Inside secrets! What your first mortgage appointment looks like

Breda Gormally, Hub Manager of the KBC College Green Hub answers all the questions you have about that first mortgage meeting

Q. How does someone arrange a meeting in one of the KBC hubs?

A. If someone wants to discuss their mortgage, they can arrange a meeting with KBC in a number of ways, either in person or over the phone. This can be done by calling into their local KBC hub and meeting with a member of our mortgage team. We have 16 hubs across the country which are open late on Thursday and also open on Saturday from 10am to 2pm. This means we can facilitate people outside of the 9-5pm working hours. You can also talk to our mortgage team by phone on 1800 515253.

We are committed to offering a banking experience that works for our customers which includes the flexibility to bank with us whatever your home, work or study schedule is.

Q. When someone comes in for their appointment, can you tell me what happens?

A. My advice would be to come in and meet one of our mortgage team in person and start building a relationship. Our team will take you through the process from start to finish.

If someone comes in to meet me, firstly I would review their financial situation to see how much they can borrow. In doing this, I look at their current employment history and their salary. I also look to see if they have any debts outstanding such as credit cards or personal loans. This may affect how much they can borrow.

If someone has an issue in the past with credit history or performance of a loan, it’s best to inform me immediately. This means I can at least pre-empt it before it goes to loan approval.

Normally at this stage, I would also help the customer fill out their mortgage application form and give them a mortgage checklist in order to get them their approval in principle. The AIP lasts 6 months, and it gives you an idea of how much money you can borrow at that time, whilst you’re busy looking for a home.

Q. What does a person need to bring with them for their first meeting?

A. At the initial meeting, a potential borrower does not need any documentation. They just need to come in and let us know their exact salary and the amount of savings they have. I will then give them a checklist of documentation that I will require to get them pre-approval. I will of course look for evidence of savings and how they managed to save it all, evidence of rent and any other personal debt.

Q. Are the experts and managers at KBC able to answer any questions that a person may have about getting a mortgage?

A. All of our mortgage team are qualified financial advisors and are knowledgeable on all of KBC’s mortgage products and criteria. As a manager at KBC, I have in-depth knowledge across the full spectrum of mortgage products we offer.

Buying a new home and securing a mortgage is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life, and we try to make this process as easy as possible.

Q. It can be an anxious time, especially for a first-time buyer. Do you have any advice for how the mortgage process can be made smoother and less stressful?

A. The best advice I can give is to try and have a good handle on your finances. Our online calculators on (www.kbc.ie) will indicate an amount that KBC will lend based on your salary, then decide if this amount fits into your budget. We want customers to be able to have a lifestyle when they move into their new home too.

We understand that this process is hugely important, and we take the time and interest in our customers to ensure that the process is as smooth as possible.