How Can Returning UK Expats Get Mortgages? part 1 – that will be the topic of today’s article.
Before introducing this article, if you are interested in our core services which are expat financial, insurance and mortgages, you can contact me here.
The best time to consider your financial situation is when you are moving to a new country.
Introduction
The United Kingdom is a beautiful place to live, but for many people, it can be challenging to afford student fees without earning an income. While studying in another country might be beneficial, there are still various disadvantages that students may need to consider.
For example, if you are planning on returning home when you complete your studies, then you will need to make sure you can afford to do so. If this sounds like an issue you are worried about, you may be interested in getting UK expat mortgages.
These mortgages are specifically designed for people who have spent time living abroad and now wish to return home but need help with buying a house or remortgaging their current property. Mortgages for returning expats are very similar to standard UK mortgages. They both use your income and the value of your property as security for the loan, but they also require that you prove your credit history.
This may be difficult if you have lived abroad for some time. However, if you can meet the credit score requirements, getting a UK expat mortgage is very simple. They will ask you some questions about your history and make sure that everything checks out. Once this is done, they will provide you with the best possible offer for your needs.
There are also benefits to getting an expat UK mortgage abroad. Today, we have come up with ways to get UK expats’ mortgages. Not only is that, but we will walk you through the requirements needed to obtain the mortgages with ease. Would you love to check what we have for you? Well, read further to know more!
Benefits of Getting Expat Mortgages in the U.K
Are you an expat who is living in the United Kingdom? If so, there are many benefits to applying for an expat mortgage. Expat mortgages are designed with people like you because they allow expats to purchase real estate even if they do not meet the normal requirements. This article will outline five benefits of getting an expat mortgage in the U.K.
No Social Security Number Needed
One of the main reasons that expats are unable to purchase real estate using a normal mortgage is because they are unable to meet the minimum requirements for income verification. This is why an expat mortgage comes with asset-based loan approval, which makes it possible for expats to get approved based on the value of their assets.
Flexibility in Loan Options
Expat mortgages are flexible when it comes to the type of loan that you want to receive. With this kind of mortgage, there are traditional home loans or local authority conforming loans that can be chosen based on your preferences. Meanwhile, competitive rates, flexible payment options, and long repayment terms are also available.
No Minimum Income Requirement
There is no minimum income requirement for getting an expat mortgage in the United Kingdom. This type of loan is asset-based which means that you can get approved with your assets even if your income doesn’t meet the minimum requirements.
Pre-Approval Amounts Are Flexible
The pre-approval amount is also flexible regarding expat mortgages in the U.K. This means that you can get approved for any amount, depending on how much you are willing to put up as collateral. Meanwhile, pre-approved expat mortgages are available in certain areas, so you can choose your loan amount based on what is available to you.
Control over Your Mortgage Process
Another benefit of getting an expat mortgage in the U.K. is that it allows you to control your process. You can visit a financial advisor to decide which type of loan you want to receive, how much you are willing to put up as collateral, and even choose your property.
No Minimum Credit Score Required
When it comes to getting an expat mortgage in the United Kingdom, there is no minimum credit score required – regardless of whether it is fair, poor, or good. This means that everyone can get approved for an expat mortgage.
Options in Repayment Terms
Lastly, expats can choose between flexible repayment terms for lower interest rates and more options on how they would like to repay their loan. Also, the process itself is done paperless, making it convenient and straightforward.
Ways a British Person Can Get Mortgages
When moving back to the U.K, you may come across issues with your mortgage that you had in the U.S. If this is the case, don’t worry. We have talked with many British people returning to their homeland after living abroad, and these are some of their options.
A Buy-To-Let
If you have a buy-to-let in the U.K, you will still be able to get a mortgage on it when coming back from living abroad. If you have tenants, their rental agreements must meet the lenders’ guidelines and criteria for the affordability of future payments. Even if your property is empty, you can still get a mortgage if it is of a certain value.
A Shared Ownership Scheme
A shared ownership scheme is where you buy your property but only own part of it. You will be renting the other part from a housing association, which may also put up some of the deposit if they feel that you are good enough to buy more shares in the property later on. Some banks and building societies will accept this for a buy-to-let, but not all of them will.
Conventional Mortgage
A conventional mortgage means getting a mortgage on your own without any assistance from the bank or housing association. They won’t ask for help with the deposit, and you could get up to 95% of the property’s value. The other 5% will be your own money to pay for the costs of moving and setting up a new home in the U.K.
Equity Release/Pension Loan
The equity from your property can also be used as a deposit to get a different type of mortgage, which is called an equity release mortgage.
This is where the lender will access the equity in your property and use it as a deposit to give you a standard mortgage. A downside of this is that they might charge you a higher interest rate than usual because it is a riskier deal for them, but some lenders won’t add on any extra charges at all.
Borrowing From Family or Friends
If you have a relative with a bit of spare money, they may be willing to give it as a loan for your house. In the U.S., borrowing from relatives isn’t as common as in some other countries, but it is possible if you ask those around you for help. The mortgage lender will value the property and then consider it as another form of the deposit that you can use, but you just have to be careful not to borrow too much.
Inheritance
This is the most risky option on our list because it means that you are borrowing money or property from someone who has recently died. If they have left behind an inheritance for you, it may be possible to borrow this and get enough of a deposit to get your own mortgage (less than 90% of the value of the property). The downside to this is that there are legal issues involved, so it is best to speak with a lawyer if you want to do this.
Joint Mortgage
A joint mortgage is a relatively new option where you and more other people can get a mortgage together. You could potentially use your friends or family as the extra parties, but it may also be possible to make a company a party on the mortgage too. This way of getting a mortgage is rare, so if this is something you are interested in, your bank may not have heard of it.
A High-Value Property
If you buy your home for over £500,000, then the banks may be more likely to give you a mortgage. The deposit is usually 20% of the property’s value, but this will vary depending on what type of lender you are using and how much they allow you to borrow.
A Salary of £80,000+
If you are earning this much money on a yearly basis, it may be easier to get a mortgage for any property in the U.K. However, you shouldn’t assume that just because you have this amount of money, they will give you what you want. Of course, no! But they will still assess your application and will ask for proof of your salary, including payslips.
Remortgaging
If you already own a property that you are renting out or have an interest in, then it may be possible to use this as part of the deposit instead. This is known as remortgaging, and it means that you don’t necessarily have to buy a house as soon as you get back to the U.K., but can instead give yourself time. This isn’t recommended for first-time buyers because it is a complicated option, and there are fees involved, so it should only really be used once or twice in a lifetime.
