Do Gambling Transactions Look Bad on My Bank Statements?

Lenders will look out for a variety of things when it comes to assessing your bank statements. They do this in order to see what your spending behaviours are like to determine whether or not you will keep up with your mortgage payments or not. A common question we find crops up when speaking to customers is: “do gambling transactions look bad on my bank statements”.

Mortgage Questions to Consider

What has it got to do with the lender whether I gamble or not?

You might enjoy putting down an annual bet on the grand national or regularly use internet betting sites, as you can tell, there is nothing illegal about properly licensed gambling. It is known to be a popular hobby or pastime with many bookmakers advertising it on mainstream TV and radio.

If you have seen these adverts, you have probably noticed that they always urge customers to ‘please gamble responsibly’ and this is an important point you should think about when applying for a mortgage. It’s not the lender’s job to dictate your spending habits or moralise the ethical pros and cons of gambling, however, they do have a duty (underscored by mortgage regulation) to lend responsibly.

Think about it this way, if lenders need to prove to the regulators that they are making well-judged lending decisions, it’s fair for them to expect a similar approach when it comes to their personal finances. If you were lending your own money would lend it to the applicant who gambles or the one who doesn’t?

Is it still possible to get a mortgage if I’ve got gambling transactions on my recent bank statements?

As stated previously, it is not illegal to gamble. With this in mind, you will not be declined by a mortgage if you have the odd gambling transaction on your bank statements. The lender will decide whether these transactions are reasonable and responsible. They will look in detail of how frequent these transactions are, the size of the transactions in connection with the person’s income and the impact upon the account balance.

Having infrequent small gambling transactions that make little difference on a regular credit bank balance will not likely be seen as important. On the flip side, placing bets most weeks or being constantly overdrawn, the lender will view your spending behaviours as irresponsible and decline your application.

Is there anything else lenders wouldn’t want to see on my bank statements?

As you know, lenders will look at your bank statements to basically see how you manage your money and to help them determine whether they are confident in you managing payments or not.

Lender are financial institutions that either directly or as part of a wider group, usually sell current accounts, overdraft facilities credit cards and personal loans, therefore, you need to know that these factors all go towards wise financial planning. It’s good for a mortgage applicant to know how these facilities are managed. You might have an overdraft facility and occasionally use it, which is not essentially a bad thing, however, exceeding the overdraft limit regularly which is not so good. If you have excess overdraft fees or returned direct debits, these would be things lenders will look for and will show them that your account is not being managed well.

As well as this, lenders will also look for credit transactions from pay-day loan companies; “undisclosed” loan repayments (i.e. if you said on the application that you have no other loans but there is regular loan payments appearing, this could be an issue). They would also look out for any missed payments and they see how much of a typical month is spent in overdraft – i.e. you might go into credit on payday and for the rest of the month you are overdrawn, you need to wonder how you would manage with a mortgage.

What can I do to improve things?

You can be sensible and plan ahead if you can. Usually, a bank still request up to three months of your most recent bank statements. These documents will show your salary credits and all your regular bill payments. Because of this, it’s best that you avoid any of the situations above, especially if you are looking to apply for a mortgage in the near future. You could avoid gambling for short period and work on presenting your bank account in the best way.

Seeking help and support from Mortgage Broker in Coventry can be helpful because there are some lenders who may ask for fewer bank statements than others or may not request them at all. Despite this, lenders do still have the right to reserve the right to request bank statements in particular circumstances so it’s best that you be as prudent as possible when you are in the midst of any mortgage application. Remember, if you do gamble, please gamble responsibly!

Get in Touch With a Mortgage Broker in Coventry

In the circumstance where you are a First Time Buyer in Coventry who doesn’t have a lot of knowledge about mortgages, it’s you get some specialist advice from an expert Mortgage Advisor in Coventry. Throughout the process, your dedicated advisor will provide a helping hand with your application and work hard in getting you up to date so that lenders will be impressed.

Buying a Property With a Partner or Friend in Coventry?

Buying a Property with Other in Coventry

Beginning the journey of finding a property and obtaining a mortgage can be daunting for many homebuyers, particularly if they are going through the process on their own.

