Introduction to Home Ownership and Mortgages
Develop a fundamental understanding of the key aspects of mortgages and the property purchasing process.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
2 hours
Introduction to Home Ownership and Mortgages
Other courses you might like
This course isn't running right now. We can email you when it starts again, or check out these other courses you might like.
Browse more in Business & Management and Law
Explore the fundamentals of mortgages and the process of buying a home
As a first-time potential property owner, the process of buying a home can seem incredibly daunting and complex.
This four-week course from the Chartered Insurance Institute provides a clear and simple introduction to the different elements involved in the property buying process.
You’ll learn the ins and outs of how mortgages work and be equipped to handle your property purchase with ease.
Understand the roles of the estate agent, lender, and conveyancer
When thinking about buying a property, many people don’t consider the number of individuals that can be involved in the process. Each person, from the estate agent, to the lender, conveyancer, and mortgage broker, has a very specific role in helping you land the home of your dreams.
You’ll explore the different functions of each individual to understand how they can help you find the right property, secure a mortgage, and handle legal matters such as title deeds and transfer of ownership.
Discover the lending and financing process and how mortgage rates are calculated
Securing a mortgage is one of the most essential elements of the property buying process, and often the most misunderstood.
On this course, you’ll discover the different types of lenders, their approaches, and where to go for help to find the best deal.
Learn about mortgages and the house buying process from the experts
The Chartered Insurance Institute is the home of the Society of Mortgage Professionals and has a long history of providing learning materials on the provision of financial advice and on insurance.
With guidance and support from your expert educators, you’ll be empowered with the confidence and knowledge to secure a mortgage best suited to your needs.
Syllabus
Week 1
Mortgages and their role
The industry and the economy
In this activity we look at what a mortgage is and what it is for. We put mortgages into the contexts of lending and finance and examine how they fit into the wider economy.
Features of a mortgage
In this activity we describe what a mortgage actually is, explain the terms used and start to see how mortgages work.
Week 2
Lenders and borrowers
Affording a mortgage
People take out a mortgage for all sorts of reasons and in this activity we learn how lenders assess whether they are willing to lend to them.
Mortgage products
We have seen that there are different types of customer and different reasons why they want a mortgage. In this activity, we look at the various mortgage products lenders have come up with to meet those different reasons.
Lenders
Most lenders will offer mortgages that meet the needs of most people