Buying a home is often the single biggest investment most people make. The largest proportion of home buyers seek a mortgage bond. As a result it is essential for buyers to ensure they are fully prepared for making a bond application.

The better prepared, the better the chance of getting the application approved. Rhys Dyer, Chief Operating Officer, South Africa’s leading bond originator, answers ten questions for new homebuyers to consider:

How much can I afford to spend on a home?
Before you look for a home it is important to know exactly how much money you can borrow and, most importantly, what monthly repayments you can afford. Affordability should be used as the main factor in deciding the loan amount to apply for. Banks will generally be comfortable should you be able to prove that you have sufficient disposable income after tax and all your monthly expenses to meet the monthly home loan repayment. If the repayment on the property you are looking to buy requires you to cut your monthly expenses to unrealistic levels, your loan will likely not be approved. Your bond originator will be able to help you in calculating and determining what amount you should consider.

Do I qualify for all the criteria that banks consider before awarding a loan?
Ensure that all your paperwork is ready for submission. Employment history is very important as it reflects a pattern of stability and income. For most lenders a consistent income stream is a key criterion when working out how much one can borrow. Lenders will also want to look at your credit history, so that they can see a pattern of borrowing and repayment as well as how you have managed you bank accounts and other credit facilities.

Why should I consider a bond originator? – www.mortgagepluscc.co.za
Bond originators specialise in shopping around with multiple banks to give you the best chance of getting your deal approved on the most beneficial terms. Banks all have very different criteria for assessing credit and in how they price loans, so the terms you obtain from one bank may be very different from another bank. The bond originator will work with you to ensure a home loan best suited to your individual needs.

Will I benefit from being prequalified for a home loan?
When looking for a new home it is strongly advisable that you are pre-qualified to give you a good sense as to the value of the property that you will be able to purchase. The pre-qualification process can also pick up credit issues on your record that would need to be fixed before you can formally apply to a bank. The pre-qualification process not only streamlines the home buying process, but also ensures the buyer is able to negotiate from a position of strength. Ask your estate agent or your bond originator to assist you with the pre-qualification process.

In addition to the monthly repayments, can I afford the additional costs?
Make sure you are aware of all the costs involved in buying a home. In addition to arranging a home loan and potentially putting down a deposit there are a number of other costs involved including legal costs, transfer duty, bond registration fees, and bank charges. These fees can stack up quickly and they have to be paid in order to complete the process. Over and above these ensure you have taken into account all the costs of home ownership including your monthly rates, levies and costs of insuring your home.

How can I get the best interest rate?
The lower the bank’s risk in lending funds to a consumer, the better the rate it will be able to offer. In calculating the risk, factors such as the loan-to-value ratio (the amount of deposit you are willing to put down to offset against the purchase price thus reducing the required loan amount), the size of the loan, as well as the repayment-to-income ratio (the ratio between the bond re-payment and the buyer’s income) are considered. Currently the size of the deposit is a key factor driving the rate at which banks are prepared to do business. The size of the bond for which you apply, your credit history and the investment value of the property you intend buying are some of the factors that may affect the rate you will be offered.

Consider fixed interest rate options
With interest rates currently at 35 year lows, one may want to give consideration to fixing the interest rate on your home loan when you apply for a bond. Lenders will often set a fixed rate bond at a slightly higher level than a variable rate bond; however, if you are working to a tight monthly budget, a fixed rate option removes risk and might be a prudent decision.

Can I afford to put down a deposit?
Besides improving your chances of getting your home loan approved, a deposit will result in a more favourable bond rate which will save you in interest over the term of the loan. As a home loan is paid back over a long period, generally between 20 and 25 years, even a small deduction in the interest rate on your bond, can save you thousands in interest payments over time. 100% loans are available, but the credit criteria imposed on 100% loans are very restrictive, and our advice would be to put down as large a deposit as you possibly can to ensure the best chance of home loan approval.

