Buying a property is a big step involving a substantial long-term financial commitment, so think hard about what you can afford. You will need to consider the assets you have – like savings – as well as the money that’s coming in and going out.
Although it may reduce your buying options, you don’t want to commit to a mortgage and then realise you can’t afford some of the nicer things in life! It may sound obvious but take time to think of all the things you spend money on throughout the year, even without a mortgage.
How much might I be able to borrow with a mortgage?
Every lender has different ways of calculating how much they will lend to you, or even whether they will lend to you at all. It includes criteria such as your income, the size of your deposit, your regular expenditure, and your credit rating. These will be considered for both of you if you’re making a joint application.
But you can start by getting a rough idea of how much you could borrow by using our calculator:
Find out how much you could borrow: use our mortgage calculator
Actual loan amounts and affordability criteria will differ across lenders. Make sure you obtain accurate figures from your lender before committing to any mortgage. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage.
Helping you get an affordable mortgage
The current rules around mortgages were put in place to help make sure that customers only borrow what they can comfortably afford.
So, when it comes to applying for a mortgage, you’ll have to go into a lot of detail about your income and spending. Ultimately, this is for your benefit, as the lender will want to supply you with the most appropriate product they can.
Consider other costs too
Remember, when you’re working out what you can afford, there are other expenses you’ll need to consider, besides the cost of the mortgage itself.
For example, when you get a mortgage, the lender will require you to take out buildings insurance to cover the property. Depending on its value, you might also have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax, which is a government tax payable on property or land above a certain price threshold in England and Northern Ireland. You can use our stamp duty calculator to work out how much your stamp duty might be.
If you’re buying property or land in Scotland or Wales, there are similar taxes that you might have to pay. Different rates apply for different property prices, so it’s worth looking into well in advance.
There are other things to consider too, such as the cost of moving from your current home, estate agency fees, solicitor’s fees, potentially paying for a surveyor, and charges associated with getting a mortgage, such as arrangement and mortgage adviser fees.
It’s a good idea to take these costs into account early on, since they could impact what you ultimately decide to borrow.
Want a more accurate estimate?
You can speak to a lender or mortgage adviser. They can take a look at your situation and go through what you might be able to borrow. You could also apply for a Mortgage in Principle which outlines the size of mortgage you could get.
Are you self-employed?
There are often more questions lenders like to ask if you’re self-employed. So, you might like to speak to a mortgage adviser or lender to get an indication of what you could borrow, and how much the repayments might be.
Investing in a buy-to-let?
Again, there are a few different things to consider, so speaking to a mortgage adviser or a lender might be a good way of getting an accurate estimate.
How much will I have to repay per month?
The total sum of what you can borrow isn’t the only factor to consider. You should also be aware of how much your mortgage might cost you every month – so you can be sure you can comfortably afford it.
Calculate your estimated mortgage repayments
What if interest rates change?
Interest rates change over time. If you’re on a Tracker, Discount or Standard Variable Rate mortgage, you’ll be expecting some variation in your payments. And if you choose a fixed rate mortgage, you’d generally expect a change in rate at the end of the term you’ve fixed for. So, it’s worth using a mortgage calculator to check what your monthly payments could be if there was an increase in interest rates.
Consider all possibilities
When you’re working out what you can afford, remember that the unexpected can happen and things can go wrong. We all have different levels of comfort with our spending limits, so think through different scenarios and what you’re comfortable with.
A mortgage adviser or lender can talk through your options in the event of redundancy, serious illness, or even death.
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