As a Mortgage Broker in Coventry, we have spoken to a number of First Time Buyers in Coventry who have decided to buy a property with a friend or partner if they are able to.

A part of the process will involve the advisor carrying out an affordability assessment in which they will ask you about your financial situation. This will give us an idea of the maximum mortgage amount. In the case where there is two applicants, lenders will factor in both of the applicants’ income. Due to two sources of income being on the mortgage, it can increase your chance of getting a mortgage offer.

In the event that you were to default, your co-borrower could also be responsible for the full mortgage, and vice versa.

Below is a list of helpful tips we advise you consider when moving into a property with a friend or partner.

How many people can jointly own a property?

This all goes down to which lender you are with, however, you will usually be able to co-borrow with up to four people jointly.

As much as having more people involved can work well with getting accepted, it’s best to keep in mind that this does increase your chance of someone pulling out before the term ends. Therefore, you need to be mindful of the people are choosing to buy a property with.

There is the option to increase your mortgage later if you want to, however, all parties need to agree to this. Keeping this in mind, it’s best to plan ahead for your future and your plans for the property.

Joint tenancy or tenancy in common – what’s the difference?

Joint tenancy is an option that is more popular with civil partnerships or married couples. In the eyes of the law, joint tenants are two halves of one whole, one borrower. Therefore, in a tragic event where one half of the party passes away, the property would automatically be given to the other half.

In the circumstance, where you are looking to remortgage or sell the property, both of you would have agreed prior to proceeding 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

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

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

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

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

This can be even more challenging 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 possibly find your own mortgage. Regardless of whether you are staying or going, both parties will need the help of a Mortgage Advisor in Coventry.

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.

Prior to removing your ex-partner from a mortgage, the lender will need to be sure that 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 struggle to afford a mortgage on their own. In this circumstance, it can be beneficial to obtain Mortgage Advice in Coventry.

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 Coventry.

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 Coventry will factor this in when recommending the best mortgage lender for you to approach.

First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice in Coventry

Why Use a Mortgage Broker in Coventry?

We Aim to Take Your Stress Away

Buying a home can be a stressful experience, which is why home movers and first time buyers in Coventry use a mortgage broker to help make sure their home buying process go as smoothly as possible. It’s comforting for our customers to know they have someone on their side, on hand to answer any enquiries they have.

A mortgage advisor in Coventry will ensure you obtain the cheapest mortgage to suit your needs. We take full responsibility for recommending the most suitable mortgage for you and package your application to the Lender in such a way to give it the best chance of success.

The same applies when you come to remortgage too, we like to know our customers are on the cheapest deal for the entire mortgage term.

When Should I Get Mortgage Advice in Coventry?

If you’re looking at taking out mortgage advice when buying a home, we recommend talking to a mortgage advisor in Coventry. Your committed member of the Moneyman team will be able to help you work out how much your payments will be, as well as how much you may be able to borrow.

That said, different lenders have their own strict lending criteria, so it does help to speak to an expert. If you know what you can afford well in advance of making an application, it may help you avoid any potential future disappointment. 

We aim to ensure all customers are informed about their mortgage application progress so you are fully aware of what is going on. If you have any questions, we are available seven days a week, ready to help you out in any way we can.

Free From Estate Agents, Banks or Building Societies

Mortgage Brokers work for the customer, not the Lender. This is something that is important to remember throughout your process. Our team are firmly in your corner, sometimes having to argue how strong an application may be, in order to ensure it goes through.

Our company process of requesting and checking your proof of income and bank statements ahead of time allows us to try and avoid any hurdles that may arise, hopefully before they can become a factor. 

We also can help you choose the right type of survey for your property, as well as instruct a Solicitor on your behalf to carry out the legal aspects of your transaction. 

Building Customer Relationships

We love to build up customer relationships and assist with future mortgage enquiries, whether as a Buy-to-Let landlord with your portfolio or remortgage when your term ends. This often starts with an affordability assessment and Agreement in Principle prior to even finding a house. 

