Applying for Mortgages for First-Time Buyers UK With a Small Deposit
You can find mortgage rates for first-time buyers with a deposit of 10% or 5%. However, the repayment costs will inevitably be higher because you are borrowing a larger proportion of the property value.
The first-time buyers government scheme called the mortgage guarantee means more lenders now offer first-time buyers UK a mortgage with a minimum deposit of 5%, but that by no means indicates you'll get a low-interest rate.
Putting a large deposit toward a home will mean it is easier to get good mortgage rates for first-time buyers and that you're also much more likely to be approved, provided your income, credit score, and other factors are compliant with the lender's general eligibility criteria.
Ways to Save a Higher First-Time Buyers UK Deposit
The ISA for first-time buyers is one of the most popular ways to improve your savings, where you earn 25% on top of everything you deposit, up to a maximum of £4,000 per year. The ISA first-time buyers rates are stable and provided by the government, so it is low risk.
Saving via an ISA for first-time buyers also means you can increase your deposit to apply for more competitive mortgage rates for first-time buyers because the interest earned is tax-free. While you need to wait at least 12 months to use your ISA first-time buyers savings as a deposit, you essentially turn £4,000 into £5,000 each year.
People use the Lifetime ISA both as a high-yield ISA for first-time buyers and to increase their retirement savings. Still, you can only withdraw your cash and interest earnings without a 25% penalty either as a deposit towards a first-time buyers UK mortgage or after 60 for retirement purposes.
You must be between 18 and 39 to open an ISA for first-time buyers.
The ISA for First-Time Buyers Explained
An ISA is an individual savings account, but it is advantageous to a regular savings account because the interest you earn is free of charge – making it an attractive way to save for a first-time buyers UK deposit.
Some ISAs have varying features, limits on your annual savings, and interest payments, but the ISA for first-time buyers is static and unlikely to change. Further key information about the ISA for first-time buyers includes the following:
- The maximum interest earnings are capped at £32,000 and age 50.
- You can only withdraw funds in an ISA for first-time buyers to use as a deposit.
- Withdrawing cash for another purpose will attract a 25% charge – effectively wiping out the interest earned.
First-time buyers UK can use a Lifetime ISA to pay for a deposit, provided the property is costing under £450,000. The first-time buyers government scheme can be used in conjunction with a Lifetime ISA, so you could save your 5% deposit faster and then apply for a mortgage guarantee product.
Additional Ways to Increase your Deposit to Achieve the Best Mortgage First-Time Buyer
As a first-time buyer UK, saving a deposit can be tough, and there are several things you might wish to consider to help you move forward and apply for mortgage rates for first-time buyers more quickly.
One of the common solutions is to reduce your outgoings by living in shared accommodation or with family members, reducing all non-essential spending, and following a committed savings plan to increase your chances of applying for the best mortgage first-time buyer products.
Other options can include asking a family member to act as a guarantor, using the Shared Ownership first-time buyers government scheme to purchase a proportion of a property, or applying for First Homes if you are on a low income.
Further information about using an ISA for first-time buyers to increase your deposit is available online or through the independent Revolution Finance Brokers team.
Professional Support for First-Time Buyers UK
We regularly work with first-time buyers UK and appreciate the challenge of saving a deposit large enough to apply for the best mortgage first-time buyer rates – it can take time to save, and an ISA first-time buyers is one way to increase your savings far more quickly than you would through a conventional savings account.
Please get in touch at any time if you'd like guidance about applying for any of the first-time buyers government scheme options or choosing a lender that is most likely to approve your first-time buyers UK mortgage application.
