Originators vital to speed up housing delivery

Housing developers will be hard-pushed to meet the huge pent-up demand for affordable homes – and create thousands of jobs in the process – without the help of mortgage originators.

So says Rudi Botha, who notes: “All eyes are currently on the so-called gap market, which is individuals or households earning between R9000 and R16 000 a month who can afford homes costing about R600 000 and less.

“And with the transfer duty threshold having recently been adjusted to exempt such homes from transfer tax and the government on the verge of introducing a mortgage indemnity fund to stimulate bank lending to this type of buyer, it should be all-systems-go to start eliminating the housing backlog.”

The trouble is, he says, that there just aren’t enough homes to meet the demand in this sector of the market, which is also being fuelled by low interest rates – “and that developers are unlikely to be able to get on and provide them without the help of originators to speed up homebuyers’ access to finance“.

Botha notes that the success of a new development generally hinges on how fast the new homes can be sold and transferred – which in turn requires that lots of “end users” or homebuyers have quick access to home loans at competitive interest rates.

“Which is where the help of originators – at no cost to the developer – becomes invaluable. In the first place, we provide major assistance in the administration of home loan applications. Our experience is that the rate of conversion in this sector is pretty low, and that there is a lot of wastage unless applicants are pre-screened. So we do all the credit and affordability checking before applications are made, and we also manage all the supporting documentation for each application.

“In addition, we can make multiple applications using a single document, which further streamlines the application process and improves the chances of each applicant being granted a loan.”

What is more, he says, there are other big benefits for consumers in having an originator on hand when buying in a new development. These include the provision of information about the “hidden” costs of buying a home and the home loan repayment process, impartial advice on the most appropriate home financing options, and assistance to obtain the most competitive interest rate possible – all at no charge to the consumer.

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

Banks start to ease up with bond applications

WITH banks beginning to relax their lending policies, there is support for a revival in the property market and now is the time to apply for a bond.

There should be a much-improved chance of being approved for a loan on favourable terms. Banks are again offering 100 percent loans and the current lower interest rates make it a better time for consumers looking to buy.

Before you even apply for a loan, check whether the property is affordable.

Determining the right price range is an essential first step to avoid wasting time looking at unsuitable properties.

A property finance consultant will take you through the exercise of establishing what you can afford, taking into account your specific financial requirements.

Monthly repayment affordability is generally calculated at 25 to 30 percent of joint gross income, but other criteria, including existing debt commitments, may affect the size of the loan that the bank will grant.

Remember that the hidden costs (transfer and bond registration fees) usually have to be paid up front and add a sizeable amount to the cost.

One way to ensure that the loan you apply for will be granted is to get a prequalification. Companies such as Mortgage Plus will, at no cost, prequalify you for a certain bond amount, which takes the stress out of applying for a bond once you have decided on buying a property. Another positive factor is that buyers who are prequalified are in a much stronger position to negotiate with sellers.

Bond applications may be declined for several reasons: you may not be able to afford the monthly loan repayments, or may require a 100 percent loan that would push the repayments beyond your reach.

Another critical consideration is your credit profile. This includes your employment history and consumer bureau results, which provide a picture of your debt and payment history. If the bank considers you a good credit risk, it will assess the value of the property to be purchased.

If this, too, meets all the relevant criteria, the loan is usually granted. The mortgage originator also often motivates the merits of a particular loan application to the bank’s credit manager.

To improve your credit record, cancel out-of-date credit cards and ensure that you pay all instalments by the due date every month.

To help the bank determine its risk, you will have to provide personal information such as bank statements, salary slips, a statement of assets and liabilities, a statement of your monthly expenses and information on your credit history, including whether you have ever been insolvent.

An originator can ensure you have all the correct paper work to avoid unnecessary delays.

Mortgage originators shop around and negotiate the best deal for customers for free. Obtaining a preferential rate of just 0.1 percent below prime can make a big difference to monthly repayments. But a mortgage originator must take more than just the rate into account and will structure a package to suit an individual.

To structure a package to suit an individual needs please phone (011)327-4489 or go to www.mortgagepluscc.co.za