Once your purchase is complete, a member of our team will keep in regular contact, and we will get in touch once more to discuss your remortgage options. We can then compare the market on your behalf as we did before to help you obtain the best remortgage deal available for your circumstances. 

What is a mortgage agreement in principle and how can it help with my mortgage?

Agreement in Principle Mortgage Advice in Coventry

First things first; What is a mortgage agreement in principle?

If you are a first time buyer in Coventry, you may not aware of what a mortgage agreement in principle is. A mortgage agreement in principle (sometimes shortened to AIP or DIP – decision in principle) is a document that demonstrates the lender believes, so far, you are a good candidate for a mortgage and are ready to go.

This shows both the estate agent and the person selling their home, that you are creditworthy as you have passed the lenders initial credit score. It’s important to remember though that this is not a guaranteed mortgage, as going for a full application will require even more in-depth background checks.

However, it is a good idea to get one done at the earliest opportunity for the following reasons:

1. Negotiating Power
2. Avoiding Disappointment
3. Knowing Your Limits

Negotiating Power with a Mortgage Agreement in Principle

When you are at the point where you would like to make an offer on a new home, you’ll find that the majority of estate agents will undertake due diligence and ask you to provide them with proof that you do in fact have the means to proceed with the property purchase.

Your proof will usually come in the form of bank statements, but can also be done using an agreement in principle. This is something that we can provide for you, usually within 24 hours of your initial appointment.

Once you have provided them with all this documentation, the estate agent will generally cease marketing the property and put a “sold” or “sale agreed” board up outside of it.

If you already have a mortgage agreed prior to making an offer on a property, this will definitely appeal to the seller, as this proves you are not making an offer on the fly and have actually put a lot of thought into how you’re going to fund the purchase.

This might persuade a seller to accept an offers you make that could possibly be under their asking price.

Avoid Disappointment with a Mortgage Agreement in Principle

When it comes to purchasing a new or additional home, some customers like to try and run before they can even walk. They charge ahead all guns blazing, making an offer on a property without actually making sure they can proceed in the first place.

If the application then goes ahead and fails, this can result in disappointment that could’ve been avoided. The last thing you want to be doing is having your heart set on a new family home and then feeling down when it doesn’t work out the way you had hoped.

This can all be prevented by getting in touch with us at an earlier stage. Sometimes there are factors that may cause an application to fail, that given time and care with the help of a mortgage broker in Coventry, can be solved over time.

An example of this is, let’s say you have a disputed mobile phone bill that keeps cropping up. This is something that can be sorted with the appropriate action. Some think they’re on the voters roll when they are not. Give it a few weeks and that can be sorted too.

In some cases you might not be able to get a mortgage at all. If that does happen to be the case, it’s better that you are made aware of that now rather than mess people about. One of our dedicated mortgage advisors will be able to tell you what you need to do to improve your credit-worthiness for the future.

Knowing Your Limits with a Mortgage Agreement in Principle

Let’s say in theory, you know that you have got a good credit rating and have never been turned down for credit, you’re registered on the voters’ roll and you’ve always keep up your monthly credit payments. What could possibly go wrong?

Well the truth is, you could approach 10 different lenders these days and get 10 different results from each of them! They all have their own lending criteria and calculate affordability in their own unique ways.

If you are Self Employed in Coventry it can be complicated further, as some lenders may take your net profit, whilst others are known to use your salary and divided. In some cases, you’ll find that lenders may even use your latest year, whilst others prefer an average over 3 years.

Expert Mortgage Advice in Coventry

Being mindful of your borrowing limits is important as this will help you determine what your ideal price range will be. Ou dedicated mortgage advice team will be able to advise you of the maximum mortgage available to you. Also, more importantly, together we’ll work out how much you can afford to pay back on a monthly basis.

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 Coventry

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 Coventry 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 Coventry & those who are Moving Home in Coventry. 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. 

Should I Get Mortgage Advice in Coventry?

If you are taking on the mortgage process, you may be wondering whether or not you should take out mortgage advice in Coventry. At the end of the day, it’s all down to personal preference, as well as your finances. In many cases, however, it can be beneficial to get a second opinion.

