Steve McKernan of Castle Mortgages gives his top tips for first-time buyers on how to improve the chances of mortgage success.

If you are planning to buy your first property, one of the initial steps is to apply for a mortgage.

Lenders will carry out an assessment of your creditworthiness. It will include an evaluation of your credit report which details all the information on how you have managed credit in the past, including late or missed repayments.

The sooner you can start managing your finances well, checking whether there are any negative items on your credit file that should be removed and working on making sure that it shows positive activities, the better chance you give yourself of securing a more competitive deal.

Have Some Bills in your Name

Utility bills, such as your mobile phone contract or your gas utility bill, count as a form of credit.

If you pay them on time, they're a good way to show lenders you can pay your bills back reliably.

If you don't have an account in your name, it might be worth considering putting one or two utility bills in your name.

Card and Bill Payments

If you already have a significant amount of credit available, for example, if you have multiple credit cards or a large overdraft, lenders may view this as a negative.

It's also important to remember, though, that what you owe should not make up a high proportion of your overall limit.

It may be wise to balance paying off debts with closing old accounts.

Credit Card Usage

If you haven't borrowed money before, it's difficult for a mortgage lender to judge how likely you are to meet your future repayments.

This may impact on your credit score.

You can grow your score by using credit regularly and responsibly.

Spending small amounts and paying your bill off each month shows lenders they can trust you to repay what you borrow.

An arranged overdraft, or a credit building credit card with a low limit, may be easier to get accepted for than a credit card or personal loan.

Be Aware that Checks Take Points

Every time you apply for credit, for example a credit card, loan or new utility bills, your rating will reduce slightly when a hard search is carried out on your accounts.

Therefore, be conscious of how many you're doing, as these checks can take many months before they are removed from your record.

Don't apply for credit too frequently in a short space of time as this may also make lenders feel that you're overly reliant on credit and are high risk for them

Save for those Big Purchases

When it comes to large purchases, instead of just sticking unusual, large amounts on your credit card or missing your credit card bills to afford them, think ahead.

Save regularly in a savings account for rainy days for big purchases such as new furniture for your new home.

This way, the purchases can occur without affecting your credit rating.

Register on the Electoral Roll

Ensure you're on the electoral register as lenders will use this to check your name, address and where you've lived before.

Lenders need to confirm these details to validate who you are before they offer you a mortgage.

So, if you're not registered, it could cause a delay or result in your application being declined.

Keep your Address up to Date

When you move home, credit rating agencies may not be able to locate you immediately and therefore your score can drop.

Registering to vote is a good way to get try not to move too frequently otherwise your credit score could show uncertainty.

Get your Joint Accounts in Check

If you have an account that is linked to another person, such as a spouse, friend or family member, actions in a joint account will still affect your credit score so it's important to keep an eye and a handle on these too.

In the run up to your property purchase, it's important they act responsibly in your joint accounts to keep your credit score as healthy as possible.

Check for Fraud

Although rare, if you notice odd credit checks or any activity that doesn't apply to you on your credit file, make sure you report it and investigate whether someone has been using your details fraudulently.

It's important to check this and act on it, as taking the responsibility for someone else's credit actions could be affecting your credit score negatively and will take a while to be investigated and resolved.

Dealing with Outstanding Debts

If you already have debt, you should focus on clearing your repayments in the short your new address to sync with credit rating agencies.

The longer you're at an address, the steadier your credit score will grow, so try not to move too frequently otherwise your credit score could show uncertainty.

Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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