Mortgage Advice in Sheffield
First and foremost as a first time buyer in Sheffield who is looking to make offers on a potential new home, you have to bear in mind that there will be lots of other possible buyers all looking to buy the same home.
Because of this, it is very important for you to make sure that you are as prepared as you possibly can be ahead of time. This helps to speed the process up and get you a higher chance of getting the offer accepted.
Something else that you should also remember is that you could be doing everything by the book, have a great credit score and everything saved, but if a cash buyer gets involved you’ll probably not be the one to get the property.
The reason that this is likely to be the case is that cash buyers are easier and quicker to take along through the process, as they won’t be needing a mortgage. Luckily for first time home buyers out there, you don’t tend to find a lot of cash buyers anymore.
Tips For Making an Offer on a Property in Sheffield
Get a Mortgage Agreement in Principle
Getting yourself an Agreement in Principle is major factor in the home buying process. Your AIP (as it is often shortened to) is a written statement of approval that is given by the mortgage lender to confirm that in principle, that subject to further checks later down the process, they are willing to lend you the amount you need for your property purchase.
It’s because of this that you are always better off having one of these to your name, as a home seller or estate agent will definitely want to know conclusively that you have the funds to go forward with the process, avoiding the possibility of both of your times being wasted.
Back during the COVID-19 lockdown periods in 2020, you were even required to have an Agreement in Principle in order for you to view a property, not just buy it. This was to restrict the amount of people viewing or making offers who weren’t in a position to proceed straight away.
As a reputable, open & honest mortgage broker in Sheffield and surrounding areas, we would always highly suggest getting prepared for your mortgage ahead of time and putting yourself ahead of other home buyers, by obtaining an Agreement in Principle as soon into your journey as you can.
We touched upon cash buyers at the beginning. Whilst they are few and far between these days, if and when you encounter one, you will be hard pressed to outdo them as they are probably more favourable to the seller of the home.
Even with that in mind, you may still find that having an AIP to hand will put you in a much stronger position against a cash buyer or any other possible buyers. In many cases, having an Agreement in Principle can be a difference maker.
By obtaining an Agreement in Principle, you are able to prove to the seller of the property in question that you are in-fact a serious buyer and have the necessary funds to proceed with the purchase.
You may also find yourself in a much higher position than other potential home buyers who maybe do have the ability to afford the property purchase, but have yet to obtain their own Agreement in Principle.
This is one of the many perks of speaking to a trusted mortgage broker in Sheffield like ourselves. Our dedicated and loyal team of hard working mortgage advisors in Sheffield will be able to obtain one of these within 24 hours of your free mortgage appointment (of which you can book in a time slot of your choosing, using our online appointment booking system).
Be Prepared to Negotiate with The Seller
Purchasing a property is all about negotiation. If your initial offer is rejected by the seller of the property that you are looking to buy, you will be asked about whether or not you would like to increase your price offer.
If you are firmly in the belief that the property is definitely worth the increase in price and you want to call it home, you may have to be prepared to spend more money than you had initially planned for.
Don’t be worried though if the seller declines your first offer, as this is something that has happened to lots of first time buyers in Sheffield over the years and they are still able to find a property for themselves in the future.
If your second offer also happens to be declined, you will most likely have to pay the asking price, something that you’ll have to be prepared for ahead of time. It’s here where it will benefit to do plenty of research beforehand.
Prior to making any offers on a property, you should always take a look around at the other properties in the local area and scout what their sales prices are on reputable property sale websites like Zoopla or Rightmove. This can help give a general idea of what to offer the property seller.
You should also check out the length of time that the property has been actively on the open market. If it is a newer listing, the seller may not be so willing to budge, whereas if it has been listed for quite a while, the seller may be more inclined to accept a lower offer.
If you come across houses that may have gone for lower amounts than the property is worth there is probably a good reason for it. There’s a chance it has possibly been repossessed, perhaps sold to at a discounted price to a tenant living in, or maybe an inter-family sale.
Speak to a Mortgage Advisor in Sheffield Today
To gain any mortgage advice relating to this specialist subject, please feel free to get in touch and speak to one of our brilliant mortgage advisors in Sheffield today.
If you require any form of assistance when it comes to making an offer as a first time buyer in Sheffield or maybe would just like a mortgage advisor in Sheffield to guide you towards a fantastic deal, we’ll always be there to offer you guidance and support all throughout your process.
Our fast & friendly team of mortgage advisors in Sheffield are here to provide mortgage advice every day of the week, so book your free mortgage appointment online and make a start on your very own mortgage journey.
Date Last Edited: September 15, 2023