It should be the job of a mortgage broker in Coventry to save you both time and money, making your process as stress-less as they can. This is something we pride ourselves on as a company. Whether you’re buying a new home or remortgaging an existing one, a lot of the time, we are able to help.

We have been working within the mortgage industry for a long time, with over two decades of experience. This means we know a variety of mortgage situations inside and out, with knowledge on exactly where to find the best mortgage deals for you.

Why do people get mortgage advice in Coventry?

There are all kinds of different reasons as to why people may get in touch with an expert mortgage broker in Coventry for mortgage advice in Coventry.

We sometimes see customers getting in touch with us after they have already spoken to their banks mortgage advisors in Coventry and been declined. As such, they may find themselves in need of an expert, unbiased opinion regarding their mortgage situation.

Another area we regularly help with, is first time buyers mortgages in Coventry. We love being able to help people find their footing on the property ladder with their first ever home purchase! It can be a stressful process and we try to make it as simple as possible.

No matter the mortgage situation you are in, whether self employed and struggling to evidence income, moving home and stuck in a property chain, looking to increase your portfolio of buy to let mortgages in Coventry or even something else, a mortgage broker in Coventry is here to help.

After Your Free Mortgage Appointment

When you get in touch with us, you reap the benefits of a free mortgage appointment with an expert mortgage advisor in Coventry. They will sit and chat with you about your plans for your property owning future and gather initial information from you, to help with your process.

It’s the job of a dedicated mortgage advisor in Coventry to help you through every single step of your mortgage process. This includes obtaining an agreement in principle for you, if you need us too, which can typically be done within 24 hours of your initial mortgage appointment.

From there it’s on to the next stage of your journey, whether that be making offers on a property you would like to buy or looking at better deals with a mortgage advisor, if you are instead looking to remortgage in Coventry on your home.

Once you have progressed through this next step of your process, your trusted mortgage advisor in Coventry will be able to compare mortgage deals for you, on your behalf. They will look at both your financial and personal situation, finding the deal that is likely to benefit you the most.

No matter what, your mortgage broker in Coventry is here to help, staying by your side throughout every leg of the journey. No question is a silly question and we will answer all of your queries and concerns as promptly and clearly as we can, to keep you at ease during your experience.

Our Mortgage Advice Service in Coventry

As an open & honest mortgage broker in Coventry, it is always the aim of our employees to deliver a high level of customer service. Through providing a fast and friendly service and being extremely responsive, we go the extra mile for our customers, no matter their circumstances.

When a customer gets in touch with us for mortgage advice in Coventry, we always consider every situation that is presented to us. Whilst we may not be able to help everyone, we will do everything in our power to ensure it can go in your favour.

Please feel free to take a look at our amazing customer reviews, as a way to see the levels of customer service we are able to provide. How we deliver our customer service is something that is at the heart of what we do, it motivates us everyday.

Mortgage Advisor Availability

Your trusted and dedicated mortgage broker in Coventry is available 7 days a week, from morning until late, including weekends and some bank holidays, subject to appointment availability.

Do not ever hesitate to get in touch, give us a call or use our online booking form and we will see how we can help!

Agreement in Principle & Soft Credit Searches

Credit Search Mortgage Advice in Coventry

Nowadays, people focus a lot more on their credit rating. We have seen an increase in consumers becoming aware of credit scoring and this has been evident here at Coventrymoney with many people who get in touch and have looked at their credit report online.

There are a variety of credit reference agencies out there. Experian and Equifax is the most popular ones that people use. As a Mortgage Broker in Coventry, we recommend potential new clients to use Check My File for a 30-day free trial. It will then be £14.99 a month after your free trial but you can cancel this at any time. This report pulls together the information into an easily understandable colour-coded report.

When customers contact our team, we usually receive questions about whether we will be doing a credit search on them. As mentioned, many people are aware of credit scoring and will also know that too any searches can have a negative impact on their credit score. Lenders always run credit checks, however, we do ask for the client’s permission before its carried out. Hard credit searches and soft credit searches are the two different types of credit searches that banks can run on a customer.

