Owning a home of your own is getting harder than ever. With spiralling rental rates, increasing cost of living and slow growth in wages, many of the younger generation are finding their dream of owning a family home of their own is getting further and further away. So if parents are in a position financially to help, it can be a wonderful thing to do – and help to give your kids security for the future. If they are already saving hard to pull together the money required for a deposit, it can still be slightly beyond reach without a parental helping hand. And with mortgage costs frequently lower than the cost of renting,your children will be able to save money in the long run if they get that first time house. So how can you help the situation?
Gift A Lump Sum
If you can afford to give a lump sum, this will really help towards the considerable costs of a deposit. Often affording the mortgage isn’t the issue, it’s overcoming the barrier of having a high enough Loan To Value (LTV) amount. If you can supply part of this, your children could be able to get on the property ladder with a new build home. When planning this move, it’s important to consider the full picture of your own future finances and possible retirement. Speak to an independent financial advisor is critical to help you make the right move.
Provide A Loan
If you can’t afford to gift a large amount, you could act as a lending facility instead. This can be a good option if you have access to savings that you don’t need now, but will need in the future. With interest rates at a historical low, you’re not losing out on much by not having them sitting in the back, and you may be able to make borrowing some of the amount of a deposit affordable for your kids, through either not asking for any interest or keeping it very low and the repayment terms flexible. In all these matters, it’s very important to be able to have an honest discussion about money with your family and be very clear exactly what you are expecting to be repaid and when – also get this in a formal legal contract notarized by a solicitor to avoid any confusion.
Take Out A Family Mortgage
Offset mortgages, where 100% of the property value can be borrowed, are also sometimes an option. These loans would be secured against the value of your own home, or sometimes allow you to deposit money into a savings account that acts as a security in the event of non-payment. However, if your child doesn’t keep up with payments, your own home or retirement funds may be at risk. Make sure you talk about affordability and contingency plans with your children before deciding on this option.
There are lots of ways you can help out financially when it comes to getting your children onto the property ladder, but don’t forget that emotional support is just as important too – always be ready with a cup of tea and a listening ear.
