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MORTGAGE ARRANGEMENT FEES AND COSTS IN SCOTLAND

Mortgage arrangement fees and costs in Scotland, redemption penalties, mortgage borrowing limits in Scotland. Mortgage information, guides and advice from mortgage consultants in Scotland.

At Scotland Mortgages, we know Scottish mortgage advisors who can advise you about mortgage arrangement fees and costs in Scotland, mortgage borrowing limits in Scotland, redemption penalties, tie in periods and help arrange better remortgages and mortgages for house purchase, buy to let, and other purposes even with bad or poor credit ratings. Organising a mortgage in Scotland is not the same as arranging a mortgage in England or Wales. So it is essential that you talk to Mortgage consultants who know the mortgage system in Scotland to obtain the most competitive interest rates.

There are various fees and additional costs which you might have to pay when taking out a mortgage to buy a home in Scotland or if you are arranging a remortgage.

Firstly, you may have mortgage arrangement fees. These are fees which some mortgage lenders charge in respect of certain mortgage or remortgage products. Usually mortgage arrangement fees are only payable on a special deal such as a fixed, capped, or discounted rate mortgage. However, there are some lenders who will charge mortgage arrangement fees on all types of mortgages. If a mortgage arrangement fee is charged, it can usually either be paid up front or added onto the mortgage itself.

There are also legal costs which are paid to your solicitor or conveyancer. These costs include the solicitor's own fee (typically £300-£400) plus what are known as "disbursements". These are the costs that the solicitor pays out to others on your behalf - for example fees to register your purchase with the land registry, search fees, etc. Some mortgage lenders offer packages where they will cover some or all of these costs for you.

Then there is stamp duty which is a Government tax which applies to the purchase of a property. The level of tax varies depending on the purchase price and the rules were amended in the 2005 Budget. For a purchase price of up to £120,000 there is no stamp duty. Between £120,000 and £250,000 the level of stamp duty is 1%. This rises to 3% for properties from £250,000 to £500,000. Properties with a purchase price of £500,000 or more attract stamp duty at 4%. Stamp duty is not normally payable if you are taking out a remortgage, except in cases where an additional name is being added to the title deeds.

Finally, there are the valuation fees and survey costs. There are three types of survey: a Basic Valuation, a Homebuyer's Report, and a Full Structural Survey.

A Basic Valuation tends to be the bare minimum that is required by the mortgage lender before they will give you a formal mortgage offer. This type of survey gives very little information about the condition of the property and so is not normally recommended for older properties. The cost of a Basic Valuation is usually around £100-£500. Sometimes the mortgage lender will pay for a basic mortgage valuation as part of a special offer.

A Homebuyer's Report is the next step up and provides more detail about the overall condition of the property. It will bring to light certain problems that require attention. The report follows a standard industry-wide format and covers things such as: the wiring, heating, evidence of damp, subsidence, condition of the walls and roof structure, etc. Costs for this type of mortgage survey are typically in the region of £300-£600.

A Full Structural Survey is the most comprehensive type of inspection, covering every aspect of the property from the foundations upwards. It is also the most expensive - often around double the cost of a Homebuyer's Report.

The type of survey you opt for will depend to a large extent on the type of house or flat you are buying.

If you would like more information on mortgage arrangement fees and costs in Scotland, please contact us and we will arrange for a qualified mortgage broker to get in touch with you.