A glossary of terms used for buying a home
Hey there! Ever found yourself scratching your head over terms like "freehold" or "gazumping"? You're not alone! The world of home buying can be a maze of confusing jargon. In fact, a recent survey asked people to explain 25 key terms, and the results were eye-opening.
It turns out, terms like "gazundering," "disbursements," and "covenant" left many feeling puzzled. On the flip side, terms like "mortgage," "fixed interest rate," and "surveying" were better understood by more than half of those surveyed.
But here's the kicker: a whopping nine percent admitted they couldn't confidently explain any of the terms! Yikes!
What's more, there were some common misconceptions floating around too. For instance, nearly a fifth of respondents believed that stamp duty is unavoidable for all home buyers. Actually, it only applies to properties over a certain value.
So, why does this matter? Well, according to one mortgage broker, not understanding these terms could lead to costly mistakes. It just goes to show, a little knowledge can go a long way in the world of property.
Understanding the key terms in Home Buying
Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC) - A figure that shows the total cost of a mortgage per year, including interest and associated charges, useful for comparing different mortgage offers.
Base Rate - The interest rate set by the Bank of England that influences borrowing costs across banking institutions.
Broker - A professional who assists potential home buyers by comparing various mortgage products from different lenders, providing advice and assistance in application. Brokers typically earn a commission from the chosen lender.
Bridging Loan - A short-term loan used to cover the interim period between buying a new property and selling an old one, often with high interest rates.
Buying Scheme - Government initiatives designed to help individuals secure property ownership, such as Right to Buy, Shared Ownership, or Help to Buy.
Closing Date - The deadline set by an estate agent for submitting offers on a property.
Completion - The final step in property purchase when ownership officially transfers from the seller to the buyer, who then receives the keys.
Conveyancing - The legal process involving the transfer of property ownership, handled by solicitors for both the buyer and seller.
Covenant - Restrictions or conditions listed in the title deeds that the property owner must comply with, potentially affecting property use or alterations.
Deeds - Legal documents that record property and land ownership, maintained by the Land Registry in England and Wales, with separate systems in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Initially handled in paper form, deeds are now updated electronically.
Disbursements - Expenses paid by conveyancing solicitors on behalf of their clients for various services, which are then charged to the client.
Early Repayment Charge - A fee imposed by lenders if a mortgage is paid off early or if a borrower exits a fixed-rate deal prematurely.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) - A document rating the energy efficiency of a property from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient), required when selling or renting a property.
Equity - The percentage of a property’s value owned outright by the homeowner, free of any mortgage.
Fixed Interest Rate - An interest rate on a mortgage that remains unchanged for a specified period, typically two or five years. At the end of this period, the borrower must secure a new mortgage deal or default to the lender’s standard variable rate.
Freehold - Ownership of both the property and the land it stands on. Common for houses in the UK, whereas flats and some estate properties are often leasehold.
Gazumping - Occurs when a seller accepts a higher offer from a new buyer after already accepting an initial offer, potentially displacing the original buyer.
Gazundering - A situation where a buyer lowers their offer just before closing the deal, pressuring the seller to accept the reduced bid to avoid starting over with a new buyer.
Land Certificate - Previously issued as paper certificates, these are now part of the electronic records held by the Land Registry, detailing property ownership.
Lease - In a leasehold arrangement, the buyer purchases the right to occupy the property for a set term, which can drastically range in duration. Owning a leasehold might involve additional costs like ground rent or service charges.
Mortgage - A loan specifically for purchasing property.
Stamp Duty - A tax paid by the buyer to HM Revenue and Customs upon purchasing a property, with specific terms in Scotland and Wales known respectively as Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Land Transaction Tax.
Surveying - The process in which a professional surveyor assesses a property for any existing or potential issues, typically after an offer is accepted. Surveys vary in depth but generally include checks on the property’s condition, utilities, flood risk, and safety concerns.
Tender - A method of selling property where buyers submit blind bids by a specific deadline, often contributing to the agent’s fees.
Variable Interest Rate - A mortgage interest rate that can fluctuate, such as a standard variable rate or a tracker rate. These rates might be higher than fixed rates but often don't carry early repayment charges.
If you need any help with buying, selling, letting or mortgages get in touch with the team at Cooper Adams to put you in the right direction.