2nd Home Buyer

What is a second home mortgage?

A second home mortgage is a mortgage for buying a second home – not to be confused with getting a remortgage or second charge mortgage.

If you are already paying off a mortgage but wish to buy another home, chances are, you will need to take out a second home mortgage. All banks, building societies and any other mortgage providers will view your current mortgage deal as paying for your main home, or main residence.

If you buy another home, then your mortgage provider will view that as your second home should you wish to apply for a mortgage.

Even if you wish to live in the second home or rent it out to somebody else, your application will be treated as a second home mortgage because you already have a mortgage that you are currently paying.

Generally speaking, in order to get a second home mortgage, you will usually need a larger deposit than what you might have been allowed to have for your first mortgage. On top of this, the second home mortgage deals are likely to have higher interest rates than standard mortgage deals.

You will go through all the same financial assessments as usual, but the mortgage provider will be extra cautious about lending to you, as it will be more expensive for you to pay two mortgage repayments every month.

A MORTGAGE IS A LOAN SECURED AGAINST YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY. YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE OR ANY OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.

Buying a second property with a mortgage

Although it can be more difficult to find and get approved for a mortgage for a second property, you can use a second home mortgage for a range of purposes.

If you are buying a second property that will become your main home, make sure to inform HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) first. This is to ensure you avoid paying Capital Gains Tax (CGT) should you wish to sell the property later.

CGT is a tax that you pay when selling most things you own worth over £6,000, apart from your car. It also applies property, but only on the property that isn’t your ‘main home’.

You could also get a mortgage to buy a second property to use as a holiday home. If the property is abroad then mortgage lenders are likely to be stricter with their terms. This is because many mortgage lenders see an added risk caused by potentially fluctuating currency prices and the unfamiliar property markets and laws.

Whether the holiday home is in the UK or elsewhere, you will need to indicate if you plan to rent out the property or use it for yourself, as this will determine how much you are likely to need to pay the mortgage repayments each month.

This rule similarly applies if you are taking out a second home mortgage for a buy to let investment.

How do I get a second home mortgage and how much deposit for second home?

The first thing to check is if your credit score has changed since taking out your first mortgage.

Secondly, ensure you have enough money in the bank to handle the cost of buying a second property. Many second home mortgages require at least a 25% deposit.

In addition to this, your income will be even more important in the application for a second home mortgage. This is because interest rates are usually higher when getting a mortgage to buy a second property. That means your monthly mortgage repayments could be higher than what you are currently paying on your first mortgage.

It should also go without saying that your existing mortgage repayments will form part of your financial assessment when applying for a second home mortgage.

As with any other mortgage, you will need to work out if you want a fixed rate or variable deal. Assess if you can afford the risk of taking a variable rate mortgage, or if the fixed deal will work out cheaper even after it ends. It’s also important to remember that you will still have to pay all the same fees of buying a house, including the mortgage arrangement fee.

Finally, you will have fewer options on the mortgage market if you are looking for a second home mortgage. Not all lenders offer them, and the range is not as varied as it usually is when applying for a first mortgage. That’s why we suggest you contact us and keep it – simple!