This is a charge levied by the lender to cover the costs of processing a mortgage application. If an application is not completed, the fee may not be refunded.
The APR is a compound interest rate figure used to compare different mortgages. Defined by law, it includes repayments on the loan plus any mortgage related fees such as booking, arrangement or basic valuation fees. The APR shows the true cost of borrowing over the entire term and should appear on all mortgage illustrations.
The person or party applying for a property to buy.
The value of a property, as estimated by a surveyor.
The increase in the value of a property as a result of changes in market conditions.
Fees charged to arrange a loan on certain products. Usually applied to loans where a special interest rate applies e.g. fixed or capped rates.
Any form of property owned by a person, including currency, stocks and enforceable claims against others.
The transfer of ownership of an insurance policy or lease.
The sale of a property to the highest bidder.
A short term loan commonly used to cover or 'bridge' the overlap between the purchase of a new property and the sale of an old one.
A full inspection of the property, conducted by a chartered surveyor, who will write a detailed report setting out the soundness of a property and any property defects. Suitable for any house, particularly older properties and those that have been poorly maintained as well as properties that have been extensively altered or extended, or any property due to be altered or extended.
An insurance policy that pays the cost of repair or rebuilding in the event your property is damaged or destroyed. Most mortgage lenders will require buildings insurance to be taken out as a condition of their loan.
A type of mortgage specifically designed for people buying a property with the intention of letting it out.
The amount of money either put into buying a property or the deposit placed on a property. Also known as equity.
A capped-rate mortgage sets a maximum rate of interest that the lender can charge, but only for a specified period.
The situation that occurs when a buyer is reliant upon completion of the sale of their existing property in order to complete on the purchase of the new property.
The estate agent's fee for selling the property.
Areas of land or buildings, such as gardens, hallways, recreational facilities and parking areas, where more than one resident shares access.
A search that looks at the actual sale values of similar properties in the same area as your property. This search is normally carried out by a surveyor and should give an indicative sale price for a property.
The completion date is the day on which money is transferred from the buyer's to the seller's solicitor. It is the date that the buyer becomes the legal owner of the new property.
The details that determine the rights and duties of the seller and buyer. These may be national, statutory or the Law Society's conditions.
Insurance that covers the contents of a home, including electrical goods, carpets, furniture and curtains.
A legal agreement between the seller and buyer of a property, which binds both parties to complete the transaction.
When two parties have made offers on the same property, the vendor will sell to the first party to exchange contracts.
A flat or apartment that has been created by the subdivision of a larger property.
A qualified individual such as a solicitor or licensed conveyancer who deals with the legal aspects of buying or selling a property.
The legal process surrounding the transfer of ownership of a property from seller to buyer.
The charge made by a solicitor or conveyancer for undertaking the legal process necessary for the transfer of ownership of a property.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders devised the Mortgage Code to ensure lenders treat customers fairly.
Rules and regulations governing the property, contained in its Title Deeds or Lease.
The procedure by which a check is made on the credit history of an applicant, usually conducted by one of the large dedicated credit rating agencies. The check will reveal history of credit card repayments, outstanding debts, arrears and County Court Judgments.
A history of an individual's open and fully repaid debts. Checking a credit history helps a lender to assess the likelihood that a prospective borrower will maintain their mortgage repayments.
Legal documents proving ownership, generally held by the mortgage lender.
The fee charged by lenders at the end of a mortgage term to cover the administrative costs of transferring the property ownership documents to the borrower.
A situation in which prices are falling (the opposite situation to inflation).
A sum of money paid by the buyer on exchange of contracts.
The decline or reduction in the value of a property caused by changes in market conditions (the opposite of appreciation).
Term used to describe a property that stands alone and is separated from all others.
A newly built residence or an older property that has been refurbished and modernised.
Fees paid by the buyer's solicitor on the buyer's behalf such as stamp duty, land registry and search fees.
Paying off a mortgage.
Mortgages charged at a rate discounted from the published bank standard variable rate for a set period of time. The rates are variable and are subject to go up or down in line with any changes to the Bank of England base rate.
When the lender restricts the amount you can borrow after the surveyor's valuation report indicates the property is not worth the sum sought.
Preliminary version of the contract.
