How cash ISAs can help you obtain a mortgage

Find out ways that savings helps you, besides simply stashing your money away for safety.

11:35 10 May 2013

If you have been considering the purchase of a home, there are a few ways to stack the odds in your favour when trying to receive approval for a mortgage. It all begins with establishing a savings account such as a Cash ISA. Here’s how establishing a savings account can do much more than keep your money safe.

 

• Investment—this word applies in so many ways for your goal to acquire a home. Establishing a Cash ISA and/or a Stocks and Shares ISA, along with a regular savings account will provide your bank with information about you. Essentially, a bank is lending you money for a mortgage, which means they are investing in you. Managing an extensive set of savings accounts tells them you’re fiscally responsible and that you plan intelligently.

 

• Payment—investing in a Cash ISA or even a regular savings account earns your money interest, so it’s actually working on your behalf, but there is a cap to how much you can deposit each year.  Plan now and try to max out that annual cap so you can have a decent down payment when the time comes.

 

• Emergencies—if you save enough in your Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA, you might be able to use it for a down payment and keep your regular savings account for emergencies. If you are purchasing a pre-owned home it seems inevitable that you’ll encounter many problems that will easily deplete your payday unless you have sufficient savings for such issues.

 

• Renovations/rejuvenations—if you plan your savings strategy well and use your Cash ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA to grow your savings, you will be able to renovate your house a bit which means you might not have to spend as much on an already-perfect house.

 

Even if you aren’t looking to purchase a house right now, it’s a good idea to start taking advantage of the benefits a Cash ISA or other savings account can offer.