![]() |
How To Get a Mortgage If You're Self-EmployedIf you are self-employed, work on a contract basis, or have an income that is irregular or comes from multiple sources, it will generally be harder for you to get a mortgage than it is for someone who is an employee and can easily prove their income. A self-employed person is someone who runs their own business and works for themselves without an employer. Directors of small limited companies, although technically employed on a PAYEE basis, will generally be classed as self employed when it comes to applying for a mortgage or re-mortgage. With over three million self-employed individuals in the UK, the attitude of many mortgage lenders towards the self-employed population is a problem that can affect a large number of people, even though many self-employed people often earn more than a lot of salaried workers. The problem stems from the fact that the majority of mainstream mortgage lenders require proof of income when assessing a mortgage or re-mortgage application. Employed people can use their pay slips and P60 as proof of salary, but there is no such straightforward equivalent if you are self-employed. In place of pay slips, self-employed workers may be asked to provide audited accounts that show their income over the last three years. However, in many cases, these accounts will not give an accurate reflection of how much money a self-employed person is making. This is because if the accountant who prepared the accounts is doing his job properly, he will have offset as many allowable expenses as possible against tax. This has the effect of reducing the self-employed person's net profit, upon which the lender will base the size of mortgage or re-mortgage they are prepared to offer. The situation is even worse for the newly self-employed, as they may not yet have been trading long enough to have had three years' worth of accounts prepared. This is where mortgage lenders who specialize in self-certification mortgages and self-employed mortgages come into their own. These types of lenders appreciate the different and complex working patterns of the self-employed, contract workers, and people whose jobs are seasonal. They are prepared to look at each case individually and assess each mortgage application on its own merits, rather than just applying a series of one-size-fits-all income tests. In many cases, self-certification means that you do not need to supply any proof of income - you just declare what your income is without having to provide any supporting documentation. In addition, specialist self-employed and self-certification lenders are more likely to offer flexible mortgage products that allow overpayments and underpayments. This is ideal for people whose income can fluctuate throughout the year, as it means you can overpay when times are good and underpay if you're business is going through a quiet period. ----- Copyright 2004 David Miles. You are welcome to reproduce this article on your website, so long as it is published "as is" (unedited) and with the author's bio paragraph (resource box) and copyright information included. In addition, all links to external websites must be left in place. David Miles is the editor of a number of mortgage websites including UK Mortgages & Remortgages where you can find further advice on mortgages or request a personalized mortgage quote or illustration.
Today's mortgage and refinance rates: March 7, 2021 | Rates go down - Business Insider Business Insider Today’s mortgage refinance rates mixed — one key rate drops while another rises | March 2, 2021 Fox Business Can refinancing a mortgage hurt my credit score? Fox Business Best mortgage refinance lenders in 2021 Bankrate.com Best cash-out refinance lenders in 2021 Bankrate.com Is now still a good time to refinance a mortgage? The Philadelphia Inquirer Mortgage rates are falling to unprecedented lows in 2021 — refinance now to save money Q13 FOX (Seattle) Mortgage Recast: How to Reamortize and Save Money Credible News What Are The Benefits Of Cash-Out Refinancing? Is It Worth It? The Mortgage Reports What Is a Mortgage and How Does It Work? | Mortgage 101 The Mortgage Reports Can Closing Costs Change On The Closing Disclosure? The Mortgage Reports How Long Does Underwriting Take? Is 'No News Good News'? The Mortgage Reports Top 5 mortgage refinance questions answered Fox Business How to decide if you should refinance your mortgage Fox Business Pros and cons of a cash-out mortgage refinance Fox Business How to refinance your mortgage Fox Business Mortgage refinance: Everything you need to know Fox Business How do I get the most out of my mortgage refinance? Fox Business What are the hidden costs of refinancing a mortgage? Fox Business Who's exempt from the new mortgage refinance fee? Fox Business Everything You Should Know About The New Mortgage Refinancing Fee That Goes Into Effect Dec. 1 Forbes Mortgage refinance rates continue hitting record lows – here’s how to get the best deal now Fox Business How to refinance your mortgage in 5 easy steps Fox Business Mortgage refinance applications soar despite a new fee that increases the cost Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The best mortgage refinance lenders of March 2021 Business Insider Refinancing your mortgage? Don’t make this mistake Fox Business 4 ways to get lower mortgage refinance rates Fox Business Despite low mortgage interest rates, homeowners should research the caveats before refinancing Seattle Times 5 reasons to refinance your mortgage right now HousingWire 10 things to know before refinancing your mortgage Fox Business How to Refinance Your Home | Home Lending Chase News & Stories 3 Mortgage Refinance Strategies to Consider in 2021 The Motley Fool Complete Checklist of Mortgage Refinancing Requirements Credible News 10 tips for getting the best mortgage refinance rate, from checking your credit report to choosing the right lender Business Insider USDA Construction Loans | Buy Land & Build A Home With USDA The Mortgage Reports Jumbo Mortgage Refinance Rates for March 2021 NextAdvisor
|