Credit searches

What is a hard credit search?

For a detailed analysis of your credit report, a hard credit search would be carried out. This type means any financial institution will need your permission for this to happen. The lender will be looking in depth into your situation with a hard search. Passing the credit means there is a high chance that your application is also successful which is a huge advantage.

One drawback that can happen is if for some reason an applicant cannot provide satisfactory documentation to support the information you have provided or they find that you have put forwarded false details.

Furthermore, a hard search will leave a ‘footprint’ on your credit file which means any who views your report in the future will be notified that a search has been carried out. Keep in mind that this isn’t a bad thing immediately, however, it can be if you have multiple footprints registered in a short period of time this could look like you have applied for lots of credit at once.

Even though the footprint left doesn’t determine whether your application was successful or not, lenders’ systems may automatically assume that you are being declined. From their perspective, they would think why you would go to a second lender, unless the first lender had said no.

Having a hard footprint on your every now and again is not a big issue which you don’t need to worry about but you need to be careful that you don’t have too many within a short period of time.

What is a soft credit search?

The analysing aspect of a soft credit search is a lot more straightforward. You will find soft searches on price comparison websites which can give you an idea of what products might be on offer to you or if someone wants to verify your identity.

Many mortgage lenders carry out soft searches initially, with most lenders switching to this type of search. The financial institution carrying out a soft search does mean they obtain less information compared to a hard search, however, if you are granted an agreement in principle from one of these lenders, it still increases the chances of your full application being accepted.

You may find that soft searches are more discreet because you can see that someone has carried out a soft search if you check your credit file, however, this won’t be shown to other financial institutions like banks.

With this, you will be able to apply for an agreement in principle for a mortgage because it’s pretty unlikely that this would harm your credit score, regardless if it’s successful or not.

What is a mortgage agreement in principle?

For those that are looking to make an offer on a property, we strongly advise that you have your mortgage agreement in principle in place before contacting the estate agent.

It’s key that you put yourself in the best possible position of securing the property you want at the lowest price by having your finances in place which will result in you being in a better position going forward.

With an agreement in principle in place, it will prevent the agent to “cross-sell” their own in-house mortgage services to you.

Is your situation a little out of the ordinary?

If you feel that your situation may be too complex for a Mortgage Broker in Coventry, like ourselves, to sort out, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Here at Coventrymoneyman, we have extensive experience and rich knowledge under our belt that has allowed us to work with customers that are from a variety of circumstances. Therefore, it’s very likely we have come across a situation like yours before and our team can provide Specialist Mortgage Advice in Coventry to help with this.

Mortgage Advisor in Coventry

How to Improve Your Credit Score in Coventry

Credit Score Mortgage Advice in Coventry

The general rule around your credit score is that the higher it is, the higher the chance you have of your mortgage application being successful. In light of this, you may be wondering what you need to do in order to improve your credit score.

First of all, not everyone is guaranteed to be accepted for a mortgage. This is due to the fact that every lender has built their own credit scoring system which results in an applicant needing to demonstrate various things to a range of providers. Therefore, if your application gets declined by one lender, don’t panic, as there are lots of other mortgage lenders who may be lenient with their criteria.

This is where an expert mortgage advisor can help. They can look at your situation and financial background in order to match you to the most appropriate lender. Here at Coventrymoneyman, we always aim to pair you with the right lender the first time around and work hard in overcoming any obstacles that may occur in your situation.

There are a variety of different credit reference agencies in the UK, such as Experian and Equifax. It would be best if you check as many of these agencies as possible in order to have a good idea of your credit score. As well as this, you may find that one of the agencies could be holding incorrect data which means you can see if there is anything incorrect information and will be able to get it rectified.

Below are some helpful ways when it comes to improve your credit rating.

Improving your credit score in Coventry

Avoid unnecessary credit searches

Running a large number of credit searches can have a negative impact on your score. From a lender’s point of view, they will see this as you’re looking to borrow more money from other places which is something that will not work out in your favour.

Be conscientious when it comes to price comparison websites as they do have a reputation for carrying out discreet credit searches on people. If you are looking to apply for a mortgage in the near future, it would be best to avoid applying for any further credit until your mortgage is underway.

