Making your Home Loan work for you

A home is a serious investment and, like all investments, it needs to be managed properly in order to ensure that you get the best possible return. But few people, once they’ve had their home loan registered and start repaying the loan, give their most important investment another moments thought. Yet there are a number of important steps that a homeowner can take to ensure that their hard-earned money is being put to good use:

Increase your home loan repayment:

When you borrow money “Home Loan” to purchase a home you are in effect taking out two loans. The first loan is to repay the capital amount (known as the principal sum) and the second loan is to repay the interest charged over the period of the loan. The majority of the money you repay in the first years of having a home loan goes towards paying back this interest, which will only marginally reduce the principal sum.

In South Africa, interest is generally calculated daily on your mortgage. In effect, this means that the amount you owe the bank increases every day. Because of the nature of compound interest, regular additional repayments made at the beginning of your loan term will have a much greater effect on the cost of your home loan than if you start paying extra cash into your home loan account five or ten years down the line. However, even if you are already a number of years into your loan term, you can still make a considerable saving by paying additional money into your home loan. By increasing your monthly instalments, you’ll reduce the term of your home loan, which means that you won’t be paying heavy home loan instalments in later years. The result is that you will have paid less money in interest over the term of the home loan.

There are a number of easy ways that you can put additional money into your home loan without really feeling the difference in your pocket:

• Put the additional income you receive from your annual salary increase into your home loan
• When interest rates decrease contact your lender “ Banks Home Loan Department” and ask them to maintain the instalment that you were paying prior to the drop on lending rates
• Put a portion of your annual bonus into your home loan, you may put extra money into your home loan anytime you want to. Every little bit helps. Making a prepayment ‘ Home Loan Deposit’ when the loan registers is particularly helpful, as you will reduce the capital amount immediately, significantly reducing the total interest payable over the term of the loan.

Use your home loan as an interest – bearing savings account:

Banks are in business to make profit so it makes sense that they charge a higher interest rate to people borrowing money from them than they do to investors who deposit funds with them. For example you might be receiving 2% interest on a positive balance for money in your savings account, but are probably being charged a much higher rate for the money you’ve borrowed to pay off your home loan.

By depositing your savings into your home loan, you are in effect receiving the interest rate that the bank charges you on your loan as positive interest on the money you invest For example, if you have a home loan for R1 million, and you deposit an extra R100 000 into your home loan, you are now no longer being charged interest on R1 million, but rather on R900 000. The money you save in interest over the time that you keep the R100 000 in your home loan is the positive interest you are in effect receiving on the money you’ve deposited. Plus you can withdraw this cash when you need it without being penalised ‘Banks Terms and Conditions Applies’

For further information contact Morne Prinsloo on 011 327 4489 or email morne@mortgagepluscc.co.za

If you would like to know more about your home loan services and mortgage requirements please phone the Mortgage Plus Head Office on:

Attached please find the Home Loan Application Form * - Short Home Loan Application Form

0861.11.11.93

info@mortgagepluscc.co.za

www.mortgagepluscc.co.za

What are the benefits of using Mortgage Plus Bond Originators ?

By using our services, you avoid the hassle of going from bank to bank dealing with tedious and repetitive paperwork and not knowing if you are getting the best deal. With Mortgage Plus Bond Originators, your personal property finance consultant is able to advise as to the most appropriate home loan options to suit your individual needs and source competitive interest rates from all the major banks. We handle the entire application process on your behalf.

Are there any costs for using Mortgage Plus Bond Originators ?

No, there are no costs for using our service as the lenders pay Mortgage Plus an outsourcing fee to complete the application process. “Applicable only to ABSA, NEDBANK, STD BANK and FNB”

Is there any obligation to accept a home loan sourced by Mortgage Plus Bond Originators ?

No, there is no obligation to accept any approved home loan that we have sourced on your behalf. “Applicable only to ABSA, NEDBANK, STD BANK and FNB”

When will I need to contact a property finance consultant ?

You don’t have to contact us, as your dedicated Mortgage Plus Bond Originators property finance consultant will contact you should we require any further information or to expedite your home loan approval.

How is Mortgage Plus Bond Originators different to other home loan brokers ?

Mortgage Plus is only one of a few full-service origination companies in South Africa, capable of handling the entire home loan approval process, with a national infrastructure and proprietary software able to automate the application transaction making home loan approval as convenient as possible.

