Repayments on a Help to Buy mortgage
Repayments are made to the mortgage lender as normal. The equity loan through Help to Buy does not incur any interest over the first five years and does not require regular payments aside from £1 per month management fee, payable via Direct Debit. After the first five years, an interest rate of 1.75% comes into effect and increases annually at the same rate as inflation plus 1%. The equity loan can either be repaid in instalments of at least 10% or can be repaid when the property is sold. The maximum loan term for a Help to Buy loan is 25 years. The repayments made are based on the current value of the property and not the original equity loan value. This is important to consider since you will need to repay the same percentage value as you borrowed, regardless of how much the property value has increased in the interim. For example, if you buy a £300,000 property and borrow 20% of the value, you will receive lending of £60,000. If you then come to sell the property and repay the equity loan and the property is now worth £400,000 you will still need to repay 20%, i.e. £80,000.
Applying for the Help to Buy Mortgage Scheme
The first step in accessing a Help to Buy loan is finding a lender who participates in the scheme.
It may be that you need a specialist lender, depending on your circumstances and what sort of mortgage you wish to apply for.
Finding a Mortgage Broker Help to Buy Specialist
To apply, you will need to undergo an affordability assessment through both your mortgage lender and through the Help to Buy scheme.
Therefore, it is essential to work with a mortgage lender who understands and supports the scheme to ensure the eligibility criteria are compatible.
If you are in any doubt as to who the best lender is for you or which lenders support the Help to Buy scheme, give the Revolution Finance Brokers team a call today!
Qualifying for a Help to Buy Loan
The government has a few eligibility criteria:
- You are a first-time buyer, or a homeowner wanting to move house
- The property is a new-build and is not worth over £600,000
- Your purchase is not a buy-to-let, will not be sub-let, and is not a part exchange for your existing home
- You do not own any other property, or your Help to Buy property will be the only property you own
- You are buying a property in England (there are separate schemes for buyers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland)
- You have at least a 5% deposit
For buyers in London, the criteria are the same, aside from the maximum equity loan value being increased from 20% to 40% of the property value.
The Help to Buy application process
Before selecting a property or making any offers, it is crucial to ensure that you are eligible for the scheme.
We have set out the basic requirements here, but you can find more detailed criteria on the Help to Buy website or give our team a call for support in understanding whether you can apply.
Once you know that you can apply, you will need to ensure that your purchase budget falls within the £600,000 maximum property value and that you have the deposit available.
Alternative schemes
Help to Buy is not the only scheme available to help buyers get onto the property ladder.
Other schemes include Social HomeBuy, whereby social housing tenants in some areas can apply to purchase a proportion of at least 25% of their property.
This scheme offers a discounted price of up to £16,000 on the percentage of the property you buy and offers reduced rental rates on the remainder of the property value.
If you are looking for the best scheme to help you purchase your home, please give us a ring and let us know a little about your circumstances.
Revolution Finance Brokers work to match every client with the most cost-effective and secure mortgage option to help you buy your perfect property!
Help to Buy Mortgage Rates
The interest rates offered by mortgage lenders for buyers accessing the Help to Buy scheme will vary.
You will need to select a lender, who accepts Help to Buy applicants, so do your homework first – or get in touch with us – to ensure you aren't wasting any time.
Most lenders will consider the equity loan to form part of the deposit, which helps them offer a lower interest rate.
Mortgage Help to Buy for Joint ownership
Another way to help buyers, particularly first-time buyers, get onto the property ladder is shared ownership. The Help to Buy scheme does consider shared ownership applications and is intended to help:
- First-time buyers
- Previous property owners who now cannot afford to buy
- • Existing shared owners of properties who wish to move home
The eligibility criteria require applicants to earn less than £80,000 per annum per household or £90,000 in London.
Shared ownership through Help to Buy enables you to purchase a proportion of a property, usually up to 75%, and pay rent for the remaining balance of the property to the local housing association.
Help to Buy for shared ownership purchases is available for both new-build and existing properties.
There are alternative schemes for buyers in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and alternatives for buyers over 55 and those with long-term disabilities.
If any of these criteria apply to you, and you are seeking help with purchasing your property, get in touch, and we will help you get the ball rolling.