Check you are on the voter’s roll

One way to gain lots of points on your credit score is being on the electoral roll as it shows stability which is something a lender favours. It’s important to check all your information like your name is all correct and you’re registered at your current address, not a previous one. You can easily register to be on the electoral roll online.

Don’t run close to your maximum limit

Going over your maximum limit on a credit card each month can harm your credit score. Therefore, using a credit card and paying off the balance in full each month will demonstrate to a lender that you are good at managing your finances. Keep in mind that maxing out your limit or even worse, exceeding an agreed card limit, will not look good from a lender’s perspective.

Check your address history is keyed correctly

A credit score can make it look like you’re living in two places at once, which can be down to a number of things. You may have forgotten to tell one of your credit providers that you have moved to a new house or you may have not spelt your address correctly. This can be an issue if you have lived in a flat as the flat-apartment number can be formatted in many different ways.

Close down any unused credit accounts

Having too many credit cards can also have a negative impact on your score. Therefore, you need to go through the cards and see which ones you don’t use anymore. From this, you will need to get your account closed which can be done by getting in touch with the providers. Initially, this can be a disadvantage, because the credit scorers won’t be able to differentiate whether you close the account or the credit provider. Despite this, it’s a temporary issue that will reap its benefits in the future.

By doing this, you are reducing the risk of falling victim to fraud as you might not be aware that you have lost a card you don’t use often.

Remove financial links to others

In the case where you are financially linked to a family member or ex-partner, their credit actions could also have an impact on your credit score, in particular, if they aren’t the best at handling their money.

The unfortunate case is that you won’t be able to get this financial link removed if the account is still live. In order to detach yourself from this link, you will need to make a request with one of the credit reference agencies. Seeking Specialist Mortgage Advice in Coventry from a mortgage broker can be really beneficial as it can be a challenge removing a family member or an ex-partner, therefore, having an expert by your side to guide you could be the best option.

Credit score

There is a general argument from consumers that credit scoring is an unfair way for lenders to assess applications. The counter-argument from lenders is that it is much cheaper for them to work this way and computers give more consistent outcomes. Regardless of this, it is the most common method in the industry which is why it’s best that you look at utilising these tips to help you with improving your credit score.

One way to increase your chance of your mortgage application being accepted the first time, send an up to date copy of your credit report to your dedicated mortgage advisor in Coventry beforehand. Your advisor wants to know the ins and outs of your finances and this will help towards making the process more straightforward. Furthermore, there are still some smaller lenders in the industry who do not use credit scores, as opposed to going for the older, manual way, but they will have set rules in terms of the amount of defaults and CCJs they will allow.

Mortgage Advice in Coventry

Mortgage Payment Holidays | Mortgage Advice in Coventry

Mortgage payment holidays

At the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government gave us the promise that all borrowers would be granted a three-month mortgage payment holiday if deemed necessary. Most lenders followed the Government’s guidelines and did everything in their power to help their borrowers during these hard few months.

We have thought carefully about the likely possibilities for your mortgage over the next few months and are working very closely with all of our lenders to ensure that if any changes occur, we are able to inform you right away and recommend the most ideal option for you to take so that you still feel safe and happy with your mortgage.

We feel like now is a good time to talk about mortgage payment holidays as everyone is asking about them and how they work.

What is a mortgage payment holiday?

A mortgage payment holiday is simply a period where you don’t have to pay your monthly mortgage payments. This is agreed between you as the borrower and your mortgage lender, bank or building society. In this current situation, it should be about three months.

You will still have to make all of these payments. The interest that you defer over the set period will be added on top of your loan amount whilst your capital balance will not decrease. So both your total mortgage amount and the interest on it will increase.

When you feel that you are ready to continue with your mortgage payments, either your monthly payments are recalculated at a slightly higher level or your mortgage term is extended. Lenders tend to prefer in recalculating your repayment as extending your mortgage term could put you past their standard retirement ages.

