Once you’ve saved enough for a mortgage deposit, the next step is preparation. Before you are ready to start your process, make sure your mortgage application is in the best position.

If you are a first time buyer in Cambridge, you will find this guide very beneficial to aid you with your mortgage application.

Also, this article will feature helpful tips to speed up your mortgage application for those looking to remortgage or move home in Cambridge.

Get Mortgage Ready in Cambridge

Up-to-date credit report

The first thing you should do is obtain an up-to-date credit report. Having an up-to-date credit report is essential for you to provide during mortgage application; ideally, you should try and get yours arranged prior to speaking with a mortgage broker in Cambridge. Your report will be reviewed by one of our mortgage advisor in Cambridge before forwarding you to a suitable lender. 

Agreement in principle 

Another thing that you should do before making an offer on a property is to obtain an agreement in principle. The good news is getting in touch with an expert mortgage broker in Cambridge like ourselves, we can often turn around an agreement in Principle within 24 hours of your initial appointment.

Proof of ID 

Make sure to produce a photo ID, the required documents will have to be photo identification such as a Driving License or Passport – though if you’re using one for proof of ID then it can’t be used as proof of address. If you are a non-UK national working in England on a Visa then this will also need to be presented. 

Proof of Address 

You will also be required to prove where you live. This is usually in the form of a utility bill or bank statement within the last 3 months.

Last 3 months’ bank statements 

Your bank statements should reflect your income and regular expenditures. It will be a displeasure to Lenders if they see gambling transactions on your account and they will also not be happy if you are seen to have surpassed an agreed overdraft limit or your direct debits have bounced regularly. The key factor is to get ahead of the game and get prepared as best as you can.

Not all lenders will ask to see your Bank Statements but it is an option that is available to them if they choose to utilize it – regardless of whether they do ask for your bank statements, they want to be confident that you take your finances seriously. The bank statements which you produce should consist if your salary going in and your bills going out.   

Evidence of deposit 

A vital step in the mortgage application is evidencing your deposit for Anti-Money Laundering purposes. To help the process it is best not to move finances around your accounts too much as this will make it a lot more difficult and may delay the process.

Lenders like to see that you are saving your money responsibly, but that doesn’t exempt you from having to account for any large recent deposits into your accounts.

If you have been gifted a deposit, then there will need to be written confirmation stating it’s a non-refundable gift. 

Proof of income 

The most pivotal point of the application is proving your income. If you’re in employment then sufficient evidence would be your last 3 months’ payslips, though some lenders will also ask for your most recent P60. Lenders will take into account regular overtime, commission, shift allowance and bonuses. Additionally, extra earnings may also be considered with some lenders such as part-time jobs or self-employment.

Many applicants are self employed in Cambridge nowadays – if you are a self-employed applicant then you may mean you will need to acquire your Accounts’ help to request your last two or three years’ proof of earnings from the Revenue. If you submit your own accounts then feel free to get in touch and we will be happy to advise you on how to go about downloading from the Government Gateway. 

Budget planner 

By working out an estimate of your expected outgoings after you move house means you can gain an idea of how much disposable income will be available to you to pay your mortgage after such things as regular expenditures, council tax, and utility bills have been paid out from your account. To help you with this, we are happy to send you our version of a Budget Planner to get you started.

Mortgage Broker in Cambridge

As seen, there are many steps you must take to prepare fully for your mortgage application deeming it not an easy feat but it doesn’t mean you should worry.

If you approach the mortgage application with plenty of time and use a mortgage broker in Cambridge, your process will be a breeze!

Date Last Edited: March 18, 2024