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We’re mortgage experts. This means we know our stuff when it comes to all types of mortgages. We know where the best rates are and have access to exclusive deals just for Lending Expert customers.
We’re not tied to one lender which means we can search the wider market to find you the cheapest mortgages from across the UK.
Our eligibility checker and quote forms only take a few minutes to complete. Get an online result within just a few minutes.
If you have bad credit or have previously been refused a mortgage we can consider your application. Whatever your circumstances please get in touch and we'll do our best to help find you the perfect mortgage deal.
Compare mortgage rates today with Lending Expert! With access to over 1,000 mortgage offers, we compare the whole of the market in the UK and can help you find the best rates and maximise your chances of approval with our free eligibility checker.
Whether you are looking for fixed, variable, offset or tracker mortgages, we offer a mortgage comparison from high street banks, challenger banks and building societies – and can help you on your journey today.
You may have found the perfect home or flat to move into or perhaps you are taking important steps to plan for your future. Either way, you can check your eligibility with Lending Expert in less than 5 minutes and get a free quote, with no obligation today!
Finding the best mortgages rates is very important and could help you save thousands of pounds – and secure your dream property. Below, we cover some of the most important things you need to consider when shopping for a new mortgage deal.
A mortgage is a loan from a bank or building society which can be used to purchase a property or land. The loan amount and interest is repaid every month over a set period of time ranging from 1 to 35 years, although most mortgages have a term of 25 years.
The mortgage will use the property as security until the total amount has been paid off in full and then you will own the property outright. Importantly, if you fail to make your mortgage payments, the lender could repossess your property to cover their costs.
Lenders offer various different types of mortgages, all of which are designed for different financial circumstances. It is essential that you choose the right type of mortgage for your situation. Some of the most popular include:
The majority of these mortgages are repayment mortgages. This means the monthly repayments are paying off both the outstanding balance and interest charged, and at the end of the term, everything will be paid. You could also get interest-only mortgages, where the monthly repayments only cover the interest charged. These mean that your balance never reduces and at the end of the term the whole balance will need to be paid.
When you want to use a mortgage to buy a home, you are required to pay for part of the property outright. This is known as the mortgage deposit and is shown as a percentage of the property’s overall value. For example, if you purchase a house for £300,000 and the deposit is 10%, you would have to pay £30,000 upfront.
The mortgage provider is then lending you the remaining amount, which is known as the loan to value (LTV). In this example it would be a 90% LTV mortgage, which would cover the £270,000 that is remaining. This is the amount that you would then owe to the lender and pay off with your mortgage repayments plus interest. The LTV could be 50%, 60%, or even 100% depending on factors such as your deposit, income, credit status, whether you have a guarantor or the type of mortgage deal.
A mortgage is the most common way of purchasing a property and there are almost 11 million people with mortgages in the UK. Having a mortgage can really help you afford a property, whilst only paying a relatively small deposit of something like 10%.
However, you still gain financially if the property goes up in value over time. Mortgages are portable, so they can be moved from property-to-property and you can always re-mortgage or get a new mortgage every few years to access better rates – and this is very popular.
It is important to know that mortgages are rarely the same for everyone, since every borrower has a different income, credit status and property that they are looking to buy. Whilst mortgage rates are a good indication, there is usually an element of manual underwriting by the lender, hence you will need to wait for a decision and approval.
Of course, you do not require a mortgage if you have enough money to buy a property outright, or if you inherit a property from a relative, you will not need a mortgage on this.
Lending Expert has access to over 1,000 mortgage products from banks, building societies, challenger banks and well-known lenders.
You can apply to a mortgage lender directly, or whoever you bank with, however there is no guarantee that you will be approved or even get the best rates. For this reason, a lot of Brits use price comparison sites, mortgage brokers or an independent financial advisor (IFA). These specialists will compare various mortgages on your behalf to help you find the best option.
It is possible to get a mortgage without seeking advice from a professional, and these are called execution-only mortgages.
When you compare mortgages, you will look at the following:
A good starting point is considering how much you can borrow to start off with and what property you can afford. You can begin by combining the income and deposit of you and anyone that you are buying a property with – and then consider how much you could afford to borrow with an LTV of 60%, 70%, 80% etc
Mortgage approvals are on the up, but the criteria can be strict. Mortgage providers want to see a stable income, employment and a good or fair credit status.
The best mortgage offers are available for borrowers with stable incomes, low debts elsewhere and good credit scores. In addition, if you have a higher deposit, this should lower the interest rate you are charged, since there is now less risk overall for the lender.
Mortgage providers will look at several factors when deciding what you can afford, including:
At Lending Expert, we offer a free eligibility checker and help you get started on your journey today. We require a few simple details which you can submit online including your name, age, contact details, monthly income and amount that you wish to borrow. We will match your requirements with a number of competitive mortgage offers across the UK.
Our entire mortgage eligibility checker is completely free-to-use and will not have an impact on your credit score. There is no need to apply with each mortgage lender one-by-one, we are here to help you get a full market view, offer the lowest rates and best chance of approval.
If you have a house, flat or property that you are looking to purchase, do not wait any longer! Get in touch with Lending Expert today!
Mortgage rates can be “fixed” where the rate stays the same during the loan term or “variable” where it changes based on the Bank of England base rate. You can also apply for a tracker mortgage which tracks the Bank of England base rate or get an offset mortgage using your savings to bring down the overall interest.
Stamp duty is a tax paid upon the purchase of a new property, based on a percentage of the property’s value. The stamp duty rates can change from year-to-year and there are typically no fees if your property is below a certain amount, but the percentage rate will increase depending on the bracket and the more expensive the property is.
Other fees associated with a new mortgage include stamp duty, broker fees, solicitor fees, survey fees and moving fees. It is important to take any additional fees into consideration when moving or buying a new home.
This is confirmation by a bank or building society stating how much they would be able to lend to you based on the information you have provided, including your income and credit history. Applying for a mortgage agreement in principle is an excellent starting point and shows serious commitment when making an official offer on a property that you are looking to purchase.
A loan-to-value ratio or LTV for short, refers to how much of your property’s purchase is made up of your mortgage loan. If the LTV is 70%, it means that you will be required to pay a 30% deposit and 70% of the purchase is made up from your mortgage.
Yes, there are ways to get a mortgage without a deposit or 100% LTV mortgages. These are not as common, but they can be offered by specific banks for a limited time or to help first-time buyers. You may need to show strong proof of income and employment or require a parent or someone to be a guarantor.
Yes, it is possible to be accepted for a mortgage with a bad credit history, however it may be a little tricky. You will need to demonstrate a stable employment, source of income and prove that you are paying other types of debt on-time. In some cases, the interest rates charged may be higher than average and your LTV may be lower.
Yes, people who are self-employed or sole traders can definitely apply and there is no reason they cannot be approved. You will typically need to show a stable income or show at least 3 years of trading accounts.
If you have been declined for a mortgage, no problem. You can always apply with a different lender or provider, taking into account that some are a lot more strict and lenient than others. What may not work for Barclays, may work for Santander. Overall, if you have a good employment and a fair or strong credit score, this should maximise your chances of getting approved. You can always request a free copy of your credit report and follow instructions to improve it by paying off debts or closing down credit cards or store cards that you do not use.
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