How Does A Mortgage Valuation Report Affect A Mortgage Offer?

Before a mortgage provider agrees to lend you the money you need to purchase a property, they will conduct a mortgage valuation. This compulsory assessment is generally paid for by the borrower, but sometimes offered free. This is very different to a Homebuyers Report or building survey and its purpose is to essentially confirm how much the property is worth and if it is suitable security for the lender. 

If you’ve never heard of a mortgage valuation report before and you’re wondering how this could impact a future mortgage, keep reading. Below we have covered all of the basics you should know before you start your mortgage application. 

What is a mortgage valuation report?

A mortgage valuation report is essentially a ‘risk assessment’ for mortgage lenders and it helps them to ensure the property you’re purchasing provides sufficient collateral for the loan. This means, should you be unable to repay the mortgage and your property gets repossessed, the lender can make enough money from selling the property to cover the original loan amount.

The lender’s mortgage valuation report looks at the basic market value of the property. It comments on the general condition of the property and focuses on the parts of the property that most affect its value. It’s worth noting that whilst the borrower usually pays for this assessment, the mortgage lender might not share the valuation report with you once it has been completed. This isn’t abnormal and this type of report isn’t really of any use to you as the buyer, it’s solely for the benefit of the mortgage provider. 

How in-depth is a mortgage valuation report?

When compared to other property surveys, like full structural surveys, a mortgage valuation report is much less in-depth. Often, this report would only include an open market valuation and any recommendations for further investigations, if required. Some are even done on line without a visit to the property.

The lender’s qualified surveyor would usually inspect the property both inside and out if they do go to the property, however, this is normally a very short visit. They then provide the mortgage lender with a report for them to consider. 

Will a mortgage valuation report affect your mortgage offer?

As mentioned above, a mortgage valuation is a compulsory step when applying for a mortgage and the report provided directly impacts the mortgage lender’s decision to lend. Simply put, when the property is suitable security for the mortgage amount, a mortgage provider would be more likely to lend you the full amount of money you need to buy a property. 

However, should the property valuation be less than expected, this could negatively affect the mortgage offer you receive from a mortgage provider. All lenders have their own criteria in terms of Loan to Value Ratio and if the mortgage valuation finds that the property isn’t worth enough to meet these criteria, you may not be able to borrow as much. 

In addition to not being able to borrow as much, the interest rates you’re offered by a mortgage provider could be affected by the mortgage valuation report too. So, it is crucial to ensure that when you put an offer in on a property, you’re not paying above the current market value. This could end up causing lots of problems when you try to get a competitive mortgage offer. 

Speaking to a mortgage advisor about mortgage valuation reports

Hopefully, you will now know more about what a mortgage valuation report is and how it may affect the mortgage you’re applying for. If you would like to get some advice from an experienced mortgage advisor about applying for a mortgage, don’t hesitate to contact our team at Mortgage Required. Since 2001, we have been providing whole of market mortgage advice to a range of buyers, from first-time buyers to landlords, and we will be happy to assist you. We pride ourselves on delivering first class customer service and assure you that our team will go the extra mile to help you find the best mortgage for the property you’re purchasing.