A charge levied by the lender as a penalty if a mortgage is paid off within a specified period.
Interest-only repayments combined with monthly premiums into an endowment policy designed to pay off the loan at the end of the term.
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G. It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC commissioned before a property can be marketed.
The amount of money either put into buying a property or the deposit placed on a property which exceeds the amount of any money borrowed against the property. Also known as capital.
The initial sum paid on an insurance claim.
The point at which signed contracts are physically exchanged, legally binding the seller and buyer to the sale and purchase of a property at the agreed price.
An independent body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
A mortgage in which the interest rate is set for an agreed period of time.
All non-structural items included in the purchase of a property.
An arrangement whereby you can increase or decrease your mortgage.
A flying freehold exists when one part of a property extends over, or under, a neighbouring property.
Where the owner of the property also owns the land on which it is built.
When a seller accepts a higher offer from a third party on a property that they have already agreed to sell to someone else prior to exchange of contracts.
When a buyer reduces their agreed offer prior to exchange of contracts.
The annual charge levied by the freeholder to the leaseholder.
The lender may sometimes require a borrower to appoint a guarantor. This is someone who promises to pay the borrower's debt if the borrower defaults.
An up-front, one-off fee paid to the lender to protect them against the borrower defaulting on the loan. Usually charged on mortgages over 75% of the house value.
This is a survey report, which is not as detailed as a structural survey, carried out by a chartered surveyor to assess the state of a property and its value.
An insurance policy that protects against loss or damage to the property caused by fire, some natural causes and acts of vandalism. Also see Buildings insurance and Contents insurance.
A building of three floors or more which is to be occupied by three or more people and where these people live as more than one household and share facilities such as bathrooms, toilets or cooking facilities.
Independent Financial Advisor.
An interest-only mortgage linked to an Individual Savings Account fund, which is designed to pay off the loan at the end of the period.
The general rise in prices over time.
The charges that banks make on a loan, calculated as a percentage of the amount borrowed.
A type of mortgage in which the borrower only repays the interest on the loan for the duration of its term and repays the full loan amount at the end of the mortgage period.
The total gross income of the two borrowers in a joint mortgage.
A form of ownership for two parties whereby if one of them dies, their share of the property will automatically transfer to the remaining party, giving them full ownership (regardless of the terms of the deceased owner's will).
The process of registering the legal title of an area of land with the Land Registry, typically handled by a solicitor.
The fee payable for the above.
A legal document by which the Freehold (or Leasehold) owner of a property lets the premises or a part of it to another party for a specified length of time, after the expiry of which, ownership may revert to the Freeholder or superior Leaseholder.
A type of ownership in which a person owns a property, but not the land on which it is built. The owner of the Freehold will grant a lease on the property for a specified length of time.
A mortgage on the property.
The party, typically a bank, building society or mortgage company, offering the loan.
Charge passed on to the buyer by the lender for arranging a loan.
A building officially listed as being of special architectural or historic interest, which cannot be demolished or altered without prior local government approval.
The proportion of the value of the property on which the lender is prepared to loan.
Procedure whereby a buyer's solicitor checks with the local council regarding any outstanding enforcement or future development issues that might affect the property or immediate area.
The cost of repairing and maintaining external or internal communal parts of a building charged to the tenant or leaseholder.
A self-contained apartment (usually on two floors) in a larger house with its own entrance from the outside.
An amount of money advanced by a lender such as a bank or building society on the security of a property and repayable over a long period of time.
This is an insurance designed to pay your monthly mortgage for a limited period, usually a year if you are unable to work through illness, disability or redundancy.
Someone who advises buyers on the types of loans available and helps to process any subsequent application.
The legal document that confers ownership or title to a property.
The standard variable interest rate quoted by all mortgage lenders which normally varies in line with the Bank of England base rate. All discounted rates are based on this mortgage rate.
The period of time over which a mortgage loan must be repaid.
This may be a fixed, variable, capped, discount, tracker or another type of mortgage.
The lender of a mortgage (i.e. bank or building society).
A type of building guarantee available on some newly built homes under which defects occurring within a specified time after construction are remedied.
A situation in which the value of a property has fallen to below the level of the loan secured on it.
A sum of money that the buyer offers to pay for a property.