Some lenders may allow you to pay off a lump sum later on in the year to let you get back to what you were paying monthly before the mortgage payment holiday. Mortgage payment holidays are accessible for borrowers with both residential and Buy to Let mortgages in Coventry. This really helps out landlords as they have some assistance if rental payments are affected.

The Government’s proposal

Here is what the Government has said after the COVID-19 outbreak:

• Mortgage lenders will offer an automatic three-month mortgage payments holiday for borrowers who have been 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 they are impacted by COVID-19
• This means that lenders will not complete an income and expenditure assessment, or an assessment 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 the operation of collections teams made be also impacted by COVID-19
• 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.
  
  

How do I apply for a mortgage payment holiday?

Before you go directly to your lender, we recommend that you talk to your Mortgage Advisor in Coventry first. This is because they can look through everything for you and talk you through the options available for you that will benefit you most financially. As a Mortgage Broker in Coventry, we know all about mortgage payment holidays and the dos and don’ts, so get in touch and receive a free mortgage consultation before anything else.

If you want to go directly to your lender and you are up to date with your mortgage payments, not in arrears and have been directly affected by COVID-19, here are the steps you should take:

• The customer would contact the lender and inform them that they are being impacted
  by COVID-19
• The lender would accept these details from the customer and offer an automatic
  three-month mortgage payment holiday
• No evidence is needed for the lender
• 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, also ensuring that the mortgage remains affordable and sustainable
• The lender notifies the customer that if they wished to complete a full assessment now, there may be other forbearance options more suitable to the customer.
  
  For more information on how COVID-19 may affect your mortgage, click here.
  
  

Will a mortgage payment holiday impact my credit score?

Yes, it can produce a negative impact on your credit score, but it shouldn’t in this situation. You are applying for a mortgage payment holiday because of a virus so your lender should make sure that it will not do any damage.

Before rushing into this, you will need confirmation that it will not damage your score. To do this, you need to contact your lender directly and ask this question, making a record of the date and time and the name of the person that you spoke to. This way, if anything changes in the future, you have a reference to what was originally said.

Will I still be able to remortgage or take a product transfer with my lender?

The answer to this question has changed over the last couple of days. Even when the virus wasn’t seen as a threat, you could still remortgage and transfer products as usual. Now, everything has changed and lenders are no longer offering any remortgage deals and product transfers. Things have changed so quickly!

This means that borrowers who are coming up to the end of their existing product could be forced to move onto the higher lender variable rates as there are no other lower deals available. So people who act too early could find themselves on a mortgage payment holiday that accrues a high-interest variable rate.

This is why we recommend speaking to us, your expert Mortgage Broker in Coventry. We are here to provide you with open and honest Mortgage Advice in Coventry through these next few tough months for you and your mortgage. In general, it helps if you can arrange your mortgage transfer first then enquire about your mortgage payment holiday.

What are my other options?

There are other options available for you to take to help you meet your monthly mortgage payments over these next few months. Your lender may be generous and offer you a temporary switch over to an interest-only to help you save some money on your monthly payments. This will not add any further to the loan amount by still servicing the interest each month.

On the other hand, you may not need to switch all of your mortgages to interest-only and it may be that putting your mortgage on this basis could give you that extra bit of breathing space that you need.

If you have savings, remortgaging onto an offset basis is another option. You could end up reducing your monthly payments whilst keeping your savings untouched.

An example would be that if someone had a £200,000 loan and savings account with £50,000 in, they would only pay interest on £150,000. This option could massively reduce your monthly mortgage payments.

Other options include a straight remortgage to another lender, working out costs of any repayment charges or simply extending the term of your mortgage. It’s completely up to you and you should choose whatever you think suits you better. This is where a Mortgage Broker in Coventry will come in handy, as they will talk you through all of your options and help you make a choice. They want the best for you and want to make sure that you feel comfortable and secure at all times during these tough few months.

Get in touch with a Mortgage Advisor in Coventry and discuss all of your mortgage options regarding mortgage payment holidays. We love mortgages and we love helping you! Get through these few hard months of mortgage payments with help from your Mortgage Broker in Coventry, Coventrymoneyman.

