Mortgages > What is a Self-Certification Mortgage?

What is a Self-Certification Mortgage?

A Self-Certification mortgage is a mortgage designed for people who are unable to provide proof of income. This type of mortgage was originally designed for the self employed who historically experienced difficulty obtaining a loan with 'high street' lenders due to not having audited accounts available. If you are unable to show your earnings due to being self-employed, a seasonal wage earner, or anyone with irregular earnings such as a contract worker or commission-based employee, or in salaried employment with a supplementary source of income, an unsalaried company director, or varying other reasons - a Self-Certification mortgage could be the best option for you. Self-certification mortgages allow borrowers to certify their own earnings without having to supply documentation, such as payslips. With a self-certification mortgage you declare what your income is but generally you do not need to provide any proof.

You can apply if you are employed or self employed. Self-Certification mortgages have also found favour with salespeople and other workers who receive a high proportion of their income as commission or bonus. Even though you may have achieved high earnings this way for years, commission or bonus may still not be considered in calculations by high street lenders. Self-certification can also be suitable for professionals who often start on a low salary, but whose incomes can rise rapidly. Self-certification mortgages are suitable for applicants whose income is not easily verifiable, like the self-employed or those that receive commissions.

If you're self-employed, a contractor, have irregular income or multiple jobs, you are probably one of many who know you can afford a mortgage but have difficulty proving your income. Self-certification mortgages are also quite good for people just starting out in a new career with good steady income and a fair amount of deposit behind them. Self-certification mortgages are ideal for self employed people who perhaps have not been in business for the required three years or cannot produce accounts for a three year period but can demonstrate usually through an accountant's reference that they can meet the mortgage payments. When applying for a self-certification mortgage you will be required to state your expected annual earnings. The mortgage will be offered on the basis of your likely income rather than you having to provide any documentary evidence.

Self-certification mortgages used to require a higher deposit of up to 25%, but now some lenders can offer up to 90% loan to value. Self-Certification mortgage lenders will usually lend up to three and a half times declared income or two and three quarter times joint income. However, with a deposit of 25% or more a Self-Certification mortgage can usually offer up to five times your declared earnings. Self-Certification mortgages carry a higher rate than standard mortgages because statistics show most businesses fail within the first two years of trading. So if you were to be left with heavy debt there is a possibility you could lose your home.

However, some self-certification mortgages are better than others, and, if cash flow is a problem, it's worth checking out those that offer payment holidays and the facility to pay more when you can. Fortunately there are a number of competitive self-certification mortgage products available, depending on your circumstances and individual requirements. Self-Certification mortgages are now supported by an ever increasing number of mortgage lenders, including mainstream as well as specialist lenders. Interest rates charged are now far more attractive. Self-Certification mortgages have become increasingly popular in recent years.

However, you should always remember that you will be asked your income on the application. Just because you are in a self certification situation, you should only put down your actual income. To do anything else would not only be fraud, but could also mean that you are unable to afford your mortgage repayments, especially if mortgage rates rise in the future. You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:.

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing

You have probably received refinancing offers in the mail or advertised online touting your ability to pull out your home's equity. But a 2nd mortgage, also called an equity loan, may be a better financing option than refinancing your mortgage. 2nd mortgages are ideal when you just want to tap into your equity, plan to move soon, or are unsure about the amount you want to borrow.Tapping Your EquityTapping into your home's equity is best done through a 2nd mortgage if you already have a low interest loan. Typically, applying for a 2nd mortgage requires fewer fees than refinancing a mortgage. 2nd mortgages are also paid back sooner, so your interest payments are less.Short-Term LoanWith the costs involved in refinancing, you typically need to keep the loan for about two years to break even.

However, with a 2nd mortgage you don't have those fees to worry about recovering. 2nd mortgages do have minimum balance and early pay off fees, but they are significantly less than refinancing...

2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing
Mortgages > 2nd Mortgage - Better Than Refinancing

Adjustable Rate Mortgages

If you are shopping around for a mortgage, you may want to take a look at adjustable rate mortgages. Most people believe that fixed-rate mortgages are best because the interest rate never changes for the entire length of the mortgage. With adjustable rate mortgages, the interest rates change from time to time based on different factors.

You may ask yourself why you would choose an adjustable rate mortgage, as opposed to a fixed-rate mortgage, when there is the possibility of your payments lowering and rising. There are several good reasons.

First, mortgage companies typically offer lower initial interest rates when you choose an adjustable rate mortgage. What this means is that the payments will be easier to make because they will be very low ? in the beginning, at least.

Another reason that you might want to choose an adjustable rate mortgage is because many lenders are willing to make larger loans, since the lender will be looking at your income and...

Adjustable Rate Mortgages
Mortgages > Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Best Mortgage lenders

The greatest advice that one can get while deciding on a mortgage loan is to shop around. Different mortgage companies have different policies and different prices. Hence, it becomes quite profitable to the mortgage buyer to have some knowledge of mortgages and to browse the market for the best deal.

