Home Money Warning: Why a new car could reduce your chances of getting a mortgage

Warning: Why a new car could reduce your chances of getting a mortgage

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Please note: Homebuyers are warned that buying a new car this month could knock £36,000 off any mortgage deal

Homebuyers are being warned that buying a new car this month could shave £36,000 off any mortgage deal they can get from a traditional bank or building society.

Coventry Building Society says a borrower on a typical salary of £35,500 with no credit commitments can get a home loan of £156,000.

But if they buy this year’s best-selling car (a £26,600 Ford Puma), mortgage lenders will only offer them a home loan of up to £129,000. If they buy another model, such as a £29,500 Audi A3, the money they can borrow is reduced to £120,000.

Please note: Homebuyers are warned that buying a new car this month could knock £36,000 off any mortgage deal

The figures are based on the amount of money mortgage providers are willing to risk lending to potential customers if they also have other credit commitments, such as applying for a loan to buy one of these cars.

And with the average UK house price currently sitting at £288,000, according to the Office for National Statistics, it can be the difference between being able to afford a home or not.

Jonathan Stinton, Broker Relations Manager in Coventry, says: ‘Buying a new car is exciting, but before you sign, it’s worth considering what that extra expense might mean for your mortgage, whether you’re buying a first home or refinancing a mortgage.

‘It could mean giving up an extra bedroom or saving up for longer to make up the difference.’

He added: “This doesn’t mean people shouldn’t buy a new car, but it’s worth remembering that it can limit their options.”

Mortgage calculations are based on the purchase of a Ford Puma with a monthly payment of £330 for four years, after paying a deposit of £3,430. This is a special offer available at Ford dealers until 30 September.

But the building society calculates that if a couple lives together and both earn the average wage and want a mortgage, the amount offered by the lender is reduced from £300,000 if they do not buy the Ford Puma to £291,000 if they buy it. If the couple each need a car, the offer is reduced to £275,000.

Those looking for a more luxurious vehicle, such as the popular Audi A3, will find themselves even more restricted in how much money they can borrow to buy a home or refinance their mortgage.

Variations: The amount you can borrow may be affected by the car you purchase.

Variations: The amount you can borrow may be affected by the car you purchase.

Based on paying £409 a month for 48 months with a £3,500 special offer deposit from Audi for a £29,500 entry-level A3, Coventry calculates that a person who could previously borrow up to £156,000 for a mortgage will find this amount reduced to £120,000 – a difference of £36,000.

The car loan includes an ‘optional final payment’ of £13,650 if you want to keep the vehicle after paying the last instalment. As a couple earning the same amount without taking out a car loan, you can borrow up to £300,000. If you buy the Audi A3, the amount offered is reduced to £288,000.

The building society’s calculations were made using the maximum loan amounts offered by high street mortgage lenders including Lloyds, Nationwide, NatWest, Santander, Barclays, HSBC and Coventry.

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Brokers such as Hargreaves Lansdown believe it is particularly important to keep a tight rein on your finances, including budgeting for a new car, as the cost of buying a home remains stubbornly high despite the Bank of England’s recent drop in the base rate to 5 per cent from 5.25 per cent in early August.

House prices have risen by an average of 1.4 percent during the first seven months of the year, according to the latest figures from property website Zoopla.

However, UK household cost indices have seen the average cost of living rise by 2.5 per cent, while those with a mortgage have seen inflation of 3.7 per cent, according to the ONS.

This means that, in real terms, homeowners may have less money to spend.

Sarah Coles, personal finance director at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Persistently low mortgage rates are hitting homeowners, and this is being reflected in the pocketbooks of people looking to buy or refinance their mortgage.”

When it comes to budgeting, the cost of transportation, including car ownership, typically accounts for almost a sixth of household spending, according to the RAC Foundation.

And for two-thirds of us, the cost of maintaining a car is the biggest expense after a mortgage or rent payment, says consumer website NerdWallet.

The annual cost of owning a pre-owned car has been found to be £3,400 per year. However, if a new car is bought on a loan, the price can rise to more than £5,700 per year, including payments, repairs, insurance and fuel.

The new ’74’ license plate, issued on September 1, marks the start of a new car-buying season, when motorists are traditionally eager to purchase a new vehicle.

Sales in September rose by 21 percent compared to the previous month, with 273,000 new cars registered, according to figures from the Society of Automobile Manufacturers and Traders.

The latest figures show that new car sales in July saw a year-on-year increase of 2.5 percent. Year-to-date sales are up 5.5 percent, with 1.154 million new cars registered in the first seven months.

New license plates are issued twice a year: at the beginning of March and at the beginning of September. The new license plate 74 will apply to all new vehicles registered until February 28 next year.

The first two letters of the registration plate indicate where the vehicle was registered. For example, MA for Manchester and Merseyside.

The next two digits are the age identifier, which is where the 74 plate replaces the previous 24 plate that was issued in early March.

This month the number will reflect the year of issue, 2024, plus 50, which is the number of digits added in September.

The last three letters are chosen at random and assigned to a dealer when a car is registered.

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How to find a new mortgage

Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed-rate contract is ending or are purchasing a home should explore their options as soon as possible.

What if I need to refinance my mortgage?

Borrowers should compare rates, talk to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act.

Landlords can close a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to accept it.

Most mortgage agreements allow fees to be added to the loan and only charged at the time of contracting. This means borrowers can lock in a rate without paying costly origination fees.

Please note that by doing this and not paying off the fee at the end, interest will be paid on the fee amount for the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone.

What if I’m buying a house?

Those with home purchases lined up should also try to get rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be.

Buyers should avoid over-stretching themselves and be aware that home prices can fall as higher mortgage rates limit people’s borrowing capacity and purchasing power.

How to compare mortgage costs

The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker.

This is Money has a long-standing partnership with free broker L&C, to provide you with expert, free mortgage advice.

Are you interested in seeing today’s best mortgage rates? Use This is the best mortgage rate calculator from Money and L&C to display offers that match your home value, mortgage size, term, and fixed rate needs.

If you’re ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C’s Online Mortgage Finder? This will search through thousands of offers from over 90 different lenders to discover the best option for you.

> Find your best mortgage offer with This is Money and L&C

Please note that rates can change quickly, so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.

The mortgage service is provided by London & Country Mortgages (L&C), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (registration number: 143002). The FCA does not regulate most buy-to-let mortgages. Your home or property may be repossessed if you fail to keep up your mortgage payments.

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