Mortgage Broker in Coventry

Getting Prepared For A Mortgage in Coventry

Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Coventry

You are finally ready to take a step further up the property ladder. Whether you are a First Time Buyer in Coventry who is new to this or a Home Mover in Coventry with experience, you will still need help in order to start getting prepared for your new mortgage. Here are some tips from your expert Mortgage Broker in Coventry:

Get mortgage ready!

Know where you stand

As a Mortgage Broker in Coventry, we highly recommend in getting Mortgage Advice as early on in the process as possible. This will allow you to get an idea of how much you can borrow for a mortgage and how much everything is going to cost you

You need to prioritise getting an up-to-date credit report as you need to get an idea of what your credit score looks like. The better your score, the more chances that you have in securing a mortgage. There are many ways that can you improve your credit score and surprisingly, it can sometimes be easier than you would think. In some cases, it is even possible to get a mortgage with a low credit score, this all depends on a lot of different factors and of course your lender.

Taking these two factors into account, having both a Mortgage Advisor in Coventry and an up-to-date credit report could prove extremely beneficial to you and your mortgage application. A Mortgage Advisor in Coventry will sort everything out for you and guide you through the process, what more could you want?

Getting organised

Here at Coventrymoneyman, we are able to obtain a fully credit-checked agreement in principle on your behalf. A Mortgage Advisor in Coventry will get you prepared for everything before submitting your application. This means that they will ask for some proof of identification. You will need to prove you are who you say you are, along with your living address and how much you earn.

With this in mind, you can start getting all the documents you need ready!

Proof of ID

In terms of proving who you are you’ll need to produce some photo ID such as a driving license or passport.

Proof of address

In addition to the above, you’ll need to prove where you live. You’ll need to produce a utility bill or original bank statement dated within the last 3 months.

Last 3 months’ bank statements

Lenders will always take more interest in your spending habits than anything else. They need to be 100% sure that you will be able to meet your monthly mortgage payments on top of all of your other outgoings. They will look very carefully at your bank statements and take everything into account.

One thing that lenders don’t like to see is gambling, it’s a factor can catch people out because they don’t realise that it can affect your chances of getting a mortgage. Lenders also don’t like it when you go over your overdraft limit as you are essentially spending more than you originally had and then do it again when the money isn’t even there. This is why we always advise that you manage your money carefully and make sure that your bank statements are going to impress your lender and not put them off.

Proof of deposit

You will have to prove you have the funds in place for the deposit and also evidence this for anti-money laundering purposes. Try not to move monies around your various accounts too much as it will make evidencing the audit trail more difficult. Lenders really like it when their applicants can evidence that they have been saving for their deposit. It shows that you know how to put money aside every month and not overspend. You’ll also need to account for any large credits into your accounts.

Quite often money for deposits has been gifted by family members. These funds need to be evidenced also and the “donor” will need to sign a letter. This is to confirm that the funds are strictly a gift and not a loan.

Proof of income

In terms of affordability, the most important thing is to be able to prove your income. If you are employed this tends to be by way of your last 3 months’ payslips and most recent P60. Lenders can take into account regular overtime, commission, shift allowance and bonus.

If you are Self Employed in Coventry then you’ll need your accountant’s help. Following that, they will get the accompanying tax year overview.

A list of your expected outgoings

Always, always do your research. Getting ahead and making a note of your anticipated outings after you move house puts you in a great position for starting the application process. You can work out an estimate of how much the council tax and utility bills will be. In addition to that, you can work out your regular expenditures, such as food and drink. This will demonstrate how much disposable income you have available to pay your mortgage from.

You need to accommodate lots of time to prepare for your mortgage application. However, sometimes it can be easier and much quicker to approach a Mortgage Broker in Coventry to sort everything out for you. A Mortgage Advisor in Coventry will work out how much everything is going to cost you and guide you through the whole process as well as trying to secure you a competitive mortgage deal!

Getting ahead and planning early will always impress your mortgage lender. Let us an expert Mortgage Broker in Coventry help you out today! Receive a free mortgage consultation and get in touch.

Mortgage Advisor in Coventry