11 Jan 2018
Everything a first-time buyer needs to know about mortgages
Choosing a mortgage deal is one of the first steps when buying a new home.
To help with this decision and to allow you to find a mortgage which best suits your needs, we have put together a first time buyers’ guide to mortgages. This covers the different types of mortgages available, deposit rates, and how we can help.
What is a mortgage?
A mortgage is a loan from a bank, building society or financial institution to a borrower that will assist the borrower in the purchase of a property in exchange for title to that property.
The buyer must then repay the loan in monthly instalments usually over a term of 25 years or more. Once the balance of the loan is cleared in full, the title then transfers back to the owner of the property.
What are the different types of Mortgages?
The two most common types of mortgages available in the market place are fixed rate and tracker.
What is a fixed rate mortgage?
This is where the interest rate remains the same throughout the period of the deal. Fixed rates are usually for a term of between 2 to 5 years where the borrower will pay fixed monthly repayments. At the end of that period the borrower has the option to remortgage.
One benefit of this type of mortgage is that it gives you security as you will know exactly what your monthly repayments will be each month over the term of the mortgage.
What is a tracker mortgage?
A tracker mortgage varies depending on the Bank of England base rate. This can change the cost of monthly repayments depending on the current rates and is also available over terms from around 2-5 years.
The benefits of a tracker mortgage come when the interest rates are low, but can often see buyers jumping to a fixed rate mortgage once the rates begin to increase.
How much do I need for a deposit?
Most lenders will require at least a 5% deposit, which is 5% of the purchase price of the property you are intending to buy. If you were buying a property at £120,000 a lender will look for £6,000 as a deposit.
The majority of lenders will offer a preferential rate the higher the deposit that you have to put down, so having a bigger deposit saved is going to leave you in a better position as a potential buyer.
How can I get a mortgage?
With so much choice, the best option is to speak to an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA) who has knowledge of the whole market. An IFA like Aberdein Considine has access to exclusive deals that are not available on the high street so can help you find the best deal on your mortgage.
Book an appointment
If you would like to book a free mortgage appointment with one of our independent advisers, click here.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.