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refinance

Should I take out a variable rate mortgage?

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I feel like we need a daily update at the moment!

The latest from late yesterday was that swap rates are settling, and we can see this morning that more fixed rates are creeping back in today.

But… there is still talk of further base rate changes, and two specialist lenders have already stopped lending on existing cases that aren’t already offered. So there is still much uncertainty.

There are some variable rates around though, and they are much less likely to be pulled, so you have more certainty over completion – although not on the rate you will be completing on!!

Is it a good idea??

  • You’ve got to take a calculated risk. What could the rate go up to and does it still work on that basis?
  • Are you getting the property at a good price so the risk is worth taking?
  • What are the alternatives? If you need to redeem a bridge or complete something you’ve committed to then this may be the best of not very many options!

As always, give me a call if you want to chat anything through…

CASE STUDY: A Broker Who Puts Everything Into Your First Project

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When you put everything into your first project and need a broker who does the same!

The client came to us having exhausted other brokers who were unable to help with what they needed in the timescales required.

They had refurbishment experience, but not conversions. And owned no property currently, having never been a landlord.

The property was in an Article 4 area, with no planning approved.

The clients want to convert it into a 7-bedroom (or 6 as a backup) HMO

Money is tight and this is their life savings. With only one income and a young family to look after – it doesn’t get more stressful!!

So what did we do?

We went through the lending options available and needed a refurbishment bridge as they could not complete it without these funds. We found a lender who was happy with their limited experience.

As always, we ensured there were options for the exit once the works are completed. They need to keep the property for income.

The next hurdle?

The next challenge was PLANNING. We needed the lender to be comfortable with the lack of planning.

However, the GDV as a refurbished house was not profitable and therefore not really viable!

After working closely with the lender, and reviewing and amending the schedule of works, we were finally able to achieve a day one drawdown sufficient to complete the purchase.

Importance of Your Credit File

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The importance of looking after your credit file in the current market.

Lenders are being careful with who they lend, and are more cautious than normal given the situation. This is inevitable really, if there is a history of a client not paying a bill or mortgage, they are statistically far more likely to do it again, and with the current financial uncertainty, this could become something that is more likely.

Usually, we can speak to the specialist lenders we work with, and where there is a good explanation for poor credit they can look to lend. They understand that as property investors you have lots of tenants and utilities particularly can be an issue.

What we are seeing at the moment though, is that this is not necessarily the case. We are seeing some lenders formally restrict their criteria to allow fewer credit issues, as well as others who usually take a more pragmatic approach and have a blanket rule on any blemishes.

So what can you do?

  1. First of all, you should all be checking your credit search each month anyway. You can use a free company such as Credit Karma, which emails you each month with your new report. they also notify you of any changes to it. This means that if there are any issues, for example, something has gone to an old address, or direct debit hasn’t been paid then you can rectify it immediately – this should stop any future defaults.
  2. Secondly, when you approach your broker for a mortgage make sure you know if there’s anything on the search and give us the exact details of it. This means that neither of us is wasting time applying to lenders who won’t be able to help. It also means you’re not worsening the issue by adding additional credit searches to your file.

How can you future-proof yourself?

Cash flow is always key in property development and investment. It’s vital to keep on top of this, and it does nip at your heels. Especially in today’s market, you need to be building in contingencies for time and cost to ensure that this doesn’t cause any credit problems down the line.

Being realistic with your costs, timescales, and end values is also key to ensuring that things run smoothly over the next 6-12 months. Getting this wrong could impact your cash flow and credit file.

We are happy to run through figures with you on your exit, and where we are looking at a bridge we will always ensure that it fits at a conservative estimate on that exit.

 

Bridging vs Standard Mortgage

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How does bridging differ from a standard mortgage?

I am often asked what the benefits of bridging are, and you all know I’m a big fan!

But…..

How does bridging differ from a standard mortgage?

and how does that help with your next deal??

Lenders do not assess the mortgage on affordability

This means that it doesn’t matter what the rent would be for the property in its current condition, they won’t restrict how much you can borrow based on that figure.

For example…

If the property is in poor condition, the valuer will give a lower figure of say £600 pcm. When it is refurbished you may be able to rent it for £800, but the £600 may not be enough to borrow the full amount.

The Legal Process is much quicker.

The lender’s requirements for searches and documents from your solicitor are so much smaller than a standard purchase so we can often complete quicker than even a cash purchase, where you would usually want full searches.

The property can be in any condition, as long as you have a plan that works!

You don’t need a kitchen or bathroom, there can be structural issues, and dampness… the list is endless!

As long as you have a plan for the works, the funds to do them (and some experience if they are extensive) then we can do it.

This will open up the properties available to you, you aren’t competing with everyone else.

