How Much Can I Borrow....

 The Mortgage Suite

How much can I borrow

Borrowing used to be based on a simple formula: lenders would take your income, then multiply it by up to five and a half times (or up to three and a half times for a joint application) to determine how much you could borrow.

This is no longer the case, and lenders have become much more cautious since the financial crisis of 2007-08. They are now obliged to assess your ability to repay the mortgage under rules brought in by the Financial Conduct Authority in 2014. This means they don’t just look at what you earn, but also your monthly expenses and how that might change in the future. Thus, there are three key areas that lenders look at when assessing what they will lend to you: your income, your outgoings and possible future developments.

How much can I afford?
One of the first things we will look at when we meet you is the money you earn and how you spend it. We do this to build up a picture of what you can afford, so we can get you a decision in principle. Later in the guide we will take you through all the costs of buying a house step-by-step.

Income: Lenders will look at your basic salary plus any overtime or bonuses. They will also consider benefits, pension income, investments, child maintenance or income from an ex-partner.

Outgoings: You’ll need to tell us about what you spend on basics like bills – utilities, council tax, broadband, phone, insurance; credit card payments; loan repayments; other committed expenditure such as gym membership and childcare; living expenses – groceries, eating out, clothing, entertainment, holidays. It is important to give an accurate picture of your outgoings as you need to submit 3 months of bank statements when you apply for a mortgage and lenders will query any large outgoings not already disclosed.

Future changes: Lenders will “stress-test” whether you could still afford to pay your mortgage if interest rates increased or you or your partner were no longer working (if you fell ill, took a career break or had a baby, for instance).

Guarantors – how they can help you borrow more If you’re struggling to take out a mortgage on your own but you don’t want to get a traditional joint mortgage, there is another option – a guarantor mortgage.

This means that you take out a mortgage – everything is in your name and you own your property – but you have someone else there as a backup. That person will underwrite your home loan. In practical terms, it means that if you can’t pay back your mortgage, they have to pick up the tab. Guarantors tend to be direct family members (parents, grandparents or siblings), but they can be anyone who is prepared to commit to paying your mortgage should you be unable to. The lender will look at their financial situation as part of your application, allowing you to borrow more than you could on your own.