The best place to begin hunting for mortgages is in the newspapers and on the Internet. Newspapers carry daily advertisements of mortgage selling companies. In most advertisements they mention their current interest rates and the points, which make all the difference between two mortgage companies.

This gives a good preliminary idea of which mortgage company would be the best to select. The Internet is more extensive. Websites of mortgage companies contain details on their various programs and the all-important customer feedback comments. Let these be the guiding force in selecting your mortgage company.

The most important thing to remember while looking...

Best Mortgage lenders
Mortgages > Best Mortgage lenders

Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years ? Is the Market Peaking?

A new survey reveals that in the last five years, the equity in the California real estate market has increased by more than one trillion dollars. A trillion dollars is a large number to ponder, but put in concrete terms, it can be represented by a stack of one hundred dollar bills that is six hundred thirty one miles high! This astronomical increase in California home values isn't all that unique, however. Prices on the East Coast, particularly in the Washington, D.C. area, are increasing just as rapidly. There are areas on both coasts where home prices have tripled during the last five years. This, along with the dramatic increase in interest-only mortgages among homebuyers, suggests that home prices may be peaking.

In California, 35% of all mortgages written are interest-only mortgages. In Washington, the figure is a whopping 48%. With an interest-only mortgage, the homeowner pays only the interest on the home loan for the first few years of mortgage payments. After...

Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years ? Is the Market Peaking?
Mortgages > Home Equity Increases $1 Trillion in Five Years ? Is the Market Peaking?

What is a Flexible Mortgage?

'Flexible mortgage' is a term that's used a lot, but what exactly does it mean? A flexible mortgage allows the borrower to make extra repayments when they have the extra money and even reduce or skip payments should the need arise. A flexible mortgage allows you to make extra payments to reduce the amount outstanding on your mortgage thereby reducing the interest you're paying or pay off your mortgage earlier than planned. Imagine being able to save money in mortgage interest, or borrowing enough money pay off your credit cards or personal loans, or buy a new car at a low rate of interest. That's exactly what flexible mortgages enable you to do. Flexible mortgages allow you to save money by cutting the length of your mortgage term.

You can also buy yourself more time when money is tight by reducing your monthly repayments or increase you mortgage if you need to borrow money. 'Flexible mortgages', also known as 'Australian mortgages' are fast becoming the most popular way of taking...

What is a Flexible Mortgage?
Mortgages > What is a Flexible Mortgage?

Commercial Mortgages

A commercial mortgage is a loan secured against a commercial property. You can use it to finance several kinds of real estate properties like apartments, health care facilities, industrial spaces, manufacturing, retail structures, office complexes, or even assets like factories. It is good for financing the acquisition of buildings and land for the business purposes, as it is an adjustable and affordable answer to capital needs.

It is a unique loan where until you repay the loan fully, the lender has full legal claim over the equity or property. The lender can in turn sell the property, after foreclosing it, to recover any outstanding mortgage balance, if the borrower defaults on the mortgage.

With the assistance of a commercial mortgage, you can buy real estate for setting up a business, or you can use it to finance the expansion of an existing business. Commercial mortgages are a great way to access finances with minimal up-front payments.


Commercial Mortgages
Mortgages > Commercial Mortgages

Bad Credit Mortgage Loans

Credit ratings are a very influential factor when a person has to buy a mortgage. Good credit ratings improve the chances of getting a mortgage; while poor credit ratings may destroy the chances. However, today there are many options for people with bad credit ratings to get their mortgages. In fact, some mortgage companies specialize in selling mortgages to people with bad credit ratings. These mortgage companies are also called sub-prime lenders.

The creditworthiness of a person is rated according to FICO scores.

The range of a FICO score lies between 300 and 850. Scores above 720 are considered to be good, while scores below 620 are considered to be bad. These people come under the category called sub-primes.

People may have bad credit due to a number of reasons. It may be due to loss in business, leading to delinquency of payments or even bankruptcy.

There may be a medical disability or physical problem due to any other factor. People apprehended...

Bad Credit Mortgage Loans
Mortgages > Bad Credit Mortgage Loans

Home Equity Loan ? When Does Refinancing Make Sense?

For the last two years, interest rates have been much lower than anytime during the last thirty years. This has resulted in an unprecedented boom in real estate sales, home refinancing and home equity lending, as borrowers try to take advantage of these rates for the long term. But refinancing or even borrowing against your home's equity may not make sense for everyone. When is it a good idea to refinance your home? When is it not advisable? Traditionally, lenders advised homeowners not to refinance unless doing so would lower the interest rate on the loan by 1-2%. While anyone who can save 2% on their interest rate would almost certainly benefit from doing so, others might find refinancing worthwhile even with a smaller reduction in the interest rate.

Increased competition among lenders has brought the costs of refinancing down in recent years, so homeowners can realize a significant reduction in their home payments with reductions of ?% or so, depending on the size of their...

Home Equity Loan ? When Does Refinancing Make Sense?
Mortgages > Home Equity Loan ? When Does Refinancing Make Sense?

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