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What is a Mortgage Broker in Manchester?

Whether you’re new to the world of mortgages or you currently own a property and have some past mortgage experience, you will have either heard of a “mortgage broker” or will have no clue what they are or what they do.

Using a mortgage broker in Manchester when moving home can not only make your job easier but can take all of the stress out of the process.

Mortgage Broker in Manchester vs Your Bank

Here we will discuss the main differences between using a mortgage broker and your bank.

Mortgage Products

If you opt for your bank when looking for a mortgage, you will not have to pay a broker fee, which will save you money.

However, banks can only access their in-house mortgage products, whereas, a mortgage broker can search through various different types of lenders in order to find the best product for you. For example, as a mortgage broker in Manchester, we have access to a variety of different lenders that hold both high street and specialist deals. We can search through these lenders to try and find you a competitive mortgage product.

During your free mortgage appointment with us, we will perform a free affordability assessment on you to work out what sort of deals will be accessible to you.

Appointments

Most high street banks are renowned for making you wait weeks to get an appointment with a mortgage advisor. This can be extremely inconvenient if you have just had an offer accepted on a property.

A mortgage broker in Manchester, like ourselves, offers flexible availability and allows you to book a mortgage appointment at a time that suits you. Sometimes, we even have same-day availability!

Declined Application

If you approach a high street bank and your mortgage application is declined, the chances are that most other high street banks will do the same.

There are many different reasons why a bank could decline your mortgage application, sometimes you are never told why. If it has something to do with your credit, if you apply to another bank and are declined, you could put more harm on your credit.

As mentioned earlier, mortgage brokers can access a large variety of mortgage lenders, including those from specialist lenders. If you have been declined by your bank, the best thing to do is to approach a mortgage broker in Manchester like us and we can explore options that are better suited to your personal and financial situation.

If your credit is the issue and you need help improving your credit score and getting your finances back on track, our mortgage advisors in Manchester can run through this with you.

Securing Your AIP

Banks and brokers have a pretty similar turnaround time when it comes to getting you an agreement in principle (AIP). Our mortgage advisors in Manchester can usually secure you an AIP within 24 hours of your free mortgage appointment.

If your AIP expires, simply get back in touch with our team and we can renew it straight away for you.

Customer Service

Similar to their mortgage appointment availability, banks will never be available there and then for you to ask a quick question or give you an update on the progress of your mortgage application. Drop your mortgage advisor in Manchester a message whenever you want to speak to them and they will be back in touch right away. We know that the mortgage process is a stressful time, and we want to put you at ease.

Mortgage Broker in Manchester

As a mortgage broker in Manchester, our job is to help you through the entirety of your mortgage journey. No matter your situation, whether you’re a first time buyer in Manchester or a buy to let landlord in Manchester, we are here to offer our help.

Our responsive service is at the heart of our business. You can book your free mortgage appointment or arrange a call back online! This allows you to be in control of your mortgage appointment and schedule it around your busy working and personal schedule.

If you would prefer to, give our team at Manchestermoneyman a call and we can put you in touch with one of our expert mortgage advisors in Manchester.

How Long Does Mortgage Approval Take in Manchester?

Buying a property will likely be the biggest financial commitment of your life, therefore, it’s understandable that you have lots of questions regarding the mortgage process. As a mortgage broker in Manchester, we’ve had the pleasure of helping many different types of buyers; no matter what the applicant’s situation is, we are always asked “how long does mortgage approval take?”.

If you are a first time buyer in Manchester, and you have questions like this, you must get the necessary mortgage advice and speak with an expert. Not every question will have a straightforward answer, however. Most of the time, especially with questions like these, it will depend on the individual’s personal and financial situation.

How long will it take for my mortgage to get approved in Manchester?

If you have no problems with your credit you could find that it takes 2-3 weeks to receive mortgage approval. This timeframe is just an example, it could take longer or less time than this.

Mortgage approvals can take time if you have current or past issues with credit. The mortgage lender will need to search thoroughly through your credit file to determine whether or not you are a reliable applicant who can afford to take out a mortgage. If you have bad credit or past credit issues, the mortgage approval process can take months.

You need to know that there is no set timeframe for when a mortgage is or is not approved, it depends on the mortgage lender and your personal and financial situation.

Why do I have to wait for my mortgage approval in Manchester?

Getting approved for a mortgage is not as simple as it used to be! You will never see mortgages being handed out like they were in pre-credit crunch days.

The process is timely and intricate to gain a complete insight into an applicant’s personal and financial situation. Mortgage lenders need to establish the type of applicant that you are. They look at your credit, income (including occupation), your outgoings (via bank statements) to get an idea of who you are and whether you are going to be able to afford a mortgage.

They need to know who they are lending to and whether they can afford a mortgage on the property in Manchester that they are looking at purchasing. This all takes time. Remember that there are also thousands of applicants, not just you!

