Halifax Mortgage Advice

andrewjb2

I am currently going through the process of buying a new house and have taken a mortgage out with the Halifax. A copy of my mortgage offer was sent out to my Solicitor, Financial Advisor and My home address. The Offer was sent about 1 month ago but we are waiting for the construction of our new house to be completed. A few people I work with have asked if I have signed the mortgage offer and sent it back. I didn’t know I had to sign anything and the solicitor hasn’t asked us to. The documentation sent to me didn’t have anything to sign.

Can anyone tell me if we should have signed anything, specifically with a Halifax mortgage as our house is nearly finished and I don’t want any holdups. Our Solicitor has left his practice and I have a new contact, when I phoned her she hadn’t even looked at the file!

Please help… STRESSED!!!!!!!

Doozergirl

I'm going to get this wrong! You get a copy of the mortgage offer as does your solicitor. I think the copy of the mortgage offer that you need to sign comes from your solicitor. It normally comes with the Stamp Duty forms etc.

You'd have to sign for all mortgages, there should be nothing different about Halifax (I've had an IF mortgage, they're part of Halifax).

RiskAdverse100

While both you and your solicitor will get a copy of the mortgage offer your solicitor (assuming that he is also instructed to act for the Halifax which is nearly always the case) will also get some additional documents.

Along with a separate letter setting out what the solicitor's instructions from the Halifax are he will get a Mortgage Deed. He must ensure that this has been signed by you and returned to him before completion takes place. If he doesn't he is not supposed to part with the mortgage monies!

The Mortgage Deed is not usually sent out for signing until after contracts have been exchanged and the completion date has been fixed.

Some lenders will want you to confirm that you are happy with the terms of a mortgage offer by signing and returning an acceptance copy of this. Sometimes this acceptance copy needs to be sent by you to your solicitor instead of to the lenderr. Other lenders don't need the offer to be accepted in this way and I do think that the Halifax is one of them. So if there is nothing obvious with the mortgage offer that you are supposed to sign and return then I wouldn't worry! Just make sure that your solicitor sends you the Mortgage Deed after exchange has happened!

RiskAdverse100

Zeerust

Just come back from the Halifax where I have arranged a new mortgage.

Signed 2 documents

1. The mortgage roll number which describes the mortgage and any protection plan you may or may not want from the Halifax.

2. The direct debit mandate (for paying the monthly premiums)

As I understand it your solicitor will ask the Halifax for the money. (In my case the money should be ready in a couple of weeks, but I can change things if I want to.)

I'm looking at other options for the mortgage protection.

Zeerust

You should alo have a copy of the "Key Facts" giving a summary of the mortgage as required by the FSA.

Rose999

Hi, I am also in the process of taking out a mortgage with the Halifax. We did it on the internet and then over the phone. We were sent out a Key Illustrations pack which outlined all the details we had provided. This was signed by us and sent back.
On Saturday just past, we received the actual Mortgage Offer from them. I was also under the impression that I would have to sign this and send it back but could not see anywhere to do so. I called the Halifax and was informed that no. it does not need to be signed. The contract is formed when you sign for your new house with your solicitor.
HTH