Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up the repayments on your mortgage or any other debt secured on it.
Top Mortgage Solutions UK Ltd are independant mortgage advisors and as such offer mortgage advice from the whole mortgage market place. We may charge a reduced fee of up to 1.00% of the loan amount, as we are paid fees from lenders. However, we will offer you the option of paying our full fees which are 1.5% of the loan amount and you will recieve the procuration (commission) fee from the lender.
Are you currently paying too much with your existing lender? Looking to release some equity to pay off some of your other borrowing? Maybe you want to build that extension you've wanted for years and are looking to remortgage? Are you looking to purchase your first home? You are maybe worried about your credit history and are looking to move or refinance? You're self employed, maybe you have more than one source of income or are paid high commission levels and find it hard to provide proof of your income?
Are you looking to buy to let or even letting to buy? Or maybe you're looking to live your dream in the sun with an overseas property.
At Top Mortgage Solutions UK Ltd we could probably help, we don't believe in jargon, or making things seem to be harder than they really are!
We believe in ![]()
For more information on our services, either contact us or follow the links on the left and the top of this page.
We look forward to helping you every step of the way.
The overall cost for comparison is 7.9% APR. The actual rate will depend on your circumstances. Please ask for a personalised illustration.
Capital raising and debt consolidation will increase the mortgage balance and the overall cost of the loan.
| Mortgage Terminology |
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FEES AND CHARGES
These include:-
Procuration Fee - The total sum paid by a lender for placing the mortgage with them. This will include amounts paid to all parties associated with the mortgage, and not just the introducing mortgage adviser.
Reservation Fee - In some cases, especially for new homes, you may be expected to pay a reservation fee or deposit. You should check whether this is returnable or not and obtain a receipt from the builder, the developer or their agent.
Arrangement Fee - Depending on the mortgage we recommend, some lenders may require an arrangement fee to set up the loan.
Valuation Fee - Before a lender will offer you mortgage funds, it will usually require a qualified surveyor to inspect the property and to submit a valuation report. This is to ensure that the property is suitable for the loan requested; the report does not necessarily give you an indication as to the condition of the property. If the property is new and building not completed, you may have to pay an additional fee for a second valuation when it is finished. This type of report is purely for the benefit of the lender.
Survey Fee - In addition to the valuation fee, you may wish to have your own survey carried out by a qualified surveyor; this can take the form of a ‘Home Buyers Report’ or ‘Building Survey’. (The ‘Building Survey’ report is the most comprehensive - and accordingly the most expensive.) Most lenders will allow you to have this carried out at the same time as the valuation report, thus saving money. However you need to check this out before proceeding so as to ensure your money is not wasted.
Legal Fees - Your solicitor or legal adviser will make a charge for both the sale and purchase or remortgage of the house. We may be able to obtain preferential terms.
Land Registry - This is a once-only charge to reimburse your solicitor or legal adviser who carries out the registration work on your behalf.
Local Authority Search - This procedure, carried out by your solicitor or legal adviser, is to check whether any official plans, decisions or restrictions affect the property you intend to buy. This may take some weeks.
Bankruptcy Search - Your solicitor or legal adviser will undertake on behalf of the lender a bankruptcy search on you and your partner immediately prior to completion of the purchase.
Stamp Duty Land Tax - This is a Government tax imposed on most purchases of properties. There are some areas in the United Kingdom that have reduced stamp duty fee bands. Please ask for details.
Telegraphic Transfer Costs - It is usual for the lender to transfer your mortgage funds to your solicitor’s or legal adviser’s bank by telegraphic transfer. A charge for this will be added to your final account.
There are a number of issues you need to be aware of when taking out a mortgage. These include some of the terms used to describe elements of the mortgage process and the different fees you may encounter. Some of the most common are outlined below.
Mining Search - If you live in an area where mining has been or is likely to be carried out, the lender may request your solicitor or legal adviser to carry out an appropriate search on its behalf.
Estate Agent Fees - If you are selling your house through an Estate Agent, their fee will normally be paid by your Solicitor or legal Adviser on your behalf from the sale proceeds. Estate Agent’s fees are not payable when you are buying a house.
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MORTGAGE TYPES
There are a number of alternative types of mortgage that can be available at any given time. The most common are:
A variable rate mortgage, where the amount of your monthly repayment is linked to the mortgage interest rate charged by your lender. If the mortgage rate is increased, the amount of your monthly repayment increases. Conversely, when the mortgage rate decreases, so does the amount of your monthly repayment. The change in your monthly payment is calculated to ensure that the mortgage loan is on course to be repaid within the agreed term. A fixed rate mortgage, where the interest rate charged is fixed at a certain level for a set period of time. Whilst during this period you would be protected from any increase in monthly payments, caused by an increase in variable mortgage rates, you would not benefit from any decrease in monthly payments, caused by a reduction in those rates. However, during the fixed rate period, you would know exactly how much your gross mortgage payments would be.
A capped rate mortgage, this is a variable rate mortgage, with a specified maximum interest rate that can be charged, for a set period. In other words, whilst your monthly payments will be affected by movements in the mortgage rate, you will know the maximum rate that could be charged during the set period and hence be protected from rates higher than the maximum limit. (A collared rate is a specified minimum rate; hence a capped and collared mortgage will be a variable rate mortgage, where the rate will be limited between a known minimum and maximum).
