Finance for Homes Limited
Unit 4, Block D, Tyrrelstown Town Centre,
Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15
Telephone: 089-615 92 82
Email: sarah@financeforhomes.ie
(1) Chat to us: The first step is to find out how much you can potentially borrow. Call, text, or email us anytime to take advantage of our FREE service and we can start the journey together – we are flexible and work at a time that suits you. We will help you at every step of the process, guiding and advising you along the way.
(2) Apply for a mortgage: We will work to get you the best deal for your circumstances and even help you complete the application forms! We will give you a checklist of the documents you will need, tailored to your unique circumstances.
(3) Receive your Approval in Principle: Your application is assessed by the bank/banks that best suit your needs. If/when you are approved for the mortgage, you will receive an ‘Approval in Principle’ (also known as AIP) letter which means you can go house hunting with confidence. The AIP will be valid for 6 months and most Estate Agents will request a copy of this, plus your savings/balance of funds before agreeing to view a property. If you have concerns about this, we can give you guidance on how best to proceed.
(4) Find your new home: Once you know how much you can borrow and receive your AIP; you can focus the search for your new home within your budget. This may take some time, between finding a suitable property and potentially bidding against other buyers (usually for Second-hand properties only).
(5) Pay your deposit: Once you have your bid accepted, you are classed as “Sale Agreed” on that property. You will then have to pay a booking deposit of between €5,000 and €10,000 depending on the Estate Agent and price of the property. This deposit is refundable, if for example you change your mind, or your circumstances change. If you are fully committed to purchasing the property, the Estate Agent will arrange for the Sale Contracts to be sent to your chosen solicitor.
(6) Choose a Solicitor: They will look after the legal process of buying a home. This is called the conveyancing process, and they also carry out searches to ensure there is nothing that could undermine the value of the property. Later in the process, your solicitor will go through the Sale Contract and Loan Offer documentation with you to ensure you fully understand all the finer details. When you sign the Sale Contract (usually approximately 4 weeks after you have gone Sale Agreed) you will then pay a non-refundable 10% deposit. Your solicitor and the seller’s solicitor will exchange signed contracts nearer drawdown stage and will work to agree the closing date of the sale, a date that is convenient for both you and the seller when purchasing a second hand home, or based on the completion of your new home.
(7) Get the property valued: The bank will request you pay for a valuation on the property you choose, this will confirm the agreed purchase price is fair. This will need to be conducted by a panel valuer and we will help you arrange this. The valuation usually costs between €150 - €185. If the property you are purchasing is Second-hand, particularly over 10 years old, we would encourage you to arrange a Structural Survey. While it costs in the region of €350-€500 it is something we highly recommend. This survey will ensure there are no major issues which would cost more money down the line. Some banks may request a structural survey regardless of the age of the property, or where the valuation indicates a structural survey must be completed.
(8) Loan Offer is issued: Once the valuation and structural survey (if required) are satisfactory, we arrange the Loan Offer (also sometimes referred to as Loan Pack or Letter of Offer) to be sent to your solicitor. You then arrange to sign the Loan Offer and the Sale Contracts as noted above, in the presence of your solicitor.
(9) Take out Insurance: All banks require you to have appropriate Life Cover and Home Insurance to protect both you and the property. We recommend you arrange this as early as possible, for instance, once you have decided to proceed with the purchase of the property and requested Sale Contracts to be sent to solicitor, as Life Cover may take some time to arrange, particularly if you have any underlying health issues.
(10) Mortgage Drawdown: This is sometimes called Cheque Issue / Funding Stage and it is when the bank issues your mortgage funds to your solicitor, who then in turns transfers it to the seller’s solicitor and this can sometimes take up to 2 weeks to completion. If you are purchasing a new build, you may be called to snag the property at this point. Once your solicitor receives the payment and contacts you to confirm all is in order, you collect the keys to your new home from the Estate Agent. CONGRATULATIONS…. enjoy this next adventure!
Regards,
The McPeake Team...
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