How To Qualify For A Mortgage Loan

Since the National Credit Act was implemented and the start of the global economic crisis it has become more difficult to qualify for a mortgage loan from your bank, to qualify for a mortgage loan your bank will require that you meet the following criteria:

• Have a stable steady income , you will need to provide proof of this in the form of a payslip or audited financial statements
• Qualify for the loan in terms of the banks affordability criteria and be able to afford the monthly mortgage payments
• Have a clean credit record , if you have any default judgments or listings the bank will turn down your mortgage application
• The bank may apply additional conditions at its discretion.

The different South African banks may apply different conditions when considering your mortgage application , but these are the core conditions that you should be able comply with in order to qualify for a mortgage loan.

Here are a few pointers and advice on ensuring that you make the best case when applying for a mortgage loan;

Stable and Steady Income

If you are employed and receive a payslip the banks will feel more comfortable in providing you with a mortgage loan. People that are self employed will need to provide the bank with a great deal more information to qualify for that mortgage loan. The bank will require that you provide them with your latest set of audited financial statements as well as 6 months bank statements – the bank wants to satisfy itself that you are able to generate an income to cover your mortgage payments. If your business is still new or not generating the desired level of income it would be prudent to hold off on your mortgage application until you and the business have built up more of a track record.

Banks Affordability Criteria

You have a steady income , but based on the banks affordability criteria you don’t qualify. You could always consider applying at another bank as the various South African Banks have varying affordability criteria , however this is only likely to work in marginal cases as essentially the banks consider the same facts.

You need to identify what the problem areas were in your application and to address these issues. Often applicants are declined because their debt levels are just too high and a significant portion of their income is used to service debt. The only advice here is to reduce your debt levels to acceptable levels before reapplying , you can do this by cutting your expenses and paying off more debt. Always pay off the most expensive debt first and work through your debts systematically. As you pay off more debt increase you repayments on other debt items until your debt levels become more manageable.

Another problem area causing your mortgage application to be declined is that your income is just too low to service the mortgage. Your options are to shop around for a more affordable property that you are able to finance. Another sensible approach is to save towards a bigger deposit making the property more affordable. You can also try increasing your income – tough in these economic times.

Clean Credit Record

This is where most people fall short with their mortgage applications. Before approaching your bank for a mortgage loan always check out your credit profile before applying. You can do this at the major Credit Bureaus , ITC Transunion and Experian – they may charge you for the credit report , but is well worth the expense.

If your credit record has a few blemishes you may need to clean it up before applying for a mortgage loan. Where a creditor lists you as a slow payer, you should get your payments up to date and conduct your account in a more responsible manner. Afterword’s approach the creditor and ask them to remove the slow payer status.

Where a creditor has obtained a default judgment against you the situation become more tricky. You will have to pay the debt in full and ask the creditor for a rescission of the default judgment. Approach the creditor before paying the outstanding amount , make them an offer to pay off the entire amount and costs in exchange for them having the judgment rescinded.

In cases where you have paid the entire debt , but you are still reflected on the credit bureau you should obtain a letter from the creditor stating that the debt has been paid in full. It is always best however to try and get the listings removed as it just makes the mortgage approval process easier.

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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

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Buying Your First Home: Everything You Need to Know Before Taking the Leap

Buying your first home can be a daunting experience; with all the hype in the news about high interest rates, repossessed homes, and the near impossibility of obtaining a home loan most people are running, sprinting, towards renting a home instead of running the risks of buying one.

But even with all the negative press about the current state of the property market there is no better feeling than owning your own home. And with interest rates about to drop there is no time like the present to take the plunge. Here is everything you need to know before buying your first home …

Be Pre-approved:Nothing beats the piece-of-mind of shopping with a pre-approved bond. Arranging a pre-approved bond will minimise stress when shopping for your new home; knowing what you can afford will allow you to narrow down the search and save you the time of looking at things you can’t afford and that aren’t suitable. www.mortgagepluscc.co.za

Plan Ahead for Success:

 Before setting out to buy a home, it pays to think about your needs. Often one may fall in love with “the perfect house” only to find that the home is not in the right area or that the garden is too big to manage. If the home is for a family, the needs of the whole family must be considered – husband, wife, children, and sometimes even grandparents. Think about how many bedrooms and what size kitchen is needed; and whether having a garage is important. Do you have a dog and need the property to be fully fenced?

Very few people have the money to buy exactly what they want, so make a list of your requirements and break it down into “must have” and “like to have”. It will help you when you start looking at homes. Then think about the area where you want to live – is it quick and easy to get to work? Are there schools and shops nearby?

Monthly expenses need to be carefully budgeted before you even start looking. Owning a home not only means paying a monthly bond installment but has many new bills too. Make a list of everything you’ll have to pay – bond instalment, rates or levies, house insurance, mortgage (bond) protection insurance, electricity and water, repairs and maintenance; and make sure your budget can afford everything you have listed.