A formal document approving the mortgage you have requested and detailing the Terms and Conditions that will apply.
An official document from the Land Registry confirming ownership of and borrowings against a property.
The price a property should achieve where there is a willing buyer and willing seller.
An option on flexible mortgages that allows you to stop making mortgage payments for up to six months.
A specified charge that is levied by the lender under certain circumstances, usually for full or part repayment within a specific period linked to a discount, tracker, fixed or other product type.
A nominal periodic rent usually paid annually.
A property kept for temporary, secondary or occasional occupation.
A way for you to download audio files over the internet and then listen to them via a computer or MP3 player. Foxtons offers Podcasts for all property searches.
The initial enquiries about a property put forward to a seller, which the seller must answer before the exchange of contracts.
The monthly amount payable for an insurance policy.
The amount of debt outstanding (excluding interest).
Foxtons Protographers are trained specifically to collect property information including interactive floorplans, 360° tours and multiple photographs, all in just one visit.
Insurance that covers injury or death to anyone on or around a property.
A person who is buying a property.
Refinancing a property by either switching a mortgage from one lender to another or by taking out a second mortgage to take advantage of any equity gained by a rise in value.
RSS is a way to receive the latest information from a website (e.g. the latest properties) directly to a computer via an RSS reader. Foxtons offers this service.
When a mortgage is fully repaid.
A mortgage in which monthly charges are used to repay the interest and reduce the outstanding capital.
When the mortgage lender takes possession of a property due to non-payment of the mortgage.
The ability of a lender to hold back (retain) part of a mortgage until certain conditions are met.
Short Message Service. Commonly known as text messages.
A request or enquiry for information concerning the property held by a local authority or by the Land Registry.
A property which is joined to one other house.
Service charges are paid by the owner and cover the cost of providing various services (i.e. maintenance and repair of the building and common parts, provision of heating, lighting and security).
Where the freehold on which the property stands is owned by a limited company and the shareholders of that limited company are the owners of the property.
When a seller chooses only one estate agent to sell their property.
A property that is occupied (lived in) only by the mortgage applicant(s) and their direct family.
A legal expert handling all documentation for the sale or purchase of a property.
A government tax paid by the buyer of a property, which ranges between 0% and 5% depending on the value of the property.
Mortgage lender's standard rate of interest, which may be increased or decreased periodically by the lender depending on prevailing economic conditions.
This is based on a detailed inspection of the property and reports on the general structural condition.
A flat consisting of one main room or open-plan living area incorporating cooking and sleeping facilities and a separate bathroom/shower room.
Legal terminology that indicates an agreement is not yet legally binding and depends upon the terms yet to be agreed within the contract.
A professional person qualified to estimate the value and condition of land and property.
A form of ownership by two or more people in which if one of them dies, their share of the property forms part of their estate and does not automatically pass to the other(s).
Conditions on which a property is held (i.e. length of lease).
A property that forms part of a connected row of houses.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is a free, fair and independent arbitration service which provides sellers, buyers, landlords and tenants with an assurance that they will receive the highest level of customer service.
Documents showing the legal ownership of a property.
An insurance policy which a buyer can take out to allow a sale to complete where there is a potential problem with the documentation in proving legal ownership of some part of the land they are buying.
An investigation carried out by a conveyancer or solicitor into the history of ownership of a property. The search will check for liens, unpaid claims, restrictions or any other problems that may affect ownership.
A type of mortgage whereby any changes in the rate of interest charged follow exactly ('track') another, specified, interest rate or index. Typically a tracker mortgage will track the Bank of England base rate.
The Land Registry document that transfers legal ownership from seller to buyer.
The status of a property for sale when a seller has accepted an offer from a buyer, prior to exchange of contracts.
A basic survey of a property to estimate its value for mortgage purposes. Mortgage lenders will insist on this before lending.
The price of a property under normal conditions, i.e. when the buyer is not forced to buy and the seller not forced to sell.
The basic rate of interest charged on a mortgage. This may change in reaction to market conditions so monthly payments can go up or down.
The person selling a property.
A way to download video files over the internet before watching them on a computer or video-enabled MP3 player. Foxtons offer Vodcasts for all property searches.
An empty area or space.
Income from a property calculated as a percentage of its value.