The property is appraised on your schedule of works and costings

We provide the valuer with your schedule and costs of work, so you will get the current figures, as well as post works figures.

You will have a guide for the GDV and rental potential once it is completed. This will give you some certainty over your project and whether it is viable.

If you are happy with the figures we can usually use the same valuer for the survey for the exit.

If you would like to have a chat about your project and how bridging could help then please give me a call or drop me a dm…

CASE STUDY: Lack of Planning and Refurbishment Funds

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Getting around the lack of planning and refurbishment funds.

Ryan came to me in August last year with a property he wanted to convert to an HMO. It easily converted to a 6 bed but had an option as a 7 bedroom with a rear extension. He didn’t have planning before the purchase, and only had funds available for the 6-bedroom option due to other commitments.

So we had to think outside the box a bit!

Stage One

The first part was simple; we arranged a bridge for the purchase of the property with the intention of converting it to a 6-bedroom HMO. Ryan had the funds for this, and it didn’t require planning so the lender was happy too. We were able to lend 75% of the purchase price and Ryan funded the refurbishment.

Stage Two

When the refurb was almost finished, planning was approved for both the rear extension and the change of use to a 7-bedroom HMO.

We used the same lender as the original bridge to refinance into another bridge to raise funds for this. This meant a reduced arrangement fee, valuation, and legal costs. It allowed the client to raise an additional £80,000 for the work (and also gave him the deposit to purchase another property!)

Stage Three

Another big advantage of this structure is that the lender could see that the client had followed the correct process. Ryan didn’t push the boundaries of what you are allowed to do on the original bridge and therefore wanted to keep him as a client.

Through the relationship we have with this bank, we were able to ensure the refinance was a smooth process with the same lender. Again this meant a reduced arrangement fee, valuation, and legal costs. We were able to lend 75% of the market value, and use a commercial valuation.

Summary of the numbers:

Purchase price £135,000

Initial refurb cost: £85,000

Valuation at the first refinance: £260,000

Additional refurb costs: £30,000

End value: £300,000.

What options do you have for your next deposit?

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Here are some ideas for where your funds can come from…

Savings

This is the easiest one, but often the one that gets used up first! If you’re serious about getting into property then you really do need to think about how you can save money from your day-to-day expenses to create funds for it.

Especially for your first project when the lender wants to see you’re using your own funds. Look at a budget planner, find a savings account that encourages monthly savings, and go from there. There may be some sacrifices that need to be made!!

Refinance of your Residential or Other Property

Refinancing your residential property can be seen as risky by some, but you are moving the equity from one property to another.

Remember that your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on it, so look at the overall picture. It’s an idea to explore though.

Gifts

Often when investors are looking for investor funds, family and friends are first on the list. It’s an easier sell, but comes with more pressure! Gifts from family are easier to use for your first few projects (before you build up some experience) and it counts as your own money!

Joint Ventures

This is an alternative where you are relying on the experience of someone else. It means your JV partner has more security over their funds and equally, you have more support for the project. You are able to split the shareholding to reflect the funds and experience of all applicants too, so it’s flexible.

One thing to remember is that generally, all applicants to the mortgage will need to sign a personal guarantee to be jointly and severally responsible for the loan, so ensure that your JV partner is happy with that setup.

Company Loans

Something we are seeing more of is where clients have a (non-property) company that is profitable and they want to use these funds to put into the property.

It is a tax-efficient way of doing things, but ensure to check with your accountant.

Investor Funds

Once you’ve built up a track record of projects – usually one or two similar-sized projects – you can move on to using other people’s funds!

Loans are an option where you run out of your own money, but ensure you factor in the overall costs.

Most lenders will now be able to use investor loans where there is a loan agreement in place and no charge on the security property. There needs to be a clear replacement method and any interest payments need to be taken into account so bear that in mind.

With the right strategy, you will be able to recycle some of your funds, so you’re not starting from scratch with each project – although “no money left” deals are hard to come across at the moment!

Thinking outside the box: where can your deposit come from?

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In this current market, we really have a big split in the situation of our clients. On one hand we seem to have plenty with cash available to purchase property and then refinance once works are completed. On the other, however, we have so many people trying to get into the property market but struggling to find the deposit funds.

Before I get to the options, one thing that comes up often is how much money you need to prove and whether credit cards can be used.

You need to be able to show the lender where the deposit is coming from (and it needs to be in your bank account!), as well as any refurbishment costs. This will need to match your schedule of works, and a valuer needs to agree that they schedule and cost match the works needed in the property. For example, if there’s clear evidence of damp then the solution needs to be covered off in your schedule.

How can you use credit cards within this? 

I hear property mentors often speak about using credit cards to pay for refurbishments so that you can refinance and pay it back without putting your own money in but to be honest it doesn’t always work that way! Lenders will want to know that you have the funds to carry out the refurbishment – if you’re not able to finish it then they will be the ones left with it and that’s not what they want!