Know your Agents:

Get to know the agents in the areas you are searching in and inform them about what you are looking for and your price range. They will be able to notify you when new properties come on the market and can provide a tailor-made service to suit your needs.
Putting in an Offer to Purchase

Once you have seen a property you like, the estate agent will help you draw up an “Offer to Purchase”. This document contains all the terms and conditions of the sale, the purchase price, the payment terms, the date you will take occupation of the property, and the occupational rent.

Occupational rent is a monthly amount paid to the seller by the purchaser to occupy the property prior to the date of registration of transfer of the property into the name of the purchaser. Alternatively occupational rent could be paid by the seller to the purchaser if he/she needs to continue occupying the property for a period after registration of transfer.

If you plan to take out a home loan, the “Offer to Purchase” must include a condition that the sale is subject to bond approval being obtained within a realistic amount of time — i.e. 7 – 10 working days. Once you have confirmation that your loan has been approved, you must notify the estate agent immediately to ensure that your offer becomes unconditional and to enable the process to continue.

This condition is very important, because if you are not able to secure finance, the “Offer to Purchase” will terminate and become null in void, and neither you nor the buyer will be liable to pay any costs or penalties.

The Offer to Purchase should also include details of any unusual fixtures or fittings which are included in the purchase price, or which the seller might want to take with him when he leaves. Generally all items which are “fixed” remain in the house, but furniture, loose carpets and appliances go with the seller. This is where conflicts often arise, so it’s best to ensure any important items are noted in the contract.

Take the time to find out everything you need to know about a property before signing anything. Visit the house for a second look – you may have missed something the first time. Always express your concerns to the estate agent and ask them to assist you in clarifying any problem areas that you may have or consult an Attorney. Once the seller has accepted and signed the offer, it becomes a contract binding on both parties. However, if the purchase price is R250 000 or less, the buyer has the right to cancel the offer within 5 days of signing the Offer to Purchase. This must be confirmed by the buyer giving written notice to the seller and the sellers’ agent within those 5 days.

Applying for a loan:

As a first time home buyer there are a number of special criteria which you’ll need to fulfill in order to qualify for a home loan.
One of the most important factors to consider is what size bond you can qualify for; often this is about 25-30 percent of your salary, however if you and your partner apply for the loan jointly you may be approved for a larger loan amount.

Upon the application for your home loan the bank will consider the Loan-to-Value ratio (LTV) , which is the ratio between the home loan amount you are applying for and the value of your property. This is an important factor as the LTV percentage forms part of the interest rate calculation on your loan amount.

The maximum loan term offered by all banks is twenty years, and some banks require a life policy to be ceded to them. It is important to clarify this with your bank immediately.

 The general requirements of applying for your first home loan are the basic details of your monthly salary, your credit history and the offer to purchase.

The following criteria will need to be passed to qualify for a home loan;

- You must be 21 years or older
- Proof of six months of permanent employment or at least two years of self-employment,
- Minimum salary requirements can vary between R8 000 and R10 000 per month joint or single income.
- You’ll need to have a credit clear history – i.e. no judgments or defaults.
- Some banks may require SA citizenship.

Also Make sure you have all the following documents available.

- Copy of ID
- 3 months bank statements.
- Offer to purchase, which is the written agreement between the seller and the buyer on the purchase price of the property. Sectional Titles must submit most recent body corporation financials.
- Most recent pay slip, commission earners will need to submit 6months pay slips.

- If you’re a self employed business owner:
- 6 months business accounts statements
- 6 months personal bank statements
- a letter from auditor or accountant stating monthly income.

Taking Ownership of Your New Home:

Once all the conditions of the contract have been met and the deposit paid, the next process is the transfer of the property into your name and the registration of the Mortgage Bond at the Deeds Office. The Conveyancing Attorneys handle this part of the loan process and will contact you when the documents are ready to be signed.

The seller will also have to provide you with an Electrical Clearance Certificate, as well as a document stating that the property is pest-free. These conditions may vary depending on which province your property is situated in.

The registration and transfer process normally takes between 8-10 weeks if there are no unexpected delays.

The day the transfer is registered in the Deeds Office is the day you become the legal owner of the property. Your lender will start the insurance policy and begin charging interest on the loan and will inform you when the first instalment becomes payable. From this date onwards you are also responsible for paying rates and levies — or earlier, depending on conditions of sale agreement.

Once everything is finalised:Once all the Is are doted and the Ts crossed you can finally enjoy your home. Transform your new house into a home by personalising your space. Focus on making your home a comfortable space where you can unwind and have fun; after all you will be sacrificing a large portion of your income to stay there.

And don’t forget to think long-term; boost your future re-sale value by ensuring that you keep your home updated and looking good. Budgeting for routine maintenance and unforeseen emergencies will ensure your home stays looking as, if not more, beautiful than when you bought it.

Words by: Crystal Espin

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