You might have asked yourself: How does a student loan affect my ability to get a mortgage? You should be as honest as possible, as mortgage lenders may see your student loan repayments on your wage slips. If you haven’t thought about your overall disposable income, you should try using a debt-to-income calculator to see how much you can borrow. In addition to calculating your overall income, you should also consider whether your student loan repayments have a negative impact on your credit score.
Getting a mortgage with a student loan
If you’re thinking about getting a mortgage but are worried about your student loan debt, there are a few things you should know. If you’re a graduate, your debt-to-income ratio may be out of whack, meaning that your debt is higher than your monthly income. For this reason, most lenders won’t offer you a mortgage unless you can improve your monthly debt to income ratio and raise your gross monthly income.
The best way to get a mortgage despite a student loan is to refinance your student loan or lower your debt-to-income ratio. Although it may not seem like much, refinancing your loan and improving your credit score can increase your mortgage eligibility. Other options include renting for a few years while you improve your credit, reduce your DTI, or lower your income. If none of these options is an option, you can always consult with a mortgage advisor.
Applying for a mortgage
A student loan can make it difficult to qualify for a mortgage in the UK, but it is still possible. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has confirmed that lenders are not disqualifying you from getting a mortgage due to your outstanding student loan debt. As a result, borrowers should expect to have to prove their ability to pay back their loans – and they need to be able to do so without experiencing difficulty if interest rates rise. Fortunately, there are many lenders that will be willing to work with borrowers who are struggling with student loan debt.
One way to mitigate these risks is to save for a deposit. While saving towards a deposit will reduce the amount of money you borrow, it will increase your borrowing capacity and may result in a better mortgage deal. Luckily, student loan repayments are not included in your credit score, but they do affect your ability to pay off your mortgage. Consequently, a prepared application will ensure your mortgage loan is approved.
Eligibility for a mortgage
Students who have outstanding debts from student loans must declare these on the mortgage application. They should input the monthly repayment amount into the appropriate expenditure box. These details need to be accurate as the mortgage underwriters will cross-reference the data against payslips, tax year overviews and other financial documents. However, if you earn less than the required repayment threshold, you will not be required to put down any loan amount.
The government has announced that the earnings threshold before graduates have to repay their loans will rise to PS25,000 for the 2018-19 tax year. This change will only affect loans taken after 2012, and a review will be carried out to determine how the new threshold will be applied. Debts from previous loans such as credit cards, car loans, and personal loans will also affect mortgage approval. Lenders will factor these into your overall repayment ability.
Impact of student loan repayments on your credit score
While the student loan repayment itself will have a negative impact on your credit score, it’s not the only effect of these payments. Late payments, collections, and defaults can have negative impacts on your credit score. Even a single late payment can have a lasting impact, as these negative items can be on your credit report for seven to ten years. So, if you can make your student loan repayments on time, it’s likely that the impact of missed payments on your credit score will be minimal.
A student loan will show up on your credit report as an instalment loan. While it doesn’t affect your credit score as much as other types of loans, lenders prefer to see that you’re making your payments on time. Your repayment history will increase over time. So, if you can make the payments on time and in full, you’ll see an improvement in your credit score. A student loan repayment plan can last anywhere from ten to thirty years, which will help your credit score in the long run.
Paying off a student loan before buying a home
You may be wondering how to apply your student loan to your mortgage. If you’re self-employed, it’s important to know that your lender will look at your Tax Year Overview and Tax Calculations and will treat the loan repayment as a monthly commitment. It’s important, to be honest with them when applying for a mortgage, because withholding information can be considered mortgage fraud.
You can avoid penalties by paying off your student loan before buying a home. Your income is considered to be your net pay, so your lender can count it as mortgage payment money. Paying off your student loan before buying a home doesn’t affect your mortgage application, but it might mean a higher interest rate. Be sure to check your payslips to ensure that you’re accurate on this statement.