Where does mortgage approval fit into the mortgage process in Manchester?

As a mortgage broker in Manchester, our mortgage process involves stages that build you up to your mortgage application. This process is designed to make your mortgage journey stress-free and easy-going; we’ll take care of the mortgage side of things, and you can focus on finding your dream property in Manchester.

Step 1: Free Mortgage Appointment

To get your mortgage process started, book your free mortgage appointment with one of our mortgage advisors in Manchester. You can do this by selecting a date and time online or giving our team a call. We have 7 days a week availability, allowing you to book an appointment around a time that suits you.

During your free mortgage appointment, your mortgage advisor in Manchester will take some information from you to get an understanding of what you are looking to achieve along your mortgage journey. This will roughly take 30-45 minutes.

Step 2: Finding the Perfect Mortgage Deal

Once you have completed your mortgage appointment, your mortgage advisor in Manchester will send you a mortgage agreement in principle (AIP). This document is a “must-have” when it comes to making an offer on a property. You will need one in order to prove to the estate agency that you have been pre-approved by a mortgage lender. At this point in the process, you should begin searching for a property you want to buy, if you have already found your dream property, we can move on to the next step right away!

Once you have had an offer accepted on the property, we will be able to pair this with the perfect mortgage deal. We have a large variety of mortgage lenders on panel, allowing us to access high street and specialist products. The product that your mortgage advisor in Manchester finds will be presented in a mortgage illustration document, outlining everything about the deal that you need to know.

Step 3: Mortgage Application

If you are happy to proceed with our service and the mortgage product we have found you, it is time to prepare your mortgage application.

When preparing your mortgage application, you will need to attach several documents to evidence your affordability for a mortgage. We will help you gather all of these documents and make sure that your application has everything it needs. Once you are ready, we can send off your mortgage application to the mortgage lender.

Step 4: Mortgage Lender Checks

As soon as we send off your mortgage application, everything is now in the mortgage lender’s hands. Just so you know, we will never put you forward for a mortgage product that you will be declined for!

They will look at the documents that you have attached to your mortgage application to verify your mortgage affordability. They will also check your ID and current registered address to make sure that you are who you say that you are, as well as looking at where your deposit has been sourced from.

If you received a gifted deposit they will need to see the last 3 months’ bank statements from the donor and have a gifted deposit form signed.

Step 5: Mortgage Valuation Survey

Not to be confused with a house survey, a mortgage valuation survey is where the lender sends out a property surveyor to determine the true value of the property that you are looking at purchasing. There are different types of property surveys in Manchester, with each one suited to different types of properties. Your mortgage advisor in Manchester will advise accordingly on which type of survey is recommended.

The reason the mortgage lender will want a survey taken out on a property is to determine the true value of the property. If your offer to the seller was above the actual value of the property, you may find that a mortgage lender will not allow you to borrow the amount you are asking for.

Essentially, they aim to ensure that, in case of repossession, they will be able to make their money back by selling your home. Rest assured, as long as you consistently meet your monthly repayments, there’s no need to worry about losing your home.

Step 5: Formal Mortgage Offer

After the mortgage lender has carried out their checks, if all has gone well, you should receive your formal mortgage approval back. Your mortgage advisor in Manchester will be in touch straight away to give you the good news!

From here, we will hand you over to the solicitors for you to exchange contracts and complete the rest of the legalities. Once this is done, you’re ready to go and collect your keys!

Get Mortgage Ready

Whether you are a first time buyer in Manchester, looking at moving home, remortgaging or wanting to invest in a buy to let property, it is important that you are aware of the mortgage process and what is expected and needed throughout.

As a mortgage broker in Manchester, we would always recommend starting your mortgage process up to 6 months in advance. This way, you can get your agreement in principle arranged and begin looking for properties within your budget nice and early. For example, if you were looking at moving home in January, starting your process in the Summer would benefit you more and tie in with your plans.

If you have had an offer accepted or are looking at buying a property in Manchester, now is the time to start your mortgage journey – act now! Book your free mortgage appointment online or by giving our team a call today.

Do You Need a Deposit to Remortgage in Manchester?

When considering remortgaging in Manchester, it’s not unusual for homeowners to question whether a deposit is a prerequisite. After all, deposits are typically linked to buying a new property, not to the process of refinancing an existing mortgage.

Understanding the Basics: What is a Remortgage in Manchester?

Before we delve into the topic of deposits concerning remortgages, it’s important to gain a comprehensive understanding of what a remortgage in Manchester entails.

In essence, a remortgage involves the process of either transferring your existing mortgage to a new lender or renegotiating the terms of your current mortgage with your existing lender.

Individuals contemplate remortgaging in Manchester for a multitude of reasons, ranging from securing a more favourable interest rate to exploring the potential of releasing equity through the remortgage route or adapting their mortgage type to better suit their changing financial circumstances.