As with lots of things though, it does come down to experience. If you’ve done it a few times before and got off your bridge successfully then they are more likely to be more flexible with where your money is coming from and we may be able to agree it.

Here’s some ideas for where your funds can come from 

Savings 

This is the easiest one, but often the one that gets used up first! If you’re serious about getting into property then you really do need to think about how you can save money from your day to day expenses to creat funds for it. Especially for your first project when the lender wants to see you’re using your own funds. Look at a budget planner, find a savings account that encourages monthly savings and go from there. There may be some sacrifices that need to be made!!

Refinance of your residential or other property

Refinancing your residential property can be seen as risky by some, but you are moving the equity from one property to another. With residential mortgages back up to higher loan to values and lenders now using bonus and commission again this may be a good time to look at this option.

Remember that your home may be at risk if you do not keep up repayments on it, so look at the overall picture. It’s an idea to explore though.

Gifts

Often when investors are looking for investor funds, family and friends are first on the list. It’s an easier sell, but comes with more pressure! Gifts from family are easier to use for your first few projects (before you build up some experience) and it counts as your own money!

Joint ventures 

This is an alternative where you are relying on the experience of someone else. It means your JV partner has more security over their funds and equally you have more support on the project. You are able to split the shareholding to reflect the funds and experience of all applicants too, so it’s flexible.

One thing to remember is that generally all applicants to the mortgage will need to sign a personal guarantee to be jointly and severally responsible for the loan, so ensure that your JV partner is happy with that set up.

Company loans 

Something we are seeing more of, is where clients have a (non- property) company which is profitable and they want to use these funds to put into property. It is a tax efficient way of doing things, but ensure to check with your accountant. You may have utilised a BBL in the company too, so you will be able to use that. Most lenders will allow you to use company loans as long as they are interest bearing.

Angel investments

Once you’ve built up a track record of projects – usually one or two similar sized projects – you can move on to using other people’s funds!

Loans are an option where you run out of your own money, when you factor in the overall costs. Most lenders will now be able to use investor loans where there is a loan agreement in place and no charge on the security property. There needs to be a clear replacement method and any interest payments need to be taken into account so bear that in mind.

With the right strategy you will be able to recycle some of your funds, so you’re not starting from scratch with each project – although ‘no money left’ deals are hard to come across at the moment!

As always, let us know if you want to run anything past us!

 

 

What is going on with the stamp duty deadline and Jackie’s update

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I keep saying this – but I can’t believe it is Friday again!!

I am starting to venture out and its taking some getting used to… We had one night out for a very belated November birthday this week and I’ve needed a good few days to recover!

We are now at the stage when the last cases will get through for the higher SDLT discounts ending 30th June. 

For the £250k and under purchase prices, there are still a few months to go – but be wary, the conveyancing side is starting to bubble over. We are being asked by clients for solicitors details to take on cases when their own are simply too busy to help.

What’s the best way forward if you get a good opportunity?

I would suggest, if it’s available, going dual representative. This is where the solicitor acts for both the lender and yourself.  I wouldn’t be holding your breath for a speedy completion, but it may knock off a good few days/weeks, which could be vital.

It is also important that you make sure you have a solicitor in the bag BEFORE considering an auction timescale case.

I have recently exchanged on a Manchester property. I has all been a bit quick after a year with an option.  With the planning application taking so long, together with a change of tack due to a Housing Association now wanting the plot, things have not been straightforward.  Planning has had to be resubmitted due to the changes so its now going to take even longer!  When we were ready to proceed, the original solicitor simply couldn’t take the case for completion on the 18th June. That has caused a real headache.  Thankfully my go to solicitor (Phillip Adam) took the case after I begged him! Honestly it was a really kind deed, as I know he is as busy as anyone.

So why have I changed direction with my portfolio?

The reason for going for this property and plot was to expand my portfolio. I have had vanilla buy to lets for some considerable years and although they are lovely and safe, I wanted take a bit more risk to get the higher potential rewards.  I am selling one of my flats as the return on Manchester site is worth the cost of selling the flat.

It’s interesting that your pension pot doesn’t tend to go on the radar… until you realise that your years left to fill it suddenly get very short.  Having had a financially difficult divorce in my 40s, time was short if I wanted the option to retire at a reasonable age.  I try to keep a split between earnings, pension (very tax efficient to put money in from a company) and properties.

Enjoy your weekend and I hope you give yourself time to recover 😊

Cash Vs. investor or bridging borrowing  – which is king..??

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Happy Friday everyone.   I hope you are all digging deep, it seems a lot tougher nearing the end.

