A guide to mortgage offers
Getting a mortgage offer is a big step on the way to buying a home. Here’s everything you need to know about the mortgage-offer process.
What is a mortgage offer?
A mortgage offer is a confirmation that your application for a mortgage has been checked and approved.
You only get a mortgage offer letter once you’ve completed the mortgage application process. This includes providing your lender with all the necessary information about your finances and the property you want to buy.
Once you have your mortgage offer, it’s usually valid for three to six months.
How do you get a mortgage offer?
Once you’ve found the property you want to buy, you’ll have to go through a few steps to get the mortgage offer in place:
Prepare documents for your application – You’ll need to provide proof of identity and income to show that you can afford the mortgage repayments. This may mean up to six months of bank statements
Consider a mortgage in principle – A mortgage in principle is a written estimate from a lender of how much you might be able to borrow. It can be useful to show a vendor (i.e., the home seller) that you’re serious about making an offer
Find the right mortgage – You can find the right mortgage by comparing deals from leading mortgage providers with MoneySuperMarket
Get a valuation report – A valuation report shows that the property is worth what you’re proposing to pay for it. This way, the mortgage lender can be confident to proceed with the loan
Get a mortgage offer – Most banks will issue a mortgage offer within a few days of receiving your property valuation report, as long as they have all the other necessary information. It can take around five days to receive the report, so the time between valuation and mortgage offer is typically one week
If you need more information, our guide on tips when looking for your first home should be able to help.
What’s the difference between a mortgage offer and a mortgage in principle?
Prior to finding your new home and applying for a formal mortgage offer, you can also ask for a ‘mortgage in principle’. Usually valid for between 30 and 90 days, this can be approved much more quickly than a mortgage offer. What’s more, based on your financial situation, it gives you an idea of how much the lender would be prepared to let you borrow. It also shows estate agents and sellers you are serious about buying.
A mortgage in principle is the amount the lender Is prepared to lend to you based solely on your financial circumstances. So it can help you find properties in your price range.
Does a mortgage in principle guarantee that I’ll receive a mortgage offer?
The answer is no. A mortgage offer ‘in principle’ is not a guarantee you’ll be offered a mortgage at that level. In fact, in order to get a mortgage in principle, you only need to provide some very basic information.
To take out a mortgage, instead, lenders will want to assess a wide range of documents. These include your credit score, your outgoings, your income, and so on. Only when you have your formal mortgage offer will you know that the mortgage deal is set in stone.
Can I get a mortgage offer without knowing what property I want to buy?
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or a home mover, you can’t get a formal mortgage offer until you find the property you want to buy. That’s because to make a confirmed mortgage offer, mortgage lenders need to check the value of the house or flat they’re lending against. Not only that, but they’ll also need to have a look at your finances and credit record. However, as discussed above, you can get a ‘mortgage in principle’. This is also known as an ‘agreement in principle’ or, sometimes, a ‘decision in principle’.
If you’re remortgaging, you’ll still need a mortgage offer from the new lender, which may take less time. If you’re lucky, you could have an offer on the table within two weeks. But the lender will require the same information about your finances and your home.
How long is a mortgage offer valid for?
All mortgage offers last for a fixed time. In most cases, this is three months, although it can be up to six months. The clock usually starts once the offer is issued, but some lenders count the days from when you first apply. Others, instead, will specify a date by which you must complete on the purchase. So make sure you find out how long your mortgage offer is valid for before signing.
If you’re buying a new-build property, you may be able to get a mortgage offer extension of between three and six months. Banks and building societies may also give mortgage offer extensions to buyers affected by events outside their control.
What happens after a mortgage offer is issued?
Accept (or reject) the offer. If you’re happy with your mortgage offer, the first step is to accept and sign it. Bear in mind that this can often be done online. If you’re not happy with the offer, then you can search for a different deal.
Exchange contracts. Once signed, your solicitor or conveyancer will start the final phase of your purchase. This involves agreeing a date to ‘exchange contracts’ with the seller. If you’re buying in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, this is when you legally commit to buying the property. It’s known as a ‘missive’ in Scotland – after you’ve exchanged the binding contract, neither you nor the seller can back out without having to pay a compensation fee. If anything has changed since you applied for your mortgage offer, it’s vital to let your lender know before exchanging. In some cases, unexpected changes may mean that your mortgage offer is no longer valid. To complete and get the keys, you’ll also need cash available to cover any deposit, your solicitor’s fees, and potential additional costs such as stamp duty.
Complete the purchase. The time it takes to go from mortgage offer to completion could be anything from five working days to several months (or more). This can depend on factors such as whether your purchase is part of a property chain or not.
Can I extend my mortgage offer?
A mortgage offer is designed to expire after a set time, but you may be able to extend it in certain circumstances. Speak to your potential lender in advance if you think you’ll need to extend your mortgage offer.
If you’re buying a new-build property, you may also be allowed to extend your mortgage offer by up to six months if construction is delayed.
What if my mortgage offer can’t be extended?
There may be certain circumstances where your lender, for whatever reason, decides to refuse you an extension. In this case, you would need to apply for a mortgage all over again and go through the same process, including the credit checks. You will also have to repay the fees and any new valuation.
To avoid these unwanted mishaps, it may be worth seeking the help of a mortgage broker. In fact, they will keep you updated on the progress of your house purchase and inform you of whether there will be any delays. This way, you can act in a timely fashion and let your mortgage provider know as soon as possible.
Can a mortgage offer be withdrawn?
Your mortgage lender can choose to withdraw your mortgage offer if your circumstances change once the offer is made. Changes that could result in a mortgage offer being withdrawn include:
You losing your job
You becoming unable to work due to ill health
The property losing value
However, it's rare for a mortgage lender to reassess your finances after making the final checks and issuing your mortgage offer. If you’re worried about your mortgage offer being withdrawn, you could consider completing on your purchase as soon as possible after exchanging contracts. That way, you reduce the risk of being contractually obliged to buy a house with no way of paying for it.
However, if your circumstances do change and you’re worried about being able to afford your mortgage repayments, calling off the purchase before exchanging contracts is likely to be a more sensible move.
How long does it take to complete after a mortgage offer?
You’ll typically complete the purchase of your new home within one or two weeks of exchanging contracts with the seller. You could do it in less, but most mortgage lenders need five working days to release the funds. Completing your house purchase may also take longer if:
You’re renting a property and can only give notice once you’ve exchanged
You don’t have immediate access to the money you need to pay the deposit or fees, such as Stamp Duty
The seller’s onward purchase falls through
Ways to help ensure you complete as quickly as possible include ensuring any cash you need is held in easy-access accounts. What’s more, giving notice on your rental accommodation before exchanging could speed things up too. However, you’ll need somewhere to live if the purchase falls through.
Make sure to keep in regular contact with your solicitor or conveyancer to ensure things progress smoothly.
Other useful guides
We have a range of guides that can help you in the home-buying and mortgage process. These include:
Compare mortgages with MoneySuperMarket
Whether you’re looking to buy your first home, move home, or remortgage to a better home loan, MoneySuperMarket can help you find a deal to suit you. We compare mortgages from more than 90 lenders, covering the whole market.
Tell us whether you’re looking to buy or remortgage and whether you’ll use the property to live in or rent out to tenants
Give us an estimate of the property value, your deposit, and the length of your desired deal term
We’ll sift through offers from our leading panel of providers, so you can see the range on offer and make an informed choice