The Role of a Deposit in Remortgaging in Manchester

The reassuring news is that, for the most part, remortgaging in Manchester doesn’t necessitate a deposit. Unlike the process of buying a new home, where a deposit is typically required to secure a mortgage, remortgaging primarily hinges on the equity you’ve accumulated in your existing property.

Leveraging Your Home Equity

When you embark on the journey of remortgaging in Manchester, the equity in your home takes centre stage. Equity signifies the share of your property’s value that you fully own, and it steadily grows as you consistently make mortgage payments.

To illustrate, consider your home’s current valuation at £300,000. If your remaining mortgage balance stands at £200,000, your equity amounts to £100,000. This equity is a valuable asset that can open doors to various remortgaging opportunities.

The Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)

Rather than relying on a deposit, remortgages in Manchester are commonly determined by an important metric known as the loan-to-value (LTV) ratio.

The LTV ratio assesses the sum you plan to borrow in relation to your property’s current market value. In Manchester, many homeowners strive for a lower LTV, as it often leads to more attractive remortgage options.

Deposit for Specific Remortgage Situations

While most standard remortgages in Manchester don’t necessitate a deposit, there are specific situations in which it could become relevant:

Adverse Credit History

If you have a history of credit issues, it’s conceivable that some lenders may request a deposit as a precautionary step to mitigate risk. This deposit acts as a security measure, offering assurance to the lender in case of potential payment challenges.

Releasing Equity

If you’re considering a remortgage in Manchester with the aim of releasing a significant amount of equity, it’s important to be aware that some lenders may request a deposit as a means to manage their financial risk.

This additional deposit serves as a mechanism for lenders to limit their exposure when you’re unlocking a substantial portion of your property’s equity.

Additional Considerations

It’s vital to keep in mind that the remortgage process comes with various associated costs, such as arrangement fees, valuation charges, and legal expenses. These expenses should be factored into your decision-making process as you weigh the pros and cons of remortgaging.

Speaking with a Mortgage Advisor in Manchester

When it comes to navigating the intricacies of remortgages in Manchester, the process can often appear complex. Therefore, the most important step to take is to seek guidance from a qualified mortgage advisor in Manchester.

An experienced mortgage advisor in Manchester possesses the expertise needed to meticulously evaluate your unique circumstances. They can help you in identifying the most suitable remortgage solution and provide invaluable guidance throughout the entire process.

In summary, it’s essential to understand that the majority of remortgages in Manchester typically do not require a deposit. Instead, the pivotal factors in this process revolve around your existing equity and the loan-to-value ratio.

To ensure a seamless remortgage experience tailored to your specific needs, it is definitely recommended to seek remortgage advice in Manchester.

They will conduct a comprehensive assessment of your financial situation, explore various options, and work diligently to secure the most advantageous remortgage deal on your behalf.

What is a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Manchester?

The Shared Ownership Scheme is a government-initiated mortgage program in the UK, aiming to aid individuals in stepping onto the property ladder. It’s accessible to permanent UK residents who fall into the category of either first time buyers or previous homeowners struggling to acquire a new property.

Furthermore, your household income must not exceed £80,000, and the property you intend to purchase will predominantly be on a leasehold basis. Leasehold signifies that you’ll possess the property for a predetermined duration.

Through Shared Ownership in Manchester, you can secure your home through a combination of a mortgage and rental payments. The total of your rental payments will usually be lower than your mortgage payments.

What percentage of the property in Manchester can I borrow?

When Shared Ownership was first introduced, the minimum share that you could own was 25%, whereas now, this has been brought down to 10% for some properties.

There is an option for homeowners to increase the percentage share that they own their home. This is called staircasing. This is usually done at the point of remortgage or when the homeowners have paid off the mortgage on the share that they own.

If you decide that you want to increase your shares, you can now purchase them in 1% instalments. This used to be in 5-10% increments.

Moreover, the charges increasing your extra shares have been lowered. Additionally, your landlord will cover the maintenance and repair expenses for the first decade of ownership.

The rules that apply to you and your Shared Ownership in Manchester may change depending on when you originally took out the mortgage. As a mortgage broker in Manchester, we recommend double-checking what you can and can’t do in relation to the new rules of Shared Ownership. Drop our mortgage advisors in Manchester a message if you are unsure about how your property is affected.

How do I apply for a Shared Ownership mortgage in Manchester?

To access the Shared Ownership scheme in Manchester, you must first qualify for the scheme. The scheme is not for everyone, so it is worth checking that it is right for you before applying for it.

To check whether you are eligible for the Shared Ownership scheme in Manchester, you’ll first need to get in touch with your local Help to Buy agent in the area you are looking to purchase in.

You will need to give them information such as your income, budget, preference of where you would like to live in the area and your credit history. Once you have confirmed your eligibility, the next step is to begin preparing your mortgage application.

