The purpose of an Agreement in Principle (AIP) is to determine whether or not you pass a Lender credit score to qualify for a potential mortgage. Sometimes this is also referred to as a Decision in Principle.
By obtaining yourself an Agreement in Principle, you are ready to support any potential offers you make as a first time buyer in Harrogate. Having one of these may also put you in a place to negotiate a lower price as it shows the seller you are serious and have the means to proceed with the purchase.
Will obtaining an Agreement in Principle impact my Credit Score?
Common practice these days seems to lean more towards soft searches, though even these could still affect your credit score. Usually this would be more likely with a hard search, with soft searches generally leaving your credit score unaffected.
The difference between the two, is that a soft search won’t dig as deeply as a hard search. You can always rest assured though that the lender has chosen either with the best of intentions.
Should I stay away from hard credit checks?
Now and again a hard search or two should be fine. It becomes slightly more problematic if you start having multiple hard searches over a short amount of time. Soft searches won’t show up on your credit report, but a hard search will. This looks bad, especially if you don’t pass the different criteria.
Don’t let this put you off however, as if you know you know you have a good credit score and taking a hard search with that lender is the best deal, you’ll most likely be fine.
Does my Agreement in Principle a guarantee that I will get the Mortgage?
We really wish it were the case, but sadly no, there are no guarantees that having an Agreement in Principle will get you a mortgage. You still need to present the lender with your documents and it’s only then, that the underwriter will make the final decision on your case.
A regular occurrence here at Harrogatemoneyman, is customers getting in touch after being declined at application stage. This is often down to missing some of the small print mentioned in their Agreement in Principle. You will need to provide identification for proof of who you are, payslips for proof of income, and bank statements for proof of handle your finances the right way. Without these, your case won’t go to offer.
Can I make an offer without having an Agreement in Principle?
If we were to get technical, the answer is yes you can. However, it is highly unrecommended and any credible estate agent will not proceed without proof that you can proceed.
How long does is the process of getting an Agreement in Principle?
Within 24 hours of speaking with a mortgage advisor in Harrogate it is possible to obtain an Agreement in Principle.
How long will an Agreement in Principle last?
Generally speaking, an Agreement in Principle will expire around the 30-90 days mark. The good thing is though, that this doesn’t mean you should just apply for the first house you find. If your Agreement in Principle expires, it is relatively straightforward to have it refreshed when you are ready to make an offer on a property.
Finding a mortgage only to be declined a mortgage can be a major disappointment, we get that. We recommend getting an Agreement in Principle as early as you can to avoid that disappointment.
Date Last Edited: December 27, 2023