How will I be able to track my application status ?

Your dedicated property finance consultant will keep you informed throughout the entire process and will be available at your convenience should you have any questions.

How long will it take to approve my home loan ?

Normally, applications are approved within 4 days, assuming we have received all the information required.

If I have obtained a pre-approval through Mortgage Plus Bond Originators, how will I obtain a full loan grant after I purchase a home ?

All you have to do is inform your dedicated Mortgage Plus consultant and he/she will complete the application process on your behalf.

What if I already have a pre-approval from another lender ?

We can complete the application process on your behalf, or we can try to source a competitive rate from another lender.

After I apply for a loan online, what should I expect ?

Once your application is received, you will receive notification of receipt and that your application has been submitted. Within 24 hours you should receive an email or a call to inform you whether your loan has been approved in principal, or further documentation is required. If approved, you will also be notified of the interest rate pertaining to your approved loan.

Do I have to apply online ?

You can either apply online, or call us and an experienced Mortgage Plus Property finance consultant will contact you at your convenience.

Who will see my application ?

Only those parties involved in processing your home loan will see your application details.

Are there any hidden fees ?

No, there are no costs for using our service, as the lenders pay Mortgage Plus Bond Originators an outsourcing fee to complete the application process. “Applicable only to ABSA, NEDBANK, STD BANK and FNB”

Will I get the same interest rates as if I applied through the bank directly ?

Yes, amongst other things, your credit profile, affordability, and loan to value ratio determine your interest rate on your home loan. All these details are captured into the lenders credit scoring models and your interest rate is calculated. Whether you apply through Mortgage Plus Bond Originators or through the bank directly, the same credit scoring model is used to determine the interest rate applicable to your home loan. However, our experienced home loan consultants are able to motivate further on your behalf.

Can I purchase a property in South Africa if I am a non-resident?

Non-residents may purchase property in South Africa but in terms of Exchange Control Regulation 3 1 (f) they may not be granted any financial assistance e.g. Bond. However, the South African Reserve bank will consider requests by Non-Residents for bond facilities not exceeding 100% of his/her borrowing base.

The ‘Borrowing Base” of a Non-Resident individual is the sum introduced into South Africa to fund the purchase of a property e.g
“A non-resident wishes to purchase a property in South Africa for R600,000.00. Provided R300 000.00 is introduced into South Africa to effect the purchase he / she would be able to apply to the South African Reserve bank for permission to avail himself of a bond of R300 000.00. In other words 50% mortgage loans are available to Non-Residents. However, it must also be borne in mind that the banks will only grant a bond of 50% of their valuation of the property, which may in some instances not equal 50% of the purchase price.

All requests of this nature must be routed through a commercial bank and not directly with the South African reserve bank.

Proof must be provided that the funds physically came into the country (which can be done by the Transferring / Conveyancing Attorney), so that when the property is sold, the Deposit plus profit can be released. The title deed will be endorsed “non-res”.

The Non-resident does not have to open a banking account in SA, although some banks insist, as he/she can transfer funds directly from his overseas account into his Mortgage Account. If an account is to be opened, especially if an access facility is required for the capital paid off, then the non-resident is required to obtain an original letter of credibility from his bankers.

As Exchange control is a complex subject, Non Residents are advised to consult with our Mortgage Plus Bond Originators property finance consultants on this issue.

If I am a South African Resident, working abroad, can I apply for bond finance to purchase a property in SA?

Yes, if you are a SA resident, working abroad, an 80% mortgage Bond can be obtained. Most banks will look at granting up to an 80% loan but each application will be looked at on individual merit. Some clients have been granted 100% finance but in exceptional circumstances.

You must only be living abroad temporarily and must have plans to return to South Africa. Moreover, an application to emigrate must not have been made, nor should you have surrendered your permanent residency status in South Africa. Please speak to one of our experienced Mortgage Plus Bond Originators property finance consultants to assist you in this regard.

For further information contact Morne Prinsloo on 011 327 4489 or email morne@mortgagepluscc.co.za

If you would like to know more about your home loan services and mortgage requirements please phone the Mortgage Plus Head Office on:

Attached please find the Home Loan Application Form * - Short Home Loan Application Form

0861.111.193

info@mortgagepluscc.co.za

www.mortgagepluscc.co.za