Using a mortgage broker in Manchester like us is your best bet from here. Not every mortgage lender will be able to offer their help with Shared Ownership mortgages, yet a mortgage broker has access to thousands of deals through various lenders.

Pros & Cons of Shared Ownership in Manchester

There are pros and cons to Shared Ownership in Manchester, just like every Help to Buy scheme out there.

Pros of Shared Ownership

Saving for a mortgage deposit is often a worry among first time buyers, the Shared Ownership scheme usually only requires you to put down a deposit on the percentage of the property that you own. For example, if you are taking a mortgage out on 20% of a property valued at £200,000 (£40,000 mortgage) and you are required to put down a 10% deposit, you will only need to put down £4,000 deposit.

Numerous mortgage lenders, including those on our panel, provide Shared Ownership mortgage products. The scheme has become more popular over the last few years and first time buyers are opting for this scheme to help them get onto the property ladder. Moreover, Shared Ownership Mortgages can provide enduring stability as you become both an owner and occupant simultaneously.

You may get the chance to purchase your property in the future if that is something you are looking to achieve. If you want to eventually own the property, before taking out a Shared Ownership mortgage in Manchester, you should make sure that this is an option for you in the future because some building societies do not allow this. Whether you can purchase the property in the future or not will be in your contract.

You’ll enjoy secure tenure, unlike the uncertainty of the private market. As long as you can maintain your monthly mortgage payments, you can continue residing in your home for the duration of your lease, usually spanning from 99 to 125 years.

Cons of Shared Ownership

While there are many advantages to Shared Ownership, you also need to be aware of the cons. It’s important to note that you’ll be responsible for 100% of the ground rent and service charges for your property, regardless of the size of your purchased share.

As your home will be co-owned, you must seek approval from the relevant housing provider before making any structural alterations. This requirement might limit the sense of complete ownership freedom you’d typically have.

Can I sell my home if I have a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Manchester?

After a while of living within your Shared Ownership property in Manchester, you may decide that you want to move on and start looking at moving home. With most other mortgage types, this would be simple enough, however, with Shared Ownership, the process works slightly differently.

Whether you can sell your home depends on how much of the property you own. Usually, you are required to own 100% shares in the property before you are able to sell it.

Nevertheless, it’s important to recognise that the housing association usually retains ‘first refusal’ rights for the initial 21 years following your home purchase. Legally, this grants them the opportunity to present a purchase offer for the property before you consider selling it on the open market.

If you do not own 100% of the property, your first step is to try and purchase the remaining shares in the property and then look at selling it.

Is a Shared Ownership Mortgage in Manchester right for me?

Shared Ownership is not for everyone by any means. Most of the time, as a mortgage broker in Manchester, we find that sole applicants and those struggling to save for a deposit most benefit from the scheme.

Taking out a Shared Ownership in Manchester requires you to meet a criteria. To see whether you qualify for the scheme, reach out to our mortgage advisors in Manchester and we can take a look at your circumstances.

To speak with the team, simply give our team a call or book a free mortgage appointment online. We would love to offer a helping hand to make your Shared Ownership process stress-free!

What Does a Mortgage Broker in Manchester Do?

Why use a mortgage broker in Manchester?

If you are looking to try and save both your time and money, reduce your stress levels and worry less about the process, there is a lot of upside to taking on the help of an expert mortgage broker in Manchester.

As professionals with a lot of experience, we have access to thousands of deals, able to pick and choose one that is best suited for your particular situation. Going directly to the bank, on the other hand, see’s you with access to only one lender’s mortgage deals, as opposed to a look at multiple.

Appointments That Work With Your Busy Day-to-Day Life

Our team are available to get you booked in for an appointment, 7 days a week, from early until late, working around your busy schedule.

You are also able to utilise our website’s booking form, to select a video or telephone consultation with a mortgage advisor in Manchester, at a time that is convenient to you.

Before Your Application

In order to progress with a mortgage as a first time buyer in Manchester, you will first need to look at having an appointment to speak with a mortgage advisor in Manchester.

Throughout the duration of this meeting, you will be providing them with additional information that will serve to help them better understand your circumstances and your plans. Following on from this, they will then take a look at a wide variety of mortgage deals in order to find the right one for you.

First time buyers in Manchester and people moving home in Manchester that are happy to proceed with the recommendation of their mortgage advisor, will benefit from receiving an agreement in principle (AIP). We look to get this for our customers, within 24 hours of their initial appointment.

This is a useful document to have, as estate agents will ask for this when you are making an offer on a property. It showcases that you are committed to the purchase and that you are in fact financially able to proceed with your purchase, having a mortgage lender on standby willing to lend.

We are able to support and guide you with your offer process, help with property surveys and also make any insurance recommendations (that are completely optional) that could act as a safety net to protect your family and your home from unforeseen circumstances.

You will also need to provide your mortgage advisor with appropriate documentation to go along with your mortgage application, with these varying depending on what it is you’re trying to do and who you will be working with. This is something we’ll also help you with as a mortgage broker in Manchester.