As we work with so many property investors, the question of whether they should use cash or bridging to fund a project often comes up… so I thought this week’s blog would give both sides of the coin.

Your Own Cash

It’s easy to say it’s cheaper as you aren’t charged interest or fees – and at the moment when bank interest rates are so low it is tempting, but tying up cash stops it being used for something else, which will give a return. You could use your cash to fund two or three rather than just one project if you used bridging finance too.  It’s really important to always look at all options and what the net cost actually is. It all depends on how many projects you are planning on completing at once, and whether you have contingency funds if your project runs over time or cost. If you want to grow quickly then having cash available for the right project is important.

If you are buying solely with cash then another consideration should also be to use a solicitor that is used to working with lenders solicitors. If the legal work has only been looked at as a cash purchase then it can make it difficult when refinancing.  There is more work involved when someone is placing a charge on the property, and this can then cause delays at the refinance stage of its not been dealt with initially.

Using Other People’s funds

This really does keep your cash available for a profitable opportunity, and is the lowest cost borrowing option if you can access it at a reasonable rate given that there are no arrangement fees, exit fees and lender solicitor fees. Considerations would be:

  • Is there enough profit in the deal to ensure that your investors are repaid within the timescales you have agreed, and what’s your back up option?
  • You will usually need to borrow the full amount for the full time period, so your interest payment needs to be calculated ok this basis.
  • If you are using it with bridging, Lenders need to ensure the right people are on the application, so you need to have some experience to bring to the project before the lender will be happy for you to use investor funds.

Bridging Finance 

So after all that, why would you use bridging finance? The biggest advantage is the security; of having a mortgageable property that a bank will lend on, and a lender’s solicitor having seen the legals and being happy with the property. There is never a guaranteed exit to a term mortgage but it does help.

As we touched on before, it frees up your capital to look at multiple properties, or it can allow you to look at bigger projects with bigger profits. If your total spend becomes a 25% deposit (and maybe refurbishment costs) suddenly your budget is much bigger.

There are ways to mitigate costs too, especially when you’re looking at keeping the property:

  • If you are borrowing the refurb costs as well as the acquisition, then you will obtain the refurb costs in arrears as you spend them. This reduces the interest payable by about 40% and therefore can balance out the arrangement fees, exit fees and legal costs.
  • There are some bridge to term mortgage options, where there is a reduction in arrangement fees, valuation costs and/or legals when you use both products with the same lender. This can mean that you’re not paying out as much, and may therefore mean it’s a lower cost option to private investor funds for example.

As always, it does depend on your circumstances and the project you are looking at so please feel free to give us a call and chat it through.

Thinking outside the box: Options for your HMO

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Happy Friday all, welcome back to lockdown! This time things do feel different; the housing minister has been clear that it is ‘business as usual’ and we will be doing all we can to keep it that way.  We have been working from home since March so nothing changes for us! 

This week I want to talk to you about some options for your HMOs. There has been talk in the industry that the boom of HMOs is over, of which I disagree! In the HMO market we are seeing the need for diversification, though.

During these times we are seeing that tenants are becoming less likely to want to share facilities if they can afford the a choice. HMOs for professionals are perhaps less popular as people are working from home more, aren’t travelling for work and don’t need to be in a specific place. So what else could you use your HMO for? 

Longer leases for the whole property 

This is an area that has traditionally been tricky to obtain lending, but as banks crave certainty as much as landlords in such an uncertain market, things are changing. It has been a contentious issue for some time, but we are now seeing a change in lender appetite, allowing longer leases as well as vulnerable tenants in the property.

There are certain caveats to the lease, but we are able to have the draft lease checked by the lender’s legel team prior to submitting the application.  This allows you to have a level of certainty from the beginning. 

The product is available on a standard HMO interest rate, so you aren’t paying a premium, and you don’t need any specific experience as long as you have had an HMO for more than 12 months.  This really has opened up a new option! We have completed cases using this scenario and it is a straightforward process.  I would suggest engaging with your provider early on.  You need to understand what they need from a property in terms of facilities and location to ensure that you don’t spend money before you know it’s a viable option.

The student sector

Six months ago as we entered the first lockdown we were worried about what was going to happen to student let’s and some lenders even stopped allowing them entirely. What we have seen since September, however, is very different.

We are seeing students who are craving some sort of normality moving into their new homes as planned. We are also seeing students preferring a shared home rather than student accommodation, and wanting to commit for two years rather than one to create some stability.  

Lenders are back in the market after this shift, and so it may be worth thinking about this as an option for next year if your location allows.  As always, diversification is key, and we are seeing this through a variety of methods; different types of property, alternative locations and thinking outside the box for lease or tenant options. 

As always, we’re here to let you know how this could work for you so give us a call to discuss it further.

Stay safe, and try and enjoy your first lockdown weekend!