First Time Buyer Mortgages

Firstly review your credit file through one of the credit reporting agencies such as Experian or Equifax. Start to address any problems and build up your credit score. First time buyers often only have a small deposit which means they need to borrow a larger percentage of the property’s purchase price. The greater the percentage that needs to be borrowed, the stricter a lender will be with the application.

Identify the kind of property you are interested in and the market value. On our website, we have a simple mortgage calculator tool that helps predict what your monthly repayments may be. To use the calculator tool, you’ll need to plan how long you’d want the mortgage for and what deposit you can pay upfront. You can use the calculator tool to experiment with different options.

Before you even start viewing properties, it’s important to get a detailed grasp of your personal finances. Mortgage lenders focus on how much they can lend you based on affordability. Simply put, lenders want to see how much spare income you have once all your bills and expenses are paid each month. If you already pay rent and household bills this is a good starting point. You need to know about all your finances in detail. What are your outgoings and income? What debts do you already have?

The minimum deposit for a first time buyer mortgages is 5% of the amount you need to borrow. The larger the deposit, the better the interest rate on your mortgage. As a guide, you have a better choice of mortgages if you have saved 20% of the property value for a deposit. Don’t worry if you haven’t been able to reach this value. The team at Elementary can still help you find an affordable mortgage deal.

Fees vary depending on the lender and the solicitor that you use but can include;

• Arrangement and booking Fees for the mortgage product payable to the lender
• Valuation Fee
• Solicitors Fee
• Stamp Duty
• Broker Fee

Don’t worry; our mortgage advisers will make you aware of all the costs involved before you start any application process.
First Time Buyers can often take advantage of offers from lenders, for example, free valuations and even cashback deals. If the property you are purchasing is less than £300,000, there will be no stamp duty to pay.

The classification of a first time buyer can vary from lender to lender. Some lenders will only accept people who have never owned a property; others will allow buyers who have not owned a property in the last 12 months.

To apply for a mortgage the lender or your adviser will need to see certain documentation to prove your identity and income. As a guide the minimum requirements would be;

Proof of Income

Employed – Latest three months Wage Slips and Latest P60s.

Self Employed – Accounts or SA302s and tax year overviews going back between one and three years.

Proof of other income such as benefits or pension.

Bank Statements

Three months of bank statements showing wages coming in and bills going out.

Details of the account showing the deposit and how it has been built up.

Depending on your circumstances, there is likely be other documents needed as well as those listed above.

At Elementary Mortgage Solutions, we have a vast amount of experience in helping first time buyers secure the loan that is right for them. We can support you through the whole process from checking you know all about the costs involved to making sure you have all the right paperwork. As we aren’t tied to a specific lender, we can search thousands of available mortgages to ensure you get the best deal available.

To speak to a member of our team, please call us on 0115 7845780 or send your enquiry through our contact form.

For information on mortgages for first time buyers check out our blog post ‘5 Important Tips for First Time Buyers‘.