The process of buying a house is summarized in these 8 steps. This process may seem daunting, but our team is here to help.
The first step in the process of buying a house is to get pre-approved for a mortgage. This means that you will need to meet with a lender or mortgage adviser and provide them with information about your financial situation. They will then tell you how much money you can borrow for a house. Having a mortgage in principle in place shows estate agents and sellers that you are serious about buying, and in a position to do it.
Depending on the lender this may or may not involve a credit check at this point. Some lenders carry out hard credit checks which appear on your credit file. Some lenders use a soft check that will not affect your credit score. The MIP will last between 30 and 90 days. Mortgage advisers can be searched for on unbiased.co.uk which lists and rates mortgage advisers local to you.
Once you have been pre-approved for a mortgage, you can start looking for a house! This is usually the most exciting part of the process. You will work with estate agents to find houses that fit your budget and meet your needs. Once you have found a house that you want to purchase, you will need to make an offer. The seller will then either accept or reject your offer. If they accept, you will move on to the next step in the process. If they reject, you can either make a new offer or move on to another property. Have a look at our current properties for sale.
When your offer on the property has been accepted by the seller, the next step in the process of buying a house is to complete your full mortgage application. Mortgage lenders usually have a maximum loan-to-value (LTV ) offer. This is the maximum mortgage loan you can take out as a percentage of the property value.
This can be arranged at the same time as completion of your full mortgage application. This is important because it will help you identify any potential problems with the property before you purchase it. RICS is an independent professional body originally established in the UK by Royal Charter that can be used to find a qualified surveyor. Building surveys have three levels:
For typical properties and newer builds in a good condition. This inspects a building’s condition and will identify any legal issues and urgent defects. The typical cost is between £400-£950.
For typical properties in a fair condition. In addition to the information provided with a level 1 report, this will include detail on any repairs and maintenance required and a market valuation. This type is suitable for standard properties in a reasonable condition. The typical cost is between £450-£1,000.
For older buildings, unusual buildings, and renovation projects. This is an in-depth survey that will include detail on how to repair, renovate and maintain the property. The cost can typically be between £600-£1,500.
When you have completed the mortgage application, you will then need to instruct a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer to carry out all of the legal work involved. Conveyancing is the transfer of the legal title of property from one owner or owners to another. Moneysupermarket have a useful search tool to help you compare local conveyancers.
Once you have instructed the solicitor you will then need to wait. It can take around 2-3 months for the legal searches and documents to be completed. Stay in regular contact with your conveyancer to keep the purchase moving along.
When the solicitors have completed the conveyancing legal work, you will exchange contracts with the seller which means you sign for the transfer of the legal title and set a completion date. You will sign all the paperwork and officially become the owner of the house!
On the completion date, your mortgage lender will send the money you want to borrow to your solicitor who will arrange for it to be transferred to the seller. We will call you to confirm the legal process is complete, you can pick up the keys and move in!
Freeman and Gray Estate Agents are a professional and luxury estate agent. We have a wide range of properties for sale across Kent. If you are ready to start on the process of buying a house, we can help you to get the best possible price for your property. Contact us ( https://www.freemanandgray.com/contact-us ) today to find out more about our services and how we can help you to get the most value for your property.