During Your Application

Once your documents have ben received, as a mortgage broker in Manchester, we will verify those documents and provide you with a mortgage illustration that will outline the deal that you have agreed to, with the mortgage lender we recommended. This is done just before we submit your application.

Your application is then submitted, following your approval of our recommendation, with your mortgage advisor in Manchester sending copies of your documents to the mortgage lender. We will keep in regular contact with you, to ensure you are kept up-to-date with the progression of your application.

We’ll be straight back in touch with you once the mortgage lender has made a decision on your application. If it is successful, this is where you will receive a formal mortgage offer. From here, it’s all up to your solicitor to complete the deal and allow you to move into your new home.

Our Mortgage Advice in Manchester Service

As a mortgage broker in Manchester, we always like to make sure that your best interests are at the hear of everything that we do. If we can save you time, save you money and save you stress, we will do so. We want to help put you in the best financial position you can be in.

Our customer reviews are a genuine look at the long lasting relationships we build with those who get in touch with us, showing the positive impact that owning a home, by way of our mortgage advice service, has had on them as individuals.

10 Factors to Help you Decide Where to Live in Manchester

Analysing Common Home Buyer Needs

Before you start with anything else, probably the main factor when moving home in or around the Manchester area, whether local or not, is what location do you have in mind.

Generally though you’ll have to think about more than just where you want to live, but what the area is like, what is there and what do you want to prioritise when looking for your dream home.

To help you get a better idea of the sort of place you’d like to live, we have compiled a detailed list of the different types of factors we have heard that home buyers look at when looking to find their new home in Manchester.

1. Busy city or relaxing countryside?

It is important to come up with an idea of the type of area you would like to make your residence in, as this is somewhere you are going to be living in for a good while, maybe even making it a family home.

If you’re the sort who feels a lot more comfortable surrounded by a thriving urban scene, the city life is definitely your best choice. If you have a preference for the quiet life, living in the countryside might be more your cup of tea.

You’ll find pros and cons to either choice, so give it a lot of careful thought before you get your heart set on a potential new home that could be based in an area that you might not enjoy.

The transport links to and from your potential new home base are important factors to pay attention to.

Make sure whether it’s to go out and socialise with friends or family, to make your way to work, to go shopping for essentials or anything else you like to do in your spare time, that your home has necessary transport links.

Also do some research as to how much each of these is going to cost you when travelling. If you drive your own vehicle, how long will it take for you to reach different places? How much will fuel be? Are there any nearby fuel stations?

3. Schools & Education

For home buyers who have some children, you should take a look at what schools are nearby. Find out what the local catchment areas are, so you can get a rough idea of what the schools are like. School league tables are handy learning tools.

If you don’t have any children now, whether you are planning for the future or have no plans at all, it may be beneficial to at least look it up, just to future proof yourself.

4. Nearby Facilities – What You Need Vs What You Want

There may be certain facilities that you would like to have close to you when you are planning on a place to potentially live. We would suggest writing a list and separating those that you want from those that are essential.

An example of this would be if you really want to have a gym nearby but doing so could mean that you have to live in an area without the shops you need within a reachable distance.

You probably need the shops more for your general living, so that might be something to prioritise, whilst leaving the gym as an added bonus if you can make it work.

5. Friends & Family

The distance between where you might be living and where your family and friends currently live can have an influence on where you move to. Many prefer keeping them close by, so they have that support network if they need it.

On the other hand, some prefer to keep to themselves with their loved ones at a distance, prioritising peace and quiet over going out and socialising with people on the regular.

6. Is the property good value for money?

When making purchases, we all would like to know that we’re getting good value for money. Determining this for your home will depend on the area that you’re looking to live in.

It may be a better option for you to look for a cheaper property to start out with, though this might mean compromising various features or nearby facilities that you would’ve preferred to have had.

7. What is the community like?

The local community can impact your home living experience quite a bit.

As established, some prefer the quiet life. This might entail having a few residents nearby who keep to themselves. Others like to have a thriving busy community, generally where everyone is known and communicates regularly.

Have a word with your estate agent and find out what the area is like. Community Facebook pages or locally run websites tend to be quite common these days, so they’re worth looking up to get a rough feel for the local vibe.

8. Career Changes

Some home buyers may be moving because of a new job or career plan. This is something we’ve heard from customers a lot and is a very big factor. You should review the distance between your new home and workplace.

If you’re going to be working in a home office and only visiting the office sporadically, would you be okay with living a bit further out? What is the space like within the property? Is there even the scope for a home office?

For those who will be job hunting once they have already moved, do some research on the companies in the local area and compile a list of the main employers to potentially apply with.

9. Property Type

You will find a lot of different property types available to you across the open property market, with these varying depending on where you’re looking.

