Making Your Mortgage Look More Affordable

Making Your Mortgage Look More Affordable

Mortgage lenders will always check your income and outgoings – to ensure that you can comfortably afford the repayments, including if there was an increase in interest rates or other outgoings. It’s therefore crucial that you give yourself the best chance possible of getting a mortgage, and one with the best deal possible. But how?

Look affordable

In the months leading up to applying for a mortgage it therefore makes sense to aim to keep your outgoings as low as possible compared to what you’re bringing in, and to put a hold on splashing the cash on anything but the essentials. 

Debt issues

Mortgage lenders will scrutinise bank statements for signs that there is a struggle with existing debt. That means applicants should look to pay down balances on credit cards, store cards and unsecured loans, and avoid using overdrafts. 

Hard credit checks

Additionally, you shouldn’t apply for anything that involves a ‘hard’ credit check – which is a thorough search of your credit report – for up to six months before a mortgage application, and includes loans, credit cards, current accounts, as well as switching broadband, energy or mobile phone providers, as a mortgage lender will consider multiple recent credit checks as a sign that you are in financial difficulties.

Avoid at all costs

Lastly, whatever you do you should at all costs avoid payday loans, county court judgments and gambling transactions!