When you are on the lookout for a mortgage, there are a lot of things that you need to bear in mind to ensure that you are doing it right. Getting a mortgage can indeed be very tough, and it is something that you are going to want to focus on as best as you can to make sure that it goes smoothly and to plan. It is arguably the most important part of buying property, so it requires plenty of research and the right attitude and approach. Above all, you need to take great care to ensure you don’t get burned.
To help you out there, we have put together a list of some of the most important questions you need to ask yourself before getting a mortgage. As long as you know the answer to the following, you should be in a good position to secure that mortgage and start finalising the purchase of your property.
Is this the right property?
It might sound simple, but one of the most important questions of all is going to be whether you have actually found the right property. There are a lot of different reasons you might be looking into buying property. You might be keen to live in it yourself, and perhaps you are even upgrading from your previous home. Or you might be trying to invest in some way – perhaps you are doing a buy-to-let situation. But whatever it is, you need to make sure that it is the right property for your goals.
There is no use in rushing into buying a property that you are not going to get what you need out of, so be careful about this, even if you happen to have your eye on an attractively low-cost mortgage for that property. Ultimately it’s not worth it if it is not the right property for you and your needs.
How much do I need to borrow?
As a very simple start, you also need to know specifically how much money you actually need to borrow. It sounds very basic, and it is, but you would be amazed how many people go into trying to get a mortgage without having this essential information down. You need to know without hesitation how much you need to borrow to the penny, so that you can start searching for mortgages right away without having to worry about this part of it.
Bear in mind that you might actually be surprised about how much you need to borrow. You might not necessarily want to put down every penny that you have saved for the deposit, as you might need some spare – especially if you are planning on carrying out some renovations on your new property. So take that into consideration, and make sure that you are borrowing only the amount that you need to. It is not necessarily the best to borrow as much as possible, and you need to make sure that you are happy with how much you are borrowing.
What kind of interest rate should I have?
There are some major different kinds of interest rates that you need to consider and compare to one another, so you can be sure that you are getting the right kind for your needs. It’s important to do a little research here, especially with the specific mortgages that you might have on your shortlist. There are a few common types of interest rates that you need to be aware of, as they are likely to crop up again and again as you look at different mortgages and providers.
First of all, you have the fixed-rate mortgages. As the name suggests, these interest rates do not change – in fact, it will be contractually impossible for that to happen. That can give you a good sense of peace of mind for the future, as you can plan out exactly what repayments will be without having to worry about increased charges later on. On the downside, however, these rates can sometimes be higher than other kinds of interest rates.
Then there is the variable rate, which can change over time – and will usually increase as time goes on. The attractive thing about these is that they tend to have a low starting rate, so if you are struggling to find another one this can prove to be a good option in general. These are also sometimes referred to as adjustable-rate mortgages. Good providers often offer a variety of rates and types to choose from – click here to find out more about them and to see an example of such a provider.
Do I need a mortgage?
Of course, you should also make sure that you definitely need a mortgage before you actually sign your name on one. A lot of people go into getting a mortgage without really thinking about it, and this is going to be a difficult situation for many in the long run. You might not need a mortgage if you have a lot of capital, you have other means of borrowing which are more affordable, or you are starting off small on the property ladder with something you are able to buy outright. Be sure that you genuinely need a mortgage before trying to get one.
How is my credit?
A mortgage provider will always check on what kind of credit rating you have, so it is worth looking into this yourself beforehand too. It will give you a sense of how much you are likely to be able to borrow, and what kind of level of success you will have with getting a mortgage of your own. If you think that you might need to improve your credit rating, then you should do this before you do anything else, and especially before trying to secure a loan for a house.
Ask yourself these questions, and you will be well on your way to getting ready for getting a mortgage. Then it’s just a case of finding the right one.
(Disclaimer: This content is a partnered post. This material is provided as news and general information. It should not be construed as an endorsement of any investment service. The opinions expressed are the personal views and experience of the author, and no recommendation is made.)