Some prefer end-terrace properties with a garden to enjoy, whilst others prefer a modern flat or studio apartment.

Make sure you have a good look at all the options available to you, undertake some property viewings and get a good idea of the type of property you would prefer to live in.

10. Local Developments

Any proposed local investment would probably be helpful to find information on, especially if you’re looking to build a life within that home and stay there for quite a while.

Online research will be the best port of call when looking to find any future investments. It’s important to consider whether these will be a benefit or a detriment to your lifestyle.

To explain further, those who might have a preference for quiet country life might find their dream scenario turned into a nightmare if a big new housing development is planned within close proximity.

Moving Home Mortgage Advice in Manchester

Hopefully through reading our list you’ll now be better equipped for finding a place to call your home.

When the time comes for making offers on property and getting yourself a mortgage, get yourself booked in for a free mortgage appointment. We would be happy to help!

We have a dedicated team of mortgage advisors available from early until late, all throughout the working week and weekend, subject to availability.

No matter if you need some assistance with a first time buyer mortgage in Manchester or are moving home in Manchester, we can’t wait to hear from you and help you kickstart your mortgage journey.

What do Lenders Look for When Assessing my Bank Statements?

Why does a lender need my bank statements, and how do I obtain them? 

A lender will need to see your bank statements to learn more about your spending habits. They will analyse your bank statements to determine whether or not you are the sort of person who can manage your money responsibly and can afford to keep up regular mortgage payments.   

After all, a mortgage is likely the most significant financial commitment you will ever make in your life and is not something to be taken lightly. 

You have several ways to obtain your bank statements either by post, over the counter at your local bank or print from your online banking platform. 

What do lenders look for on bank statements | MoneymanTV

What will lenders be looking for on my bank statement? 

As stated above, they need to know you’re responsible with your money. One of the things they’ll be looking at is if there are any overdrafts. Using this often is not necessarily a bad thing; regularly exceeding the overdraft limit is not ideal. 

More factors to be careful with are potential returned direct debits, showing a lender you are not consistently reliable, and not disclosing loans at the application stage won’t look good if the lender finds any outgoings on your bank statements that you failed to mention.  

Another awareness is if you have missed payments for personal loans and things such as credit cards. What will impress the lender is demonstrating that you handle your money well and meet payment deadlines. 

Will gambling affect my chances of getting a mortgage? 

If you have a history of gambling, the occasional bit of fun is harmless, but if you are frequently wagering significant amounts of money, whether you’re making it back or not, the lender will consider whether or not these transactions are reasonable and responsible.   

For more information, check out our article “Do Gambling Transactions Look Bad on My Bank Statements?”  

What can I do to show the lender I am reliable?  

The answer is simple – be sensible. Typically, a bank would ask for up to three months of your most recent bank statements. These will show your salary credits and all your regular bill payments.  

Ensure that your bank account is conducted in a manner that shows you are reliable and manage your finances well.   
 

The first thing we’d suggest is that if you are a frequent big spender, you take a break for some time. During this break, you will find yourself in a better financial state and could improve your mental health. 

If you need to save some extra money, some choose to cook at home instead of takeaways, stop treating yourself to unnecessary large purchases, and limit your subscriptions; this will help free up additional cash to ensure you can pay bills on time. 

This boils down to simply being sensible and planning with plenty of time ahead of what you’re looking to do. The further away you find yourself from bouts of debt and financial uncertainty, the better your chances will be with a lender.  

Speak to a Dedicated Mortgage Advisor in Manchester 

Whether you’re a first time buyer, moving home, or self employed in Manchester, it’s always essential to keep on top of your finances.  

If you have a history of bad credit history and are unsure of what to do next, you can always enquire about specialist mortgage advice in Manchester by getting in touch with us today. We’ll advise as best as we can to help you through your mortgage journey. 

What are the 7 best places to live in Manchester?

The Best Areas to Live in Manchester

If you have ever thought about Moving Home in Manchester, you have likely found yourself wondering which areas are the best places to live in Manchester. To help you make an informed decision, we have put together a list of the best areas to live in and around the Manchester area.

1. Altrincham

Altrincham is a large market town situated in Trafford, Greater Manchester. Having been through generations of cultural and industrial change, the town has become quite the location for First Time Buyers in Manchester and Home Movers. In fact, it has even been described as one of the best places to live in the northwest!

You may have to pay a higher amount to live in Altrincham, however, with the types of housing that is available, it’s definitely worth it. Altrincham is also a great place to bring up a family; the local area of Timperley is a good place to look if this is why you are wanting to buy a home in Altrincham.

Home to halls, gardens, canals, indoor markets and music venues, Altrincham is an amazing place to live. If you choose to live in Altrincham, we are sure that you’ll enjoy your stay and hopefully find your dream home! 

2. Chorlton

Chorlton is a small suburban area located 3 miles South West of the Manchester City Centre. Chorlton is a great place to live, the average housing price stands at £335,000 (May 2021). This is the perfect location for someone wanting access to the city life as well as the quieter, local suburban lifestyle.

