When it comes to getting a home loan, the process can seem daunting – especially if this is your first application.
However, by being aware of the home loan application process – and the documents and information you may be asked to provide along the way – you can ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.
Do your research
The first thing you’ll want to do is research the different types of home loans available as understanding the different options will help ensure you are making an informed decision.
Understand the loan conditions, penalties or exit fees?
You’ll also want to set yourself a budget, or perhaps talk to your home loans specialist about this, so you can determine the amount of money you need to borrow. Getting pre-approved for this amount could be a wise idea if you are still shopping around for the perfect property. Pre-approvals tend to last for up to three months and can help you move more quickly once you have found the perfect property.
If you are finding some of the terminology confusing, our Home Loan Glossary will help you understand the jargon.
Home loan documentation
During this application process, you’ll be asked for several pieces of documentation. This includes showing that you have enough savings to cover the deposit on your property and other fees that may be applicable.
If you are self-employed, you may be asked to show tax returns and other financial information from the past two years, while anyone who is employed will need to show evidence of their payslips.
Group certificates and 100 points of ID may also be requested.
Getting Approval
Lenders take into account four main considerations or criteria when assessing your home loan application. Firstly your capacity to repay the loan based on your income and expenses. Secondly, if you are considered a good financial risk, so they will check your credit rating to see that you have a history of repaying your debts. The third consideration is collateral, which ensures the property you are buying is adequate security for the money you wish to borrow to pay for it. Finally, they look at your capital, which are any assets you currently own.
Getting your application approved is the next step to owning your own home. Common practice is to obtain a ‘pre-approval certificate’ prior to buying a property. This will help your property search and keep your budget in check. This certificate confirms that a financial institution will lend you ‘x’ amount of money when you find a property to buy. Be careful though, one of the standard conditions is ‘subject to valuation’. If you pay too much for a property, your lender will see this as a risk and may not provide the cash. Not a good position to be in when you’ve already exchanged contracts!
With stricter lending criteria in the wake of the Global Financial Crisis, it may also be necessary to show a genuine history of your ability to save money. In some instances, particularly for first home buyers, a guarantor may also be required or a larger deposit (at least 20 percent of the purchase price).
Buying a property
Depending on whether you are planning to buy at auction or make an offer on a property, you’ll find there are some slight differences in the transaction process.
If you are buying at auction, you will usually be required to pay a ten per cent deposit at the moment the hammer falls – and there is no cooling off period. Your deposit is then held in trust by the agent or your solicitor and any interest earned is split between you and the vendor during the settlement process.
Buying from an offer usually involves a non-refundable payment of 0.25 per cent as a holding deposit if it is accepted.
From this point, you will usually be entitled to a five-day cooling off period, at which time you should organise your inspections and valuations, as well as discuss your finances with your lender.
During this period, it is essential to be aware that the property will not be held exclusively for you until a deposit of between five and ten per cent has been paid and contracts are signed.
Processing your home loan
After you have found the home you love and bought it you are up to the final state in the home loan journey, the processing of the home loan. To help ensure this runs as smoothly as possible it is important that your lender remains informed throughout the buying process as they will be able to process your home loan more quickly if they are aware of all the details.
This information includes the contact details of your solicitor or conveyancer, real estate agent and vendor, as well as a copy of the contract of sale. At this point, first-time buyers should complete their forms for the First Home Owners Grant – these can be supplied by your home loan provider or through your solicitor or conveyancer.
Once a valuation has been carried out and all the other documents have been received and processed, your home loan provider will grant formal approval on your home loan and the documents will be sent to you.
At this time, you will need to sign these documents and return them. Your solicitor or conveyancer will then liaise with your home loan provider until the loan settles – this usually occurs between 30 and 42 days after the contract has been signed, depending on its terms.