Neil Conlon of NI Property Finance has put together a guest post this month for Investment Focus.
He tackles the top three burning questions he hears regularly from investors and landlords like you, and gives a quick run-down of his top tips.
1. How much can I borrow?
A rough estimate is 4 gross income, however, credit commitments such as loans, car finance and credit cards will reduce this multiplier. Each lender has its own specifics on disposable income, the multiple of times 4 is used for an overall maximum lend figure before assessment of income and expenditure.
Expenditure taken into consideration includes but is not restricted to;
The best advice would be to get an agreement in principle which will give peace of mind on the maximum you could borrow.
2. 2 or 5 year fixed?
The most risk-averse option would be to fix for longer, however, if you decide to sell your property within the fixed period you may have early repayment charges, as much as 5% of the mortgage amount.
Therefore it's down to a decision on the length of time you see yourself in the property, if it’s a starter home fix for shorter, if this is a medium-term home which fits your needs should circumstance change such as additions to the family, then fix for longer.
The cost difference between the best 2 year fixed and 5 year fixed is 1.84 v 2.44. A £35 difference on a repayment mortgage of £130,000 with 10% deposit over 25 years.
Peace of mind for £35.00? In my opinion, it's worth it, as long as the property fits your long-term needs, but do always seek professional financial advice tailored to your own circumstances before making investment decisions.
3. What costs are involved in buying a property and what are the running costs?
In short, there are:
Direct Property Costs include:
Thanks very much to Neil for a helpful and succinct Q&A!
Most of the queries I hear from you are related to investment and finance and I have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure I remain equipped to answer your questions.
In the rare cases I'm unable to help (he said, modestly) I want to make sure I have someone I trust who can help you - right here on The Belfast Property Blog.
So, keep your eyes peeled for some exciting news and lots more of what you come here for every Friday - top insight, analysis and advice from the best property brains in NI (If I do say so myself!)
In the meantime, as ever, if you have any other burning questions you can drop me a line to info@thebelfastpropertyblog.com, pop in to have a nosey at the swish refurb we've treated ourselves to at the PropertyLink office at 197 Lisburn Road, or get social over on Facebook or Twitter - just search "The Belfast Property Blog".
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