Speaking of city life, from Chorlton, the Manchester City Centre is only a 15-minute tram ride away. You’ll find lots of transports links in Chorlton, there is no need to worry about the ease of getting to your place of work, getting from A to B and dropping your children off at school.

Even if you don’t wish to take regular trips into the city, there are still plenty of different things to do in Chorlton. You can find plenty of restaurants, cafes and pubs dotted around the area; each having their own unique but local feel.

If Chorlton sounds like the kind of place where you could see yourself living in the near or far future, make sure to get in touch and we will see how we can help you get your Moving Home process started! 

3. Deansgate

The longest road in Manchester City Centre at over a mile in length, Deansgate is a location rich in history and is in fact one of Manchester’s most historic areas, with information on it dating back even as far as the 17th century.

The local high street is filled with various designer shopping opportunities, allowing for an enjoyable experience. If you wish to travel between the different areas in Manchester, you’ll find it has easy access to various popular locales and many different transport options to choose from, ranging from trams, to trains and even a shuttle bus.

If you like history filled locations that have a great high street and double as a transport hub for various nearby areas, Deansgate could be the perfect location for you. 

4. Didsbury

As one of the most vibrant places to live in Manchester, Didsbury has something for everyone. With elegant greenery, noble properties, and a famous nightlife scene, it’s no wonder that this gem has been popular with first time buyers in Manchester over the last few years.

Split into three areas: East Didsbury is famous for its excellent schools, West Didsbury has a selection of fantastic restaurants and Didsbury Village is home to a lively community, popular restaurants, hotels and a range of shops. Favored amongst families, Didsbury offers a quiet escape from the busy center of Manchester.

Easily accessible from Manchester City Centre, Didsbury has an excellent public transport system. You can choose from the train, bus or even the Metrolink.

As one of Manchester’s most popular area’s Didsbury is just one of the reasons that make Manchester such a wonderful place, and that’s why we recommend Didsbury for families as there are plenty of housing choices available. 

5. Rusholme

If you are familiar with Rusholme, you know it’s nicknamed the “the Curry Mile” for a reason. Thanks to many curry houses, Rusholme is an area in Manchester with its own distinct culture and Asian influence.

High-performing schools make Rusholme an appealing area for families, while excellent transport links to Manchester City Centre make getting around a breeze. Suppose you’re looking for somewhere with plenty the conveniences and great food. Rusholme should be on your list of places to live in Manchester.

If you’re looking to live close to the city centre but avoid the premiums that part of city life throws up, Rusholme is the place for you. It’s an excellent area for First-Time Buyers in Manchester; from terraced to semi-detached housing, we are sure that you will find something that is for you.  

6. Sale

5.2 miles south west of Manchester, just down the road from Stretford and Altrincham, is the large Trafford town of Sale. Popular with families, Sale has great local options for children’s education, with some regularly well-performing primary schools in and around the area. It doesn’t just stop there however, as there are plenty of secondary school options too, some of which are considered high in-demand.

There’s a great community feel in Sale, with a mixed variety of different people and even a volunteer run festival for people to take part in. If this hasn’t sold you on the area already, then let’s talk property prices. No matter the era of property you’re looking to buy, you’ll find the property prices to be a lot lower than expected, appealing to people from all walks of life.

Like much of the Manchester area, Sale too is rich in history, with potential findings suggesting even prehistoric life in this general location. For an affordable, historic and community driven area with great opportunities for your children to grow, a place in Sale could be just the home you’re looking for. 

7. Salford

Salford is an ideal location for any media enthusiast as this city is a media hub surrounded by green belt land. Salford is a perfect place to live in, from its vibrant community to its thriving modern hub, putting it firmly on the home-buying map for First Time Buyers or Home Movers in Manchester.

Thanks to MediaCityUK and the investment in the area, Salford now homes more shops, restaurants and bars, but if this isn’t enough, the attractions of Manchester City Centre are always nearby. But this modern city development hasn’t destroyed its green spaces. Salford remains one of the UK’s greenest cities so that residents can enjoy waterfront, urban and rural living.

Supported by excellent housing prices, Salford is a great place to live in Manchester. Make sure that you don’t sweep this option under the rug. 

First Time Buyer Mortgage Advice in Manchester

We hope that our list has proved to be a little helpful in your decision making. Of course, you should still do your own research and visit the areas yourself, but we at least summarised the highlights of some of the best areas in and around Manchester, to really give you a feel for what they may be like.

If you are looking at moving home in Manchester and would like some help with getting the process started, please do get in touch. A trusted and dedicated Mortgage Broker in Manchester like ourselves will work hard to try and guide you through the whole process.

Why Get Mortgage Advice in Manchester?