A discounted rate mortgage, is a variable rate mortgage, which allows a known reduction in mortgage rate charged for a set term. This differs from a deferred rate mortgage, where instead of allowing a discount in the rate charged, a reduced monthly payment is allowed, with the shortfall being added to the mortgage debt.
At the end of any fixed, capped or discounted rate period, your mortgage will revert to a variable rate. This may be higher than the rate you have been paying. In some cases, the lender may offer you an alternative rate. Please refer to your mortgage offer letter for details.
Some fixed, capped and discounted rate mortgages can be continued if you move house during the term of the offer rate. Please refer to your mortgage offer letter to see if this applies.
REPAYMENT TYPES
There are three ways in which you can repay your mortgage. These are:
Capital and interest repayment (the associated mortgage is called a repayment mortgage). With a repayment mortgage, your monthly payments cover the interest charged and also include an element of capital repayment. You will therefore see your mortgage debt decreasing over time. It should be noted that in the early years, most of each payment is used to cover the interest charged. As the mortgage debt decreases, a higher proportion of each monthly payment is used towards capital reduction. The lender may insist that life cover be in place to cover the mortgage debt.
Interest payment (the associated mortgage tends to be referred to as an interest only mortgage). With an interest only mortgage, your monthly payments only cover the interestcharged and therefore the mortgage debt will remain at a constant level.
A mixture of both (the associated mortgage tends to be referred to as a split mortgage). With a split interest and capital repayment mortgage, your monthly payments cover part of the interest charged and part of the capital. This type of mortgage tend to be used when someone has an existing investment tyoe plan for mortgage payment but is not sufficiently high enough to pay off the entire mortgage debt.
REPAYMENT OF YOUR MORTGAGE
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.
Your home is also at risk if you fail to ensure that your mortgage loan is repaid by the end of its terms. It is your responsibility to ensure that your mortgage is repaid on time. If you have an interest only mortgage, it is also your responsibility to ensure that you have an investment plan (or other method/plan) in place to repay the mortgage debt.
Early Repayment of Your Mortgage
If you wish to repay your mortgage early, perhaps to move again or re-mortgage, you may have to pay an early redemption charge, which is a charge made by the lender. Please check the details of any mortgage offer you receive so that you are aware of the conditions and that they suit your requirements, before accepting it. If you have an existing mortgage and wish to change the arrangements, we can find out the details from your lender for you if you give us written permission.
CHANGES IN PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES
If you are taking out a mortgage with a partner, or with others, each person is responsible jointly and individually (collectively known as Joint & Several liability) for the repayments. Therefore, if there is a breakdown of the relationship, the lender can seek repayment of the full amount of the loan from each of the parties to the mortgage. Should you be unable to work due to perhaps accident, sickness or unemployment, you will still have to meet your repayments. Insurances are available to cover you against these possibilities.
You should also ensure that you have adequate life assurance cover for your mortgage.
Other Mortgage Related Services
We can also arrange Buildings and Contents Insurance, as well as Accident, Sickness and Unemployment Insurance.
You will be required to arrange Buildings Insurance, by the lender, to cover the rebuilding of your property should it be damaged. Some lenders also insist that you take out Contents Insurance and/or Accident, Sickness and Unemployment Insurance.
Please refer to your mortgage offer letter to check whether any such condition applies and if so that it is acceptable to you.
Some lenders may insist that any insurance cover is arranged through them. Again, you should refer to your mortgage offer letter to check this and if so that it is acceptable to you.
HIGHER LENDING CHARGE
If your mortgage represents a high percentage of the price or valuation of your property (usually 75% or more) you may have to pay a “higher lending charge”. Some, or all of this fee may be used by the lender, at its discretion, to obtain mortgage indemnity insurance to act as extra security for its sole benefit. If this is the case, the lender will give you a written explanation, stating that:
Such insurance will not protect you if your property is subsequently taken into possession and sold for less than the amount you owe.
You will remain liable to pay all sums owing, including arrears, interest and your lender’s legal fees.
If a claim is paid to your lender under such insurance, the insurers generally have a right to recover this amount from you.
Credit Reference Agencies
These are organisations, licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which hold information
about individuals that is of relevance to lenders. Lenders may refer to these agencies for information that may assist them with making various decisions, for example whether or not to provide a mortgage loan. The enquiry they make may also be recorded on your file at a Credit Reference Agency. Details of the conduct of your account may be passed to a Credit Reference Agency by the lender if your repayments fall into arrears. They have a duty to advise you if this should occur.
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Debt Consolidation - this refers to loan type where you are (for example) clearing credit cards or loans and adding them to you mortgage advance to clear them. It should be noted here that you may be extending the term and possibly increasing the amount you pay in total in order to consolidate these debts and should always be seen as a last resort.
Adverse - If you have had problems in the past that have been recorded on your credit file you may be classed as "adverse" this is because the information held about you is not "clean" and as such could result in lower credit scores when referred to borrowing, not only on mortgages but potentially across all forms of credit.
Self certified - Lenders who offer this type of product will not usually request proof of income or earnings.
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The Guidance and/or advice contained within the website is subject to the regulatory regime and is therefore targetedat the consumers based in the UK.
The Information is correct at the time of publication but may become outdated.
Top Mortgage Solutions UK Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Mortgage Next Network Limited which is authorised and regulated by Financial Services Authority in respect of mortgage and insurance mediation activities only. Mortgage Next Network Limited is entered on the FSA register (http://www.fsa.gov.uk)
under reference 300866.