Will I Qualify for a mortgage?

Start your approval in principle process Here

Our business is arranging mortgages. 

Short Example of First time buyer mortgage.

You spot a house for sale for €300,000 and wonder can you afford it.

As a first time buyer the highest level of mortgage facilities you can get is 90% of the purchase price i.e. €270,000.

This is calculated at purchase price €300,000 multiplied by 90% = €270,000

Therefore you need €30,000 for your 10% deposit, plus money for stamp duty and legal fees (approximately €3,000 for stamp duty and €2,000 for legal fees), in total €35,000. If the property is second hand you will need to have saved this €35,000 or a significant element of it with the balance perhaps being made up by way of a gift.

If the property is newly built and will be used as your home and you are a qualifying first time buyer (somebody who had never had a home mortgage in the past), you may qualify for the help to buy scheme of up to 10% of the purchase price - €30,000!

 

 

But you also need mortgage approval! 

To borrow €270,000 your income must be at least €77,142. 

Purchase price €270,000.

Maximum mortgage equals to 3.5 times gross income.

Therefore income must be at least €77,142 per year. (€270,000 / 3.5)

More importantly you will also need to demonstrate that you can afford the mortgage payments to get this level of mortgage. Assume the mortgage is over 30 years; the typical repayments will be €1,066 per month. We will examine your finances in detail to satisfy ourselves, that from your savings records and rental payments (if you are renting) you can afford these repayments, plus a factor of 25% i.e. €1,332, to allow for potential interest rate rises.

If you can demonstrate this repayment capacity and your income is considered secure, then you are well on the way to approval and your first home. 

 

 

The key principles of mortgage approval are as follows:

  • Your income should be secure .
  • You can provide evidence of affordability from recent rent and savings patterns that you can afford repayments 
  • You have an adequate cash deposit 
  • You have a good credit history, well managed finances and typically no loans or credit card debt.

1. What is the maximum mortgage limit.

  • Central Bank rules place a limit of 3.5 times your normal gross income as your maximum mortgage.
  • Exemptions above 3.5 times gross income are difficult to secure at present but are available in limited circumstances.

2. How much of a deposit do you need?

  • First time buyers 10% ( Help to buy scheme available to qualifying applicants to fund 5% for new house or apartment purchases or self builds)
  • Second time buyers 20% of the purchase price
  • Some lenders are comfortable to have the deposit requirement provided by way of a gift, but as a general rule lenders preference is to see a steady savings pattern contributing to 5% of the purchase price - some tolerance for larger gifts is evident with long rental history
  • Deposit exemptions are available at present so that second time buyers with strong incomes are not restricted to a minimum 20% deposit. Each case is assessed on its own merits.

3. Can you afford the repayments?

  • The most important matter to consider is your comfort level with the proposed repayments. Rates will change during the mortgage term. The price you want to pay for a house should be driven by your feeling for affordability.
  • As your advisers we need to clearly demonstrate in our lender recommendations that you can afford your mortgage payments even if rates increase by 2%
  • The longer the period over which you can demonstrate ability to repay - the better, but it should be minimum six months and preferably longer.

4. Is your income secure?

  • You need to be in secure employment. Being on a permanent contract is a requirement with most lenders but we are pleased to advise that some lenders will consider contractors where their is evidence of contractual work for three years on a continuous basis and prospects for further continuous contract work into the future are strong.
  • Lenders take a prudent approach. Employees should be employed for at least twelve months and have completed your probationary period.
  • The sector in which you work should have long term prospects as should the organisation for which you work.
  • The more skills and qualifications that are relevant in today's world - the better.

5. Can you demonstrate good financial management?

  • Good regular savings record
  • Minimum of personal debt and credit cards cleared monthly
  • Prudent spending habits
  • If you have taken out loans in the past - there should be no missed payments
  • No online gambling
  • Try and keep it simple- not too many bank accounts - savings simple to follow