How Mortgage Advice Can Help

Have you ever had those moments where you’ve purchased a cheap flight online and then tried to make a small change to your booking? You’d expect these things to be fairly straightforward, but they end up taking too long, being far more complicated than necessary and costing more than you’d initially planned for.

It is a really bad example of customer service and can cause you unnecessary stress along the way. Something that was meant to be fun, has now had that fun taken out of it because of your initial bad experience upfront. In these cases, you have the option of going the route of using a travel agent to help you with bookings, reducing the stress of the process.

These same stresses and worries appear in the world of mortgages and much like the travel agent, this is where a dedicated and hardworking mortgage broker in Manchester is often able to come in and take the weight off your shoulders.

Invaluable Mortgage Advice in Manchester

Without a doubt, buying a new home is one of the biggest financial commitments you’ll ever make in your life. With this in mind, utilising the experience and industry knowledge of a trusted mortgage advisor in Manchester will save you from many of the problems present with either going direct or trying to go it alone, without anyone to back you up.

Usually, the fixed rate that you might see advertised on tv or the internet, is not the final rate.  As with all advertising, it’s there to get your attention and make you want to see more. Generally speaking, these deals are aimed at customers with lots of equity, perfect credit ratings, employed, and a brilliant track history of paying. There will almost always be a more attractive deal out there, but that doesn’t mean that’s the best for you personally or financially.

You must also bear in mind that when going with this specific lender, you only have access to their products and their heavily biased advisors. Others to be careful with are estate agents and price comparison sites, wherein the latter only displays the deals these high street banks want you to see, whilst the estate agents are incredibly biased and pushy, known to break the law in order to make money from you. You can read more about the sales tactics of estate agents in our article on the topic.

As an open & honest mortgage broker in Manchester, we only ever have your best interests at heart. We are able to offer a wide range of products from different, sometimes more niche lenders, depending on what it is you’re looking to achieve. These deals are often better than the lenders direct deals and also aren’t available going direct either. As well as this, our loyal team of advisors will never try and force anything on you that you don’t want, working purely to support your needs from start to finish.

Speak With a Dedicated Mortgage Advice Expert

Getting in touch with a Mortgage Broker in Manchester will allow you to further explore your options and your recommendation will be personal to you and your situation. Also, features such as a fixed rate of interest, offset options or variable rates for flexibility, may be recommended for you.

All products and deals have their own specific rules and criteria. It’s our job to know this criteria inside and out, which is why we will work hard to make sure you’re on the best or at the very least most appropriate path for your personal situation.

If we’ve done our job right, and we have a good track record of doing just that (see our Customer Reviews for testimonials by real customers!), you’ll walk away with a deal that allows you to borrow the amount you’d like, with reasonable interest rates and hopefully having saved both time and money.

We have a long history of helping anyone from first time Buyers in Manchester, to those looking to remortgage in Manchester and even those who require self employed Mortgage Advice. If you would like to take advantage of our free initial mortgage consultation and speak with a mortgage advisor in Manchester, please get in touch and we’ll see how we can help.

Forces Help to Buy Scheme (FHTB) in Manchester Explained

Help to Buy Mortgage Advice in Manchester

Armed Forces Help to Buy Scheme | MoneymanTV

Good news for military personnel, from 1 January 2023, The Forces Help to Buy Scheme has become an enduring policy, ensuring its availability to all service personnel now and in the future. 

Originally introduced back in 2014, this £200 million scheme was intended to offer a boost to anyone from the forces who needed help buying a home.

How does this help to buy work?

People who have served in the military have access to borrow a deposit of up to half their annual salary (a maximum of £25,000), without any interest applied. This can be used to either purchase their first home or to move into a new family home.

The best part is that you don’t need any current savings to get yourself onto the property ladder. Some of the money raised from the loan you’ll receive via the scheme can be used to put towards your deposit or other costs, such as: 

In fantastic news for forces personnel, the majority of lender will accept the loan towards the deposit for a new home. More relaxed than some other schemes, the Forces Help to Buy loan can be paid back over a period of 10 years, so you don’t have to feel as rushed.

Whether you thought you had a chance or not, if you have served your country and can meet the right criteria (length served, service term left and medical categories), you will be eligible to purchase your home using this scheme.

Click here to read through further details from the government.

How a Mortgage Advisor in Manchester may be Able to Help

Our experienced mortgage advice team in Manchester has your back from day one. Right from the beginning of your process when you call up, right through until completion and beyond, your dedicated advisor will make sure you are taken care of, ensuring that you end up with the most appropriate result for your individual circumstances.

As a company that prides itself on a fast and friendly customer experience that is stress-free, contact us today and see how we might be able to help you achieve your home owning dreams. 

Please note, the Forces Help to Buy is not the same as the standard UK Help to Buy scheme.

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UK Moneyman Limited is Registered in England, No. 6789312 | Registered Address: 10 Consort Court, Manchester, HU9 1PU.

Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

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