Mortgage Jargon Explained

If you’re new to mortgages, you’ll be forgiven for feeling a little bit overwhelmed. There’s a lot to sort out before applying for one and there are so many different types – it’s hard to know what to go for.

Whether you choose a high street lender or a more specialist one, it’s always worth talking to a mortgage broker to understand what you can afford to borrow and how much you’ll be repaying monthly.

When looking for a mortgage, you’ll need to provide certain information to the lender such as payslips or proof of income, photo ID and proof of address. You may also need to show them account details of where the mortgage payments will be made from, details of any other mortgages or debt and proof of funds.

In this quick read, we demystify mortgages and explain some of the jargon you might come across.

Common terms

Loan to Value (LTV) – this is the percentage of loan you’ll be taking against the value of the property. So, if you’re buying a property worth £100,000 (chance would be a fine thing in the current market!) and you’ve got a deposit of £30,000, you’d have an LTV of 70%.

Agreement in Principle – this is when the mortgage company confirms they’ll be lending you a certain amount. Sellers often require this as proof that a buyer can go ahead with the purchase.

Guarantor – this is required if a buyer is on a low income or cannot show how they’ll make future payments. The guarantor is someone that agrees to make repayments on the buyer’s behalf if they’re unable to.

Early Repayment Charges – these are penalty charges that are incurred if you pay off your mortgage early. The lender often specifies a timeframe in which these apply.

Standard Variable Rate – most mortgages offer a fixed interest rate for a specified period. Once this fixed rate ends, the standard variable rate kicks in. This rate can change monthly and could be higher than the fixed rate.

Types of mortgages

Repayment – this refers to the sum of interest plus part of the capital you’ll repay every month.

Interest-only – where you pay the monthly interest but none of the actual amount borrowed. While this means you’ll pay less every month, at the end of the mortgage term, you’ll still owe the initial amount borrowed.

Buy-to-let – a mortgage taken out by landlords who intend to rent out their property rather than live there themselves.

Tracker – the payments change monthly as the interest charged follows the Bank of England rate and is not fixed.

If you’re looking for a new home, we can help you find it.