What happens after a mortgage offer is issued?

After a long, and sometimes arduous, process of searching for the perfect home and going through the mortgage application, you finally receive some good news: a mortgage offer has been issued! Congrats! But this is just the first hurdle – what happens next? 

Let's explore the steps that follow after a mortgage offer is issued.

1. Reviewing the offer

Once you receive the mortgage offer, you should take the time to review it thoroughly. Pay close attention to the terms and conditions, interest rate, repayment schedule, and special clauses or requirements. Make sure you understand all the details and ask for clarification from your lender or mortgage adviser if needed.

Here are a few things to pay attention to:

• whether your deal has early repayment charges 

• what fees are attached to your mortgage deal

• how much your monthly repayments will be

• the interest rate your mortgage will have

• the length of your mortgage term

2. Acceptance 

Once you’re happy with the terms and conditions outlined in the offer, you’ll need to provide your formal acceptance. This can usually be done by signing and returning a copy of the offer to your lender. Keep in mind that the offer may have an expiration date, so try to be prompt in your response.

3. The conveyancing process

Once you’ve accepted the offer, your solicitor will move forward with all the legal admin required. This is the conveyancing process and involves the surveys, searches, and managing/payment of legal fees. 

SmartBuyer is our premium service that helps speed up this process by matching you to a suitable conveyancer and managing your surveys and legal fees.

4. Exchange of contracts

After receiving the mortgage offer and ensuring all legal requirements have been met, you and the seller will exchange contracts. At this point, the purchase becomes legally binding, and both parties are committed to the transaction. 

5. Completion

The final step is completion, also known as the closing process. This is when the remaining funds for the purchase are transferred to the seller, and you become the legal owner of the property. Your solicitor will handle the necessary paperwork, register the property in your name, and coordinate the transfer of funds.

It's important to note that the exact timeline and process may vary depending on the lender, solicitor, and specific circumstances. However, the steps outlined above provide a general overview of what happens after a mortgage offer is issued.