9 April 2010
Over the past couple of years the mortgage market has really suffered, and as a result of this those that are looking for mortgage loans have also suffered with many being unable to get the finance that they needed to buy a home, and many others having to pay way over the odds in order to get a mortgage loan. The property market has been suffering since the onset of the global credit crisis, which swept across the UK in 2007, and it is only recently that it has started to recover.
Whilst some form of recovery appears to have positively affected the mortgage and property markets there are still many challenges that face buyers that are looking to get some sort of mortgage. Certain groups have suffered more than most, such as first time buyers and lower income families who have been unable to raise the high deposit levels that lenders have been demanding.
However, with spring now in full swing more and more people will be considering either buying a new home or moving home, and this means that more people may be looking for a mortgage in order to fund their purchase. Many of those considering purchasing a property may be looking at ways to improve their chances of getting a mortgage in the current challenging climate, and there are a number of ways through which you may be able to boost your chances of success.
For many people now is the perfect time to buy a home, not just because of seasonal reasons but also because the stamp duty exemption threshold has been increased, which means that buyers can now avoid having to pay stamp duty on a property up to the value of £250,000, which represents a potential saving of up to £2,500.
The first thing to remember is that this stamp duty holiday will bring a rising number of people to the property market, and competition for properties that are for sale will become tougher. You can stay one step ahead of the competition by getting a mortgage agreed in principle, which would make you a more attractive prospect to sellers compare to someone that puts in an offer before having any idea of whether they can get a mortgage.
In order to improve your chances of getting a mortgage make sure that you check your credit report to ensure that all information is accurate and up to date so that this does not adversely affect your chances. Also, make sure that you save as much as possible towards a deposit, as lenders these days want to see some form of financial commitment in order to provide people with mortgages.
Tags: finance, mortgage, property