arrangement to pay will be agreed with the customer according to their circumstances to recover any shortfall, while ensuring that the mortgage remains affordable and sustainable.

• The lender notifies the customer that if they wished to complete a full assessment now, there might be other forbearance options more suitable to the customer.

Mortgage Payment Holidays | What does this mean for my Credit Score?

In some cases, a mortgage payment holiday can have a negative impact on your credit score, but most lenders have now said that for cases linked to the virus, they will ensure that this is not the case.

You must ask this question to your lender directly and record the response, including the date and the name of the person you are speaking to avoid confusion later. Different lenders are doing different things.

Will I still be able to remortgage or take a Product Transfer with my lender?

At first, everything seemed like it would remain exactly the same and you would still be able to make changes to your mortgages as normal. This has changed in the last couple of days and lenders have been asking borrowers to avoid making changes whilst you are within a mortgage holiday period. So, at the moment they are not allowing mortgages and product transfers.

Borrowers nearing the end of their existing product may be forced to move on to the higher lenders variable rate. This could mean that borrowers who act too early could find themselves on a mortgage payment holiday that accrues interest on a costly variable rate.

We would highly recommend speaking to your Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster they will determine the best course of action based on your personal and financial situation. If possible, arranging your mortgage transfer first then asking for the holiday would seem to be the most sensible way forward.

My Mortgage got Offered Will my Lender Withdraw the Offer?

At the moment, no Lenders have withdrawn mortgage offers; in fact, some are extending offers past the standard six-month expiration date. 

Should I Pull out of my Purchase?

You should not pull out of your purchase unless, for example, you are worried about losing your job as a result of Coronavirus. We are advising everyone to proceed as usual for now and “wait and see” – you are not committed to completing your purchase until contracts get exchanged.

What “Other Options” are available?

In some cases, lenders can offer you a temporary switch to interest-only in order to reduce your monthly payments but not to add any further to the loan amount by still servicing the interest payments each month.

It may not be necessary to convert all your mortgage to interest only, and it may be that putting part of the mortgage on this basis could give you the breathing space you need.

People with savings may find that remortgaging onto an offset basis could give them a helping boost they were looking for, they will be cutting down on their monthly payments whilst keeping hold of their savings.

For example, someone with a £400,000 loan and £100,000 in savings would only pay interest on £300,000. This will massively reduce their monthly mortgage payments.

For others, a straight remortgage to another lender, calculating the cost of any early repayment charges, may well be enough to ease the burden or simply extending the term of your mortgage.

If you still have any other questions on mortgage payment holidays or just want general Mortgage Advice in Doncaster, give us a call today. We want to help you and your mortgage journey through these tough few months ahead. Speak to an experienced Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster today.

How to Improve your Credit Score in Doncaster

If you are looking to boost your credit score, a specialist mortgage advice in Doncaster could be the option for you! An applicant who has a high credit score will have more of a chance of getting a mortgage acceptance compared to one with a much lower score. Contrary to this, it all depends on the lenders having their own internal scoring systems.

Every lender has built their own scoring system over the years. In the case where your application isn’t successful, it doesn’t mean it will apply to all lenders. If you do have a Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster by your side in the process, they will provide you with the support and information you need as well as try and match you to the right lender. The role of your advisor is to invest in you and has the same goal as you which is to find you the best deal.

In the UK, there are a variety of credit reference agencies such as Experian and Equifax. We do recommend checking as many of these agencies as possible in order to get a full picture of your credit score. As well as this, one of the agencies may have incorrect data. Here at Doncastermoneyman, we recommend Check My File to customers. This platform collates data from major agencies including the two mentioned above and provide a broader view of how your credit score is performing. When you sign up, you will have a 30 day free trial on the platform and then it will be a £14.99 a month, however, the account can be cancelled at the end of the trial.

Wondering what you can do to improve your credit score? Check out the best practices you can follow below.

To improve your credit rating:

Avoid Unnecessary Credit Searches:

One thing that can harm your score is carrying out multiple credit searches. We recommend that you are careful when using price comparison websites which have a reputation to credit search you. If you are wanting to apply for a mortgage in the near future, it is best that you stay away from other credit. Even though having some credit and paying it back helps your score, further down the line, lenders will not like to see you increasing your borrowings right before making a mortgage application.

Check You Are on the Voter’s Roll:

A great way to boost your credit score is to be on the electoral roll. It shows a lender your stability. Check that your name is spelt correctly and that it’s registered at your current address, not an old one. You can easily register online.

Don’t Run Close To Your Maximum Limit:

Maxing out your card every month can harm your score. If you do use a credit card, make sure you pay
off the balance in full each month. By doing this, you are showing that you are good at managing your money. The worst case scenario is exceeding an agreed card limit or overdraft. Lenders want to know that you take your finances seriously.

Check Your Address History Is Keyed Correctly:

There have been cases where credit reports highlight that the applicant is living in two places at once. The reason behind this is that the applicant may have forgotten to tell one of their credit providers that they have moved to a new house. Make sure all addresses are spelt correctly. You may find it difficult to do this if you live in a flat due to the flat/apartment number can be formatted in different ways.

Close Any Unused Credit Accounts:

If you have any store/credit cards you no longer use, you should contact the providers to get the account closed. Initially, this can harm your score briefly as the credit reference won’t be able to see if it’s you closing the account down or the provider. On the flip side, it’s one step back to take two forward. As well as this, it’s a good thing to do to reduce your chance of falling victim to fraud should you not be aware that you have lost a card that you don’t regularly use.

Remove Financial Links to others:

In the circumstance you are financially linked to a family member or ex-partner, this could impact your score. The account will remain in operation for a long the financial association is still active. In order to remove one of these links, you should get in touch with the credit reference agencies and make a request.

The common opinion amongst consumers is that it’s unfair how lenders assess applications, however, lenders feel differently about this. The way they operate is a cheaper option with computers providing more consistent outcomes.

A way to increase your chances of being accepted the first time is to send an up to date copy of your credit report to your Mortgage Advisor in Doncaster. Make sure you give enough information to your advisor for them to get the full picture of your finances. We do find that there is a small majority of lenders that do not assess credit scores. This is because they go for a more old fashioned manual approach. Keep in mind that they may have specific rules about the amount of defaults CCJ’s they will allow.