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15 Essential Terms to Know When Buying a House

Published 13:53 18 Aug 2015 BST

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Buying your first home is one of life’s most exciting experiences. Taking the leap onto the property ladder is a major step, and it’s hard not to feel a little bit smug. Well, maybe a lot smug. When you do start the hunt for a new home, however, you are going to come across a range of new terms. Don't worry. From stamp duty and valuation fees, to brokers and intermediaries, here are 15 essential terms you need to know when you’re buying your first pad.

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APR This is the yearly cost of your mortgage. You do NOT get your money for nothing and your chicks for free. Dire Straits lied to you. So, your APR includes the interest on your loan and also any other charges you may have to pay. This is something you should look closely at when comparing mortgage providers and deciding on your options.

Conveyancing

This is the legal process of buying and selling property. This can be done by a solicitor or specialist-licensed conveyancer. Not a DIY job then...

Cost of credit The difference between the amount you borrow and the amount you’ll end up paying back taking into account interest and other charges. Deeds The pieces of paper we're all scrambling to get our hands on! The deeds are the official documents that prove ownership of a property. Deposit The thing you ask your mam and dad for. KIDDING. This is the sum you need to pay yourself towards the cost of the property. This will be at least 10 per cent of the purchase price and more under certain conditions.

Fixed-rate mortgage

You'll like this one if you're not a fan of surprises and you're a planner at heart. A fixed-rate mortgage is one by which the interest rate stays the same for a specific period. You'll typically be given a couple of options for the term or your fixed rate mortgage.

Leasehold You may come across this term if you're looking to buy a flat. A leasehold means you own the property, but not the land it stands on. A fair word of warning: you may find it hard to get a mortgage if there are fewer than 70 years left on the lease of the property you want to buy. LTV (Loan To Value) This term relates to the size of your mortgage as a percentage of the value of your house. For instance, if you have a €50,000 mortgage and your home is worth €100,000, your LTV is 50%. (Side note, if you find any nice houses at that price - CALL US! Ok? Cool) Wouldn't it be nice if this related to you? "Oh hey you! You're a grown-up now!" Sadly, that's not what it means. The maturity date is the date the mortgage must be repaid in full, or by which a new agreement needs to be taken out.

This is a document which indicates the maximum amount you are likely to be able to borrow. You'll need this document to prove you can afford to buy a particular property you wish to make an offer on. Note: this isn’t a guaranteed offer at this stage. Mortgage offer But hopefully, you'll move swiftly on to this. This is your guaranteed offer, so once your mortgage is approved you’ll get a formal offer setting out the terms. Rebuild costs

The amount it would cost to rebuild your home if it is destroyed. Not a pleasant thought, obviously, but this is needed for insurance purposes. Not just imagining doomsday scenarios when you have The Fear.

Standard Variable Rate (SVR) This is the default mortgage interest rate your lender will charge you after your initial mortgage deal ends - so what you'll pay after three years if you opted for an initial three-year fixed rate, for example. Valuation We could all do with a valuation from time to time - where people are forced to tell us we're worth a whole lot to many. When it comes to houses, mortgage lenders require a valuation to prove that the property is worth the amount you want to borrow.

Variable-rate mortgage This means the interest rate can go up or down if your mortgage lender decides to change their standard variable rate.

Taking on a mortgage is a big decision, but getting to know the terms used makes it a lot less daunting. Ulster Bank understands that you want a mortgage you can live with. So in order to give you a mortgage that suits you, they’ve developed a range of mortgages. Take a look at their mortgage options or have the team call you to arrange an appointment.