Consider the location of the property
The old adage of location, location, location still rings true for most South African homebuyers. Buying in the right area now can reap dividends in the long term when you choose to sell the property. It is important to get some idea of what the area you are looking to buy in may look like ten years down the line, as the demographics of an area can change relatively quickly.

Be Transparent
Always be completely transparent with your lender or bond originator. If you do not provide all the relevant information, likelihood is that the bank will pick it up and decline your loan. “Full disclosure” should be your mantra. Work with your estate agent and chosen bond originator to ensure that the property you are looking for is one that you can afford.

Please contact us if you require any further information or would like to apply for finance:

Complete this short form online

011.327.4489 / 0861 1111 93

morne@mortgagepluscc.co.za

www.mortgagepluscc.co.za

Question and Answers regarding Home Loans in SA

Q: I am in the process of buying a home and require a bond. My first thought was to apply directly with my bank, however a friend told me about something called Mortgage Origination. What is Mortgage Origination and why do I need a mortgage originator?

A: Mortgage origination is the business of negotiating a home loan with a bank on behalf of a prospective property owner. Mortgage originators give you independent advice on choosing a home loan and help you obtain it without the hassle of doing all the legwork yourself. Some originators, like Mortgage Plus, offer services that may help a buyer, like advice on estate agents in the area, how to complete the sale agreement, etc.

Because your home purchase is probably the most expensive one you’ll make in your life, the home loan itself is an important financial decision and the benefit to be gained from making the correct choice can amount to savings of hundreds of thousands of Rand over the life of the loan.

Q: I am confused. What is a Variable Rate Loan vs. a Fixed Rate loan?

A: With a variable rate loan, your interest rate is linked to the base home loan rate which moves up and down depending on market conditions. If the base rate decreases by one percent, so will your interest rate, and of course if the base rate increases so does your home loan rate.

With a Fixed Rate Loan however, your interest rate is fixed for a specified period, generally between one and two years and is generally slightly higher than the base home loan rate when the loan is taken out. A fixed rate loan protects you from rising interest rates and gives you the certainty of knowing exactly what your payments will be. Bear in mind however that it does not allow you to benefit from any decreases in the interest rate over the fixed period.

Q: My husband and I are expecting our third child so we are in the market to buy a new, bigger home but with the current interest rates and uncertainty in the property market at the moment, we really need sound advice on whether to buy a new home, build from scratch or renovate our existing home.

A: Whether you are buying an existing home, building a new one or renovating your current abode, taking the first steps towards home ownership is a daunting prospect. Take heart – no matter how intimidating that mountain may appear, scaling it will always be easier with sound advice.

Property’s primary law is position – the area in which the home is located and the market value of the homes within that suburb. Discussing the prospects with family and friends around the braai or the dinner table provides a valuable perspective on the intangible elements of local amenities, community living or double-storey homes when there is a new baby in the crib.

Building and renovating carries the guiding principle – do not over-capitalise the property relative to the neighbours. Simply put: building or extending the property into a five-bedroom mansion with an Olympic-size swimming pool in an area where the bulk of properties have three bedrooms on small plots is not economically sensible.

Conversely, renovating the smallest property in a prime area promises a long-term return that more than compensates for the renovation costs. Essentially, bathrooms and kitchens sell properties so upgrading those assets substantially improves the home value.

There is no substitute for professional advice. Mortgage Plus  is one of the country’s top mortgage originators and offers free advice to home owners and buyers. Whether buying, renovating or building, our consultants can guide you through the process step-by-step, complete the paperwork and arrange and negotiate with the banks a finance package to suit your individual needs.

By choosing Mortgage Plus for a loan, you will get professional advice to make sure you are getting the best deal possible.

CONTACT US

Speak to a home loan consultant about financing your new property or reviewing your existing mortgage. We are able to assist in lowering your bond repayments and securing attorney discounts.

Complete this short form online
Call us on 011.327.4489
Email: morne@mortgagepluscc.co.za

www.mortgagepluscc.co.za