What Does a Mortgage Broker in Hull Do?

Why use a mortgage broker in Hull?

If your goal is to save time and money while reducing stress and worries throughout the mortgage process, enlisting the assistance of a seasoned mortgage broker in Hull offers significant advantages.

Our team of experienced professionals has access to a vast array of mortgage deals, allowing us to handpick the one that aligns best with your unique circumstances.

In contrast, approaching a bank directly limits you to the mortgage deals offered by that specific lender, missing out on the opportunity to explore a wider range of options.

Appointments That Work With Your Busy Day-to-Day Life

Our dedicated team is here to accommodate your schedule, offering appointment options 7 days a week, from early morning until late in the day. We understand the demands of your busy life and strive to provide flexibility in our service.

For added convenience, you can make use of our website’s booking form to select either a video or telephone consultation with a mortgage advisor in Hull. This way, you can choose a time that suits you best, ensuring a hassle-free and tailored experience.

Before Your Application

To initiate the mortgage process as a first time buyer in Hull, your first step is to schedule an appointment with a mortgage advisor in Hull.

During this meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to provide additional information that will enable our advisor to gain a comprehensive understanding of your unique circumstances and future plans.

Subsequently, they will diligently explore a wide array of mortgage options to identify the one that aligns perfectly with your needs.

First time buyers in Hull and those moving home Hull who are comfortable proceeding with the recommendation of our mortgage advisor will receive a valuable document known as an Agreement in Principle (AIP). We aim to secure this for our clients within 24 hours of their initial appointment.

This document holds significance, particularly when dealing with estate agents during the property purchase process. It serves as tangible proof of your commitment to the purchase and your financial capacity to proceed, with a mortgage lender ready to provide the necessary funds.

Our support extends beyond this stage, encompassing assistance with the offer process, guidance on property surveys, and optional insurance recommendations. These insurance options can act as a safety net, providing protection for your family and home in unforeseen circumstances.

Furthermore, you’ll be required to provide specific documentation to accompany your mortgage application. The precise documentation needed may vary based on your specific circumstances and the lender you choose to work with.

Rest assured, as a mortgage broker in Hull, we are here to help you throughout this documentation process, ensuring a smooth and well-informed journey.

During Your Application

Once we’ve received your documents, as a dedicated mortgage broker in Hull, we’ll promptly proceed to verify these crucial pieces of information. Following this verification process, we will provide you with a comprehensive mortgage illustration.

This document serves as a clear outline of the mortgage deal you’ve chosen in collaboration with the mortgage lender we recommended. This step typically takes place just before we formally submit your application.

After you’ve granted your approval for our recommended mortgage deal, your application is then submitted. Our experienced mortgage advisor in Hull will be responsible for sending copies of your meticulously prepared documents to the chosen mortgage lender.

Throughout this phase, we maintain regular contact with you, ensuring you stay well-informed about the progress of your application. Once the mortgage lender has meticulously reviewed your application, we will promptly get in touch with you to convey their decision.

In the event of a successful application, this is the point at which you will receive a formal mortgage offer. From this juncture onwards, the onus shifts to your solicitor, who will oversee the finalisation of the deal, paving the way for you to embark on the exciting journey of moving into your new home.

Our Mortgage Advice in Hull Service

In our role as a dedicated mortgage broker in Hull, we consistently prioritise your best interests in every aspect of our service. Our mission is clear: to save you time, money, and unnecessary stress whenever possible. We are committed to helping you achieve the strongest possible financial position.

Our customer reviews provide an authentic glimpse into the enduring relationships we forge with those who reach out to us. These testimonials vividly illustrate the positive influence that home ownership, facilitated through our comprehensive mortgage advice service, has had on individuals like yourself.

We take pride in being a trusted partner on your journey towards securing a home and improving your financial well-being.

How to Negotiate on a Property Price in Hull

First time buyer mortgage advice in Hull

Making an offer on a property is not easy; could you offer less? Is the property worth the seller’s asking price? This gets even more confusing if you are a first time buyer in Hull and the property and mortgage world is all new to you. If you have already found a property, you will likely want to bring the house price down as much as possible, but on the other hand, you may feel awkward about making a lower offer, in fear of it being rejected. This is all part of the negotiation process.

Unless you make an offer very close to the asking price, it is unusual for your first offer to get accepted. Your seller also has plans to move into a new property and they will want to get as much as they can from selling their house.

As a mortgage broker in Hull, we usually tell our customers to try and find the “magic number” – an offer that is neither too low nor too high that you are offering more than the property’s true value. This “magic number” can be tricky to find and as we said before, you may not find it with your first offer.

To give yourself the best possible chance of success, we would recommend speaking with a mortgage advisor in Hull. Our experts will be able to walk you through the steps on how to make an offer on a property and the art of negotiation. We can even help you make an offer if you need help with this part of the process. Unfortunately, you aren’t the only person looking at the property and having an expert by your side could give you a one-up over other potential buyers.

Getting ready to make an offer and negotiating asking prices

Quick tip – if your first offer is accepted the chances are your opening bid was way too high! Always offer less than you are truly willing to pay. 

Getting your Mortgage Agreed in Principle 

Estate agents will ask whether you are a cash buyer or need to take out a mortgage to purchase the property. They need to check this before you can make an offer on the property. If you are a cash buyer, it is extremely likely that the seller will accept your offer as you are able to pay for the property in full right away.

Estate agents will also want to perform some anti-money laundering checks on you to prove your identity and address. Some corporate Estate Agents exploit this diligence (aka Offer Qualification) in order to cross-sell other products and services to you – one example is using their in-house mortgage advisor. You do not need to use their in-house team, you can go to any mortgage advisor in Hull, just like ourselves.

If you are looking to take out a mortgage on the property, you will need an agreement in principle. This is a document issued by a lender stating that they are willing to let you borrow from them providing that you back up your income and affordability via evidential documents.

Once you have your AIP, use this as evidence to the estate agents that you are able to borrow for the sale of the property. 

Our mortgage advisors in Hull are able to arrange an AIP for you within 24 hours. If you need a quick turnaround or need your current AIP renewed, get in touch and we will sort this for you.

Sell Your House Before you Make an Offer 

If you are moving home in Hull and want to make an offer on another property, we would recommend listing and selling your current property before so.

This is because the sale of your property will give you a deposit for your new purchase. The issue sometimes is that you might not really be looking for a new home until a specific one comes up for sale! 

If you end up in this situation, go ahead and look at the property, there is no harm in doing so. You could even try and negotiate a price with the seller from a position of weakness, there is nothing to lose. The only problem here is that if the seller agrees on a price since you haven’t sold your current home yet, the estate agents may leave the property on the market anyways. If you are really unlucky, another buyer who can advance right away might swoop in and be offered the property. Remember that the seller is also looking to move home, therefore, they want the purchase to be as fast as possible too.

Get Organised 

Get everything ready before your offer, so that if it is accepted, you are ready to proceed right away.

Your AIP is agreed in principle for a reason, as you have not supplied any evidential documents to the lender yet to show that you can afford a mortgage of this amount.

Get all of your paperwork in order. You will need proof of ID, proof of address, proof of your deposit, 3 months’ bank statements, payslips and your latest P60. When submitting your mortgage application with a mortgage broker in Hull like us, we will sort this out for you and make sure that your application looks the best that it can do. You will work with a dedicated case manager throughout the application stage of the process and they will be your first point of contact for all of your mortgage questions.

Emotional Connection

We know that everything can get a bit much during the home-buying process. Declined offers, other buyers and property surveys can put a lot of stress on you!

We like to think that it is sometimes not about the best offer or the best buyer, but the emotional connection between the seller and the buyer. For example, if you are planning to build a family in this house and the seller has raised their own family in the house, it could resonate with them if you tell them your plans.

Listen Out for Clues 

If you do get a chance to speak with the seller about the property, it does no harm to find out about their future plans. Have they already found a property to move into and want a quick sale? What are there reasons for moving? How many people have made an offer on the property?

Some of these little details can sometimes help you negotiate your asking price. For example, if the property has been listed for a few months with little interest, there may be something wrong with it that only pops up on a property survey or upon inspection.

If you manage to get answers to some of your questions, it could help you work out why the property is valued at the price it is and whether or not you could potentially make a slightly lower offer.

How to Get a Mortgage in Hull if You’re Over 40

Can I get a mortgage in Hull at 40?

Yes, you can get a mortgage in Hull if you are age 40 or older, subject to passing a lender’s credit scoring and affordability calculations. In most cases, the process can be quite straightforward too.

The process can work differently depending on what you are looking to achieve with your mortgage. Lenders will also look at a variety of factors before accepting your mortgage application.

I’m a first time buyer in Hull over 40

If you are over 40 and are looking for your first mortgage, lenders will be cautious of your mortgage term. They will look at how old you will be at the end of your mortgage term, in this case, you will be around 65-70 years old based on a typical 25-30 year term.

How much you can borrow for a mortgage is determined by your income. Lenders will look at the realistic amount that you can borrow based on your age and salary. When assessing your income, lenders will generally expect your wage to be higher than those who are looking for their first home in their 20s. Having a higher income may allow you to borrow more.

As you become older, statistically you are more susceptible to illness. From a lender’s perspective, this creates more risk when lending and will be factored in when calculating your maximum age for borrowing.

What do lenders look at before I can get a mortgage in Hull over 40?

The main factors that lenders will look at when determining whether you can get a mortgage over 40 are age, income/expenditure and your retirement age. Some lenders will allow the mortgage term to extend over your retirement age if you are able to continue working. This will vary from lender to lender and also on your job type.

So, if you are a first time buyer in Hull and are over 40, you need to be aware of some of the factors that lenders will assess before accepting your mortgage application.

Does my loan to value affect my chances of getting a mortgage in Hull over 40?

Loan to value is the ratio of what you are borrowing for a mortgage to the value of the property you are taking out the mortgage on. For example, if you provide a 5% deposit on a property, you are taking out a 95% loan to value mortgage.

The lower your loan to value is, you may have access to more competitive deals. If you can reduce this loan to value percentage by providing a higher deposit then your term and payments may reduce.

Your deposit could come from a variety of sources, such as your savings, gifted deposit, or in some cases through inheritance. As a mortgage broker in Hull, we have seen parents release equity from their homes in order to gift a deposit to their children.

I’m looking at moving home in Hull over 40

If you have an existing mortgage on your current property, and you are looking to move home in Hull, you should see whether your mortgage is portable to your new property. Alternatively, if this is not possible or is a more expensive option, you could look at a new mortgage.

I’m looking to upsize in Hull

If you are looking at moving home in Hull to a bigger property, this generally means that you would be looking to borrow more. Lenders will reassess your affordability when deciding whether or not you can get a mortgage on your new home.

Furthermore, there may be other contributing factors that could affect your affordability assessment when looking for a new mortgage, such as credit score, existing credit commitments, number of dependents or salary increases. Your mortgage advisor in Hull will run through these factors with you prior to submitting your mortgage application.

I’m looking to downsize in Hull

When it comes to downsizing and moving home in Hull, the amount of equity that you have built up in your current property will be a big contributing factor to your deposit. We have seen that some applicants choose to use all of this equity for their deposit, whereas, others may only use a proportion. As mentioned above, sometimes the remaining equity is gifted to children/family members for their mortgage deposit.

Depending on your equity and the level of downsizing, in some cases, you may able to purchase the property outright and not require a mortgage. As a mortgage broker in Hull, we have seen that in most instances, customers at the age of 40 have not built up enough equity within their current home to purchase their new property outright. This is because they will have likely only held their mortgage for 15-20 years.

I’m looking at investing in buy to let in Hull over 40

Buy to let mortgages usually require at least a 25% deposit, but can sometimes stretch up to 40%. Depending on the lender, some will look at your own personal income and take this into account. Whilst others will look solely at the potential rental income that the property could generate.

If you have any questions about getting a mortgage when you are over 40, make sure to get in touch with our team. We would love to answer your questions and help when and where we can.

What is a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Hull?

The Shared Ownership scheme is a mortgage scheme introduced by the government all the way back during the 80s. It was brought in under the Housing Act 1980.

The scheme is designed to help homebuyers get onto the property ladder. It is only available to permanent UK residents who are either first time buyers or moving home in Hull. If you are struggling to save up your mortgage deposit as a home mover or first time buyer in Hull, perhaps the Shared Ownership scheme could be the solution you need.

How does the Shared Ownership scheme work?

The Shared Ownership Scheme allows you to purchase part of a property, split with the housing association. The portion/percentage of the property that you are able to buy is usually between 10%-75%, where the housing association owns the remainder.

The way that this works is that you take out a mortgage on this percentage and then pay rent on the remaining amount. You will have mortgage payments and rent payments to account for each month. Your rent will be lower than if you had to pay rent on 100% of the property.

Furthermore, your annual, combined household income has to be less than £80,000 (less than £90,000 if you’re in London) and the home you are purchasing will almost always be a leasehold property. Leasehold means you will be purchasing the home for a set amount of time.

Updates to The Shared Ownership Mortgage Scheme

For anyone who has previously heard of or used the Shared Ownership Scheme, you may have been aware that the minimum percentage that you used to have to take out was 25%, however, now it has decreased to 10%.

This was a huge help to those wanting to utilise the Shared Ownership Scheme, but just couldn’t quite afford it. In turn, the lower the percentage of the property that you own, the higher your rental payments may be.

There have also been significant changes in the fees associated with a Shared Ownership mortgage. Landlords are now responsible for maintenance and repair costs for the first 10 years of ownership.

If you have taken out a Shared Ownership mortgage in Hull before April 2021, you may not benefit from these new changes as they applied to properties bought under the scheme following their introduction.

How do I apply for a Shared Ownership mortgage in Hull?

Shared Ownership is a Help to Buy Scheme, and just like all other Help to Buy Schemes, you must qualify for them before you can access them. Most schemes require you to be a first time buyer in Hull, whereas others are a little more flexible and can be accessed by more types of buyers.

As a mortgage broker in Hull, we would recommend speaking with an expert to work out whether or not you are eligible for the Shared Ownership Scheme. As mentioned, there are a variety of factors that go into deciding whether someone can access the scheme or not, therefore, it is always best to check before applying.

One of our mortgage advisors in Hull can look at your affordability and personal and financial situation to work out whether the Shared Ownership route is for you. We are open and honest with our customers, meaning that if you are better suited to another Help to Buy Scheme or the traditional mortgage route, we will make you aware that this is the case.

Our team will make you aware of the costs involved with the Shared Ownership Scheme and whether it is a viable option for you and your circumstances.

Pros & Cons of Shared Ownership Mortgages in Hull

With any type of mortgage, there will be pros and cons. This works for all Help to Buy Schemes also.

Pros

When taking out a Shared Ownership mortgage, the deposit total that you have to put down on the property is determined by the percentage of the property that you are purchasing. For example, if you are purchasing 50% of a property worth £200,000 and you need to provide a 5% deposit, you will need to put down £5,000 (5% of a £100,000 mortgage).

Sometimes, you may get the option to purchase your Shared Ownership property in the future. If you get this option further down the line, it may be within your best interests to take a mortgage out on the remainder of the property. Not all building associations will allow this. When taking out your Shared Ownership mortgage, it may state in your contracts whether this is an option in the future.

Cons

One con is that you would be paying more rent if you take out a mortgage on a lower share of the property. For example, if you take out a 10% share of the property, you will pay more towards your rent than you would if you were to take out a 50% share.

If you are able to purchase more of the property and increase your share passed 75%, unfortunately, you will have to pay Stamp Duty on the entire value of the property, though sometimes this land tax won’t apply to a first time purchase.

Since you do not outright own 100% of the property, you only own a percentage, you must obtain permission before you are able to make any structural changes to the property. This can take away some of your freedom, unfortunately; which you would have if you owned your own home.

Can I sell my home if I have a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Hull?

Like most homeowners, there may be a time when you decide to part ways from your current property and look at moving home in Hull. In most situations, this process would be simple, however, with a Shared Ownership mortgage, it is slightly different.

Unfortunately, in almost every case, you will need to own 100% of the property to sell your Shared Ownership property. This is because the Shared Ownership property is still partially owned by the housing association.

You must also know that the housing association will usually have ‘first refusal’ rights, for the first 21 years after you have bought the home. This means they are, by law, able to make an offer to buy the property themselves, before you put it on the open market.

Is a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Hull right for me?

The Shared Ownership Scheme is a great option for first time buyers and home movers struggling to save up for a deposit and to afford the usual mortgage costs. This is mainly due to the fact that you can put down a lower deposit on the property.

Shared Ownership is only available on certain types of property, which can complicate the process in some cases. We will make sure that you are fully prepared and know the ins and outs of Shared Ownership in Hull before purchasing a property.

You can easily contact our mortgage advisors in Hull by booking a free Shared Ownership mortgage appointment online. We work 7 days a week so that you can book an appointment for a date and time that best suits you. We will be more than happy to help!

You can learn more about the Shared Ownership Mortgage Scheme by visiting the government OwnYourHome website.

Are Mortgage Rates Going Up in Hull?

This is something that we find ourselves being asked regularly by both homeowners and potential home buyers in Hull. The answer to this question depends on entirely on what sort of market we are in and how it is performing.

In order to stay more up-to-date with the mortgage market, including hot topics such as mortgage interest rates and government schemes, take a look at “Mortgage Market Update” playlist on YouTube. We regularly post these types of videos to ensure that all of our customers are “in-the-know”.

What are mortgage rates?

Mortgage rates are the level of interest that a mortgage lender will be charging you on your mortgage balance. This will determine the cost of your monthly mortgage payments, as you are paying, generally, a combination of interest and capital. Lower mortgage rates typically means lower payments.

How are mortgage rates determined?

There are a lot of different factors that can affect what your mortgage rates will be. One that you can absolutely have control over, is any personal factors that will determine if you qualify for a mortgage.

This will include things like your credit score or deposit. The lower the risk, generally, the better the rates. An open & honest mortgage broker in Hull will be able to take a look at your situation, helping you to find the best mortgage deal that is available to you, for what it is you are hoping to achieve.

Our dedicated mortgage advisors in Hull have the ability to search through 1000s of deals, including many different specialist mortgage deals, for customers who perhaps have more complex cases.

What it all comes down to really, at the end of the day, is the current market position, the state of the economy and the base rate of the Bank of England. If the economy is performing well, there will typically be a higher demand for both goods and services, which includes properties.

Higher demand will also usually mean that the Bank of England base rate will go up too, which sees mortgage rates following. The mortgage rates set by mortgage lenders are usually set at a percentage above what the Bank of England base rate is.

Whilst a stronger economy could mean that home buyers can afford more, mortgage lenders aren’t made of money. Because of this, when the base rate is up, the cost of borrowing for mortgage lenders will also rise, which also brings up mortgage rates to cover their borrowing costs.

When the economy isn’t necessarily doing so well, this works conversely to how we mentioned above, as consumers will not be able to afford as much. Because of this, you will typically see interest rates coming down as a why to encourage people on the property ladder with potentially lower payments.

Mortgage Rates Affected by Inflation

As discussed above, one of the biggest factors for changes in mortgage rates, is changes to the Bank of England base rate. As a general rule, mortgage lenders will set their interest rates at a percentage above this. This means that depending on the base rate, this could fluctuate.

Something else that can have an effect on the Bank of England base rate, however, is any changes to inflation. The government ideally have a target in mind that they need to keep at, in order for the cost of living to remain affordable. Unfortunately, this has been known to go over the target.

In situation such as these, you may see the cost of living increase, though unlike the example of a strong economy meaning people may be able to afford more, this can be quite the negative and seeing people unable to afford as much as they would have done.

This of course isn’t exactly the best news for those with ending fixed-rates, as it means they may struggle to afford price increases that are set to take effect once their initial period has ended. In cases like this, a mortgage advisor in Hull can be incredibly beneficial.

Fixed-Rate Mortgages vs Tracker Mortgages

The Bank of England base rate tends to have fluctuations anyway, although usually only very slightly. Tracker mortgages are a type of mortgage that will be following along with this base rate, sitting at a percentage above and moving as and when the base rate moves.

When the base rate is a little low, this can work out quite well, as your monthly mortgage payments will be lower. Unfortunately, if mortgage rates were to go up, you would also be paying more on your monthly mortgage payments, which can change fairly quickly.

An option that could be better for this, which is actually one of the most popular mortgage types you could choose from, is a fixed-rate mortgage. These allow you to lock-in to the interest rate at the time, keeping your payments the same for a set period.

These time periods tend to be between 2-5 years, though they don’t necessarily have to be. An example would be, if your interest rate was 4% and you were fixed-in for 5 years, you might see rates rise to 6% during that time, yet still be paying 4% until that 5 years is up, saving you money.

In times where the economy is a little uncertain, a fixed-rate can provide certainty and stability, giving homeowners one less thing to stress about at home. The downside is that if rates have indeed gone up during this time, when your fixed-period ends, you will move onto a higher rate anyway.

This sort of thing occurring can actually lead some homeowners to remortgage quite early, even being willing to fork out for an early repayment charge, in order to fix in for a longer period and protect themselves from future interest rate increases that could be on the horizon.

How long should I fix my mortgage for?

This really boils down to predictions, how do you see the interest rates changing, as well as your own personal situation changing. As said before, personal factors also can impact mortgage rates, so having a higher deposit will potentially open you up to much lower rates anyway.

If you find that you are in that situation, taking out a fixed-rate mortgage could be beneficial, to stick to those interest rates you have given yourself access to. So long as the economy performs well also, fixing in for 2, 5, maybe even 10 years could see you reaping the benefits of those rates.

Of course this entirely depends on circumstance, and 10 years is a long time to wait. During that time period, you could even see interest rates drop lower than you first fixed in for, meaning you are paying more per month than you could’ve been, if you’d only fixed in for say 2 years.

A trusted and experienced mortgage broker in Hull will be able to best help you prepare for your mortgage future, as well as help you make any decisions based on your plans. They will use their knowledge to help you every step of the way.

Speak With a Qualified Mortgage Advisor in Hull

Interest rates can change without warning really, depending on the current state of the economy, the market and also, the Bank of England base rate. Match it up with your personal circumstances, and there can be much uncertainty.

By booking yourself in for free remortgage advice in Hull towards the end of your fixed-period, or first time buyer mortgage advice in Hull if this is a new experience for you, you can benefit from experts in the field helping you to find the best mortgage deal, with the most favourable mortgage rates.

Can I Port My Mortgage to a New Property in Hull?

Porting Mortgage Advice in Hull

Any homeowner with a mortgage to their name will notice that the vast majority of high street mortgages on the market are portable.

A portable mortgage is where you move home, from one property to another, but still, take your existing mortgage with you and avoid the need to pay a penalty charge for doing so.

These come in handy if you are currently on a fixed rate mortgage deal with low interest rates, but looking to move into a new property. Doing so will give you the possibility to avoid having to pay an Early Repayment Charge (ERC).

Are all mortgages portable? 

No, not every mortgage deal on the market is portable. Especially mortgage product from a specialist lender, as their mortgage was probably quite complex to qualify for in the first place and they won’t want you to port it.

To find out whether porting your mortgage is the right option for you, get in touch and speak to your mortgage lender, they’ll be able to give you an answer.

Should I port my mortgage?

Even if the mortgage is flexible enough to port, some homeowners may decide that option is not for them and choose not to do so.

The reason that these customers may not wish to proceed with porting their mortgage, can be down to a variety of factors. This can include situations where perhaps a mortgage lender isn’t willing to lend the extra funds, or differing interest rates in those additional funds.

It may be worth your while accepting the Early Repayment Charge (ERC) and move to a different mortgage lender altogether, if it works out cheaper to go to that new deal. 

What is a sub-account? 

This is a type of account that will be attached to your mortgage when you look to port it and the additional funds will move onto a deal that is different to your original mortgage.

Because of this, each of these will be on two different rates of interest that are applied on both the mortgage and the direct debit.

In the future, the fact that the products can overlap may become problematic, and this might need looking at down the line, in order to get them realigned. This may mean one of the sub-accounts falling onto a lenders variable rate briefly. 

Mortgage Advice in Hull for Porting Your Mortgage 

If you are looking for Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Hull or you are looking for a Buy to Let Mortgage in Hull, get in touch and speak to a mortgage expert today. We are experienced in helping many kinds of mortgage applicants in situations like this, and will do what we can to assist with all of your mortgage needs

What is Gazumping? Should Home Buyers Be Afraid Of It?

The term ‘gazumping’ may be one you have heard before, however, have no idea what it’s about. The word ‘Gazumping’ is used when the seller of the property you are interested in accepts another offer from someone else prior to the sale of the property to you is completed.

Derived from the Yiddish word ‘Gezump’, in which someone swindles or cheats someone out of something and was used back in the 1920s, ‘Gazumping’ has been related to house buying and was a common term in the 1970-80s.

Is Gazumping illegal?

Through our experience as a Mortgage Broker in Hull, we have had the opportunity to speak to customers regarding Gazumping. The most common topic surrounding gazumping is if it’s illegal. Unfortunately, Gazumping is legal despite how immoral it is.

This is a question that is in many people’s minds when they are going through the home buying process across England and Wales. Thoughts of why and how this practice can be legal despite its lack of morality are a common occurrence.

Gazumping is deemed a legal act because the deals you make between you and the seller aren’t legally binding until written contracts are exchanged by lawyers. Therefore, the seller has no obligation to hold onto the property. All the essentials are agreed upon verbally up until your deal is completed.

The concept of being gazumped can be very daunting amongst lots of home buyers especially with First Time Buyers in Hull, regardless of whether there is a chance of it happening. It comes with the possibility of losing your dream home. It’s an event that no one wants to happen, in particular, for those who are a part of a property chain.

Another factor that can affect home buyers being gazumped is the idea of them losing money over the event. Non-refundable expenses that come with the home buying process like property surveys, conveyancing fees and mortgage arrangements fees.

How does Gazumping happen?

As mentioned, the agreement between both parties to buy or sell a property is not a legally binding one. It only becomes that when the lawyers undergo the exchanging of contracts.

It’s not as simple as it sounds. The process can come with long delays that are usually several weeks from having your offer accepted to the exchange of contract.

Usually, this certain time period can be where other prospective First Time Buyers in Hull may interfere in the process between you and the seller by making a more favourable offer on the property. This can happen through them speaking to an estate agent or by going directly to the seller.

The more favourable deal may have been a higher purchase price, a faster sale or a particular buyer who has no pressure from a property chain. Gazumping covers all these circumstances that the seller would prefer in the midst of your mortgage process.

Buyers Market vs Sellers Market

One factor that could impact the chances of being Gazumped by a seller is whether the market is a buyers or sellers market.

For example, if the market is currently a sellers market, this means that the market is hot. This will involve a high demand, fewer properties, people wanting to buy and bidding wars between buyers that could make the prices rise. In this circumstance, Gazumping is more likely to take place because could come to the seller at a much higher price.

On the flip side, if the market is currently a buyers market, this will come with more houses than buyers, a seller may not be receiving as many offers. This means you have less chance of someone Gazumping you and means you have much more room to negotiate on price.

To keep up to date with the current state of the market, check out our Mortgage Market Updates video on Moneyman TV presented by the Moneyman himself, Malcolm Davidson.

Ways to Avoid Being Gazumped

One of the reasons why the delay may happen between the offer getting accepted and the exchange of contract between two parties could be due to needing a property survey carried out. This involves your conveyance undergoing the appropriate searches and you will receive your mortgage.

Below are some helpful ways to help increase your chance of advancing further to mortgage success and avoid being Gazumped.

• Look for a conveyancing solicitor or surveyor early on in order to reduce the wait time.
• Provide all the necessary information as soon as possible to quicken up your mortgage process.
• To demonstrate to the lender that you are ready to proceed, get a mortgage agreement in principle. This will give you an advantage to those who try and get in there without confirmation of their mortgage eligibility.

There are plenty more mortgage tips out there that you can benefit from during your mortgage journey and increase your chances of getting a mortgage.

Other Helpful Gazumping Tips

It’s best to start by asking them to remove the property from the open market, this can be stated in the mortgage offer. By doing this, you have made the property less visible to people, therefore, reducing any more offers being made which will then reduce your chances of being Gazumped.

This is more of a negotiating point so the seller doesn’t have to agree with this because there is no obligation. Despite this, we do find that sellers these days respect this request from a buyer. Even more so if they haven’t been receiving as many offers already.

Putting in place a lock-in agreement, where both sides put down a deposit towards their binding agreement can be another helpful thing to do. If any one party chose to withdraw or change the deal, the other party would take their deposit.

You may find that there are legal fees in this circumstance which can make it a costly decision. However, you may feel that having this set up is worth the money and provide security during your mortgage process.

Another option is to look at the potential insurance products that could protect you against the prospect of Gazumping. This will work by the policy being paid out in the event of being Gazumped which, in turn, will reduce the risk of losing money from the fees you have potentially paid in the process.

How a Mortgage Broker in Hull Can Help

Even though Gazumping is never guaranteed to be prevented, there are a plethora of ways you can protect yourself as a buyer from being Gazumped. With our open and honest Mortgage Advice in Hull, we may be able to provide the help and support you need.

Here at Hullmoneyman, we strive in providing a fast & friendly service with the goal of getting you through the mortgage process. This is beneficial if you are a buyer looking for a speedier experience through your mortgage journey.

Furthermore, our expert team are able to get a mortgage agreement in principle sorted for you usually within 24 hours of your free mortgage appointment.

Having this AIP with you can demonstrate to the seller that you are in a serious position to proceed and give them the confidence in your getting a mortgage. This can make you stand out from other buyers who may provide a better deal but cannot confirm if they are eligible for a mortgage.

Book your free mortgage appointment today and see how our helpful team can help on your mortgage journey as a First Time Buyer in Hull.

Buying a Property with a Friend or Partner in Hull?

Buying a Property with others in Hull

The start of your mortgage journey involves finding a property and obtaining a mortgage, all this can be a daunting experience for many homebuyers, especially if they are First Time Buyers in Hull going through the process by themselves. As a Mortgage Broker in Hull, we have spoken to a number of homebuyers in Hull who have decided to purchase a property either with a friend or partner if they could.

A part of the process will involve the advisor conducting an affordability assessment in which they would ask about your current financial situation. This gives us an idea of the maximum mortgage amount you can borrow from a lender. If there are two applicants, lenders will factor in both applicants’ income. Thanks to two sources of income being on the mortgage, it can increase the chance of getting a mortgage offer.

Should you default, your co-borrower could also be responsible for the full mortgage, and vice versa. Following is a list of useful tips we encourage you to take into account when moving into a property with a friend or partner.

How many people can jointly own a property?

All this comes down to which lender you’re with, nevertheless, you will generally be able to co-borrow with up to four people jointly. As much as having more people who are involved can work well with having their application accepted, it is best to keep in mind that this does increase the likelihood of someone pulling out prior to the term ending. For this reason, you must be aware of the people you choose to buy a property with.

There is the opportunity to increase your mortgage later if you want to, but all parties must agree to this. With this in mind, it is best to plan in advance about your future and your plans for ownership of the property.

What is the difference between Joint tenancy & tenancy in common?

Joint tenancy is an alternative that is most popular with civil partnerships or married couples. Joint tenants are two halves of one whole, one borrower. Therefore, in the tragic event where one half of the party passes away, the property will be automatically granted to the other half.

Under the circumstances, where you are looking to remortgage or sell the property, both of you would have reached an agreement before continuing with the mortgage. A ‘Tenancy in Common’ can be an option if you and your co-borrower are friends or family. This means that you both own your part of the property.

You don’t need to split your shares equally either. Therefore, if you find that one of you is on a higher income, for example, one of you will own more of the property than the other. One benefit of being a ‘Tenant in Common’ is that you can have the freedom to act independently so it’s your choice if you want to sell or give away your share.

Joint Mortgage & Removing Names in Hull

What happens if you jointly own a mortgage, but your co-borrower(s) stop meeting the mortgage payments?

A mortgage lender will emphasize that all borrowers are jointly and severally liable. Due to this, you will be liable to keep up the payments if one person chooses not to pay their share of the mortgage.

How do I remove my ex from my mortgage?

If you’re looking to buy a home with your other, you never actually expect that you are going to split up before the term ends. It is a large financial commitment to make, let alone with someone else, and can be a complicated process if you want to make a change.

This can be even more difficult if children are involved because it is likely that one parent will stay with them whilst you are the one who will move out and find their own mortgage. Irrespective of whether you are staying or going, both parties will need the aid of Mortgage Advice in Hull to find a suitable solution.

Even if the person has been paying the mortgage with the input of their ex or not, this doesn’t change the fact that it was applied for in a joint name. This means that in the event of arrears, they will still chase both parties. Before removing your ex-partner from a mortgage, the lender will need to be sure you will be able to maintain mortgage payments by reassessing your income before they proceed.

It can be common for people to apply jointly for the second time with a friend, family member, or new partner, if they are, will find it difficult to afford a mortgage on their own. In this circumstance, it can be beneficial to obtain Mortgage Advice in Hull.

How do I remove my name from my ex-partner’s mortgage?

As mentioned, in the circumstance where you may end up divorcing or separating from your partner while on a mortgage, you are both still responsible for the property and its mortgage payments.

Firstly, you would need to get in touch with your lender if you were the one who wanted your name removed from your mortgage. You can’t just make an agreement between the two of you.

In the situation where you are looking to get a mortgage of your own, the lender would take into consideration the property you are currently tied to. Therefore, it’s important to make sure that you are removed from the previous mortgage.

Circumstances like these will require you to look at getting Mortgage Advice in Hull.

You will find that some lenders will be more generous than other when it comes to how much they will be willing to lend you. This is something your allocated Mortgage Advisor in Hull will factor this in when recommending the best mortgage lender for you to approach.

Why Get Mortgage Advice in Hull?

The Benefits of Getting Mortgage Advice in Hull

Have you ever had one of those moments where you’re booking a flight, only to find that you booked it on the wrong date or airport? You’d expect these things to be fairly straightforward, but sometimes they end up taking too long, being far more complicated than necessary, and in some circumstances costing more than you’d initially planned for.

These sorts of scenarios can cause you unnecessary stress along the way. Something that was meant to be fun, has now had that fun taken out of it because of one tiny mistake. In these cases, you have the option of going the route of using a travel agent to help you with bookings, reducing the stress of the process.

These same stresses and worries appear in the world of mortgages and much like the travel agent, this is where a Mortgage Broker in Hull like ourselves will come in handy, and take the weight off your shoulders.

Invaluable Mortgage Advice in Hull 

You may have recently seen a fixed rate advertised, only to find that its rate doesn’t match your situation.  As with all advertising, it’s there to draw you in and make you want to see more. Generally speaking, these deals are aimed at customers with lots of equity and perfect credit ratings.

There will almost always be a more attractive deal out there, but that doesn’t mean that’s the most suitable deal for you personally or financially.

You must also bear in mind that when going with this specific lender, you only have access to their products and their advisors. Also, be wary of real estate agents and their price comparison sites. You can read more about the Sales Tactics of Estate Agents in our article.

Here at Hullmoneyman, a customers best interests are always at the heart of what we do. We are able to offer a wide range of products from different, sometimes more niche lenders, depending on what it is you’re looking to achieve. As well as this, our loyal team of Mortgage Advisors in Hull will never try and force anything on you that you don’t want, we just want to help you along your journey.

Book Your Free Mortgage Appointment Today

Book your free mortgage appointment to speak with one of our Mortgage Advisors in Hull today. They’ll explore your options and recommend you the most suitable mortgage deal to match your current situation.

Also, features such as a fixed rate of interest, offset options, or variable rates for flexibility, may be recommended for you. It’s our job to know these criteria inside and out, which is why we will work hard to make sure you’re on the most suitable path for your situation.

If we’ve done our job right, and we have a good track record of doing just that (see our Customer Reviews). You’ll walk away with a deal that allows you to borrow the amount you’d like, with reasonable interest rates, saving you time and money.

We have helped many First Time Buyers in Hull, to those wanting to know there Remortgage Options in Hull and even those who are looking for Self Employed Mortgage Advice in Hull too. If you would like to take advantage of our free initial mortgage consultation and speak with a Mortgage Advisor in Hull, please get in touch and we’ll see how we can help. 

Divorce & Separation Mortgage Advice in Hull

When it comes to divorce or separation, it can be a challenging time. Processing the separation along with arranging finances as well as where you are going to live can slowly build up a lot of stress. Financial commitments should be at the top of your list and may come with some hurdles to overcome.

If there are children involved in these situations, the most common arrangement parents go for is where the children would live with the parent who is more of a stay at home parent. This means that the other parent would move out and there may be a point that whoever is ‘in situ’ wants to carry on the mortgage as a sole applicant. Another option is for both parents to leave the mortgage and begin their own.

Any mortgage commitments you made together could be an element that makes the process a challenging one. If you are finding it difficult to sort this out, you may look at the assistance of a Mortgage Broker in Hull who can provide you with the specialist mortgage advice you need.

Through our time as an expert Mortgage Broker in Hull, our deal encounter with specialist cases on a daily basis. Our experience has provided us with the opportunity to help and guide a large range of customers experiencing a divorce or separation. Below is the top three questions we get asked when people get in touch:

• How do I remove my ex-husband/wife from my mortgage?
• How do I remove my name from my ex-partner’s mortgage?
• Can I have 2 mortgages?

How do I remove my ex-husband/wife from my mortgage in Hull?

With your mortgage commitments, it can be difficult if you are looking to change these. This is because both of your names are on your mortgage and it’s not as easy as it seems if you are looking to remove your now ex-partner off the contract.

If you do approach a dedicated Mortgage Broker in Hull for advice about removing a name from a mortgage, they need to be certain that the remaining applicant on the is able to and afford their mortgage completely as a sole applicant.

Both of you are required to have a full affordability assessment carried out on both of you even if you have kept p with mortgage payments or not. Sometimes, an applicant has managed to prove that they have been paying the mortgage payments without any help from their ex. However, this will not change the fact that their name is still linked into the deal and you still need to pass the lender’s check.

Around this time in the process, our team often find that people have already sorted out someone who will step in and replace the ex-partner on your mortgage. Normally, the person who steps in is either a family member, a close friend or a new partner altogether.

The way your affordability is assessed varies between lenders as they have their own unique way of carrying it out. With this in mind, don’t lose hope if you existing lender can’t help you out. You might find there is additional options out there for you as a homeowner so it’s always best to seek the help of a Mortgage Broker in Hull.

How do I remove my name from my ex-partner’s mortgage?

The good news is that the process works just the same, however, you are trying to move out and take your name off the mortgage. As mentioned, both of your names are still linked to your mortgage which means you are still responsible for any mortgage payments even if you choose to leave.

Regardless of if you have a verbal or written agreement between you both that states that your ex will be the one managing payments, it is not legally binding in the eyes of the lender so you will be deemed responsible.

In the event that you want to take out a mortgage on a new property, in your name, the lender will still take into account the mortgage payments for your old property. Therefore, it’s best you consider this if you are thinking of taking out a new mortgage. This is we always advise getting help from a professional Mortgage Advisor in Hull ahead of time.

We have found that people in these types of situations usually get confused and stressed out. This is where Hullmoneyman can provide a helping hand. Our friendly team can connect you to be of our experienced Mortgage Advisors in Hull who will be able to sort everything out for you. They can also advise you on the most appropriate option available to you as an individual looking at Moving Home in Hull.

You may find that a number of lenders are more generous than others when it comes to the amount they will lend to you. One may be strict and the other may be more lenient with them looking into your current mortgage commitments being a large factor in this during these circumstances. This is something we will take into consideration when recommending the most appropriate lender to apply for a mortgage agreement in principle with:

Can I have two mortgages?

Depending on a variety of circumstances, many homeowners may have the option to have more than one and even more than two mortgages on different properties. This will involve a lot of things to be assessed from your lender and their credit scoring system if you were looking to apply for a second mortgage.

The overall reason for carrying out these tasks is to determine whether or not you can afford this route. In the circumstance where you are applying for multiple mortgages and are failing, this could negatively impact your credit score.

One of the many benefits of approaching a reputable Mortgage Broker in Hull, like ourselves, is that we are able to carry out a search for you without harming your credit file. As soon as we have keyed in all of your information, we can give you an estimation of the maximum borrowing capacity.

By having this information, you are able to have a rough idea of your budget including the costs of your monthly mortgage payments as well as current financial commitments you may have.

Dedicated Mortgage Advice in Hull

Some individuals find it challenging to move on from their current financial commitment, especially in cases like these. If you are in a similar situation, an expert advisor can provide a helping hand which can provide you with the help you need for the process of removing a name from a mortgage.

The aspect of moving home is already a stressful experience so adding a challenging situation like a divorce or separation can sometimes add some extra weight to the situation. Speak to a Mortgage Advisor in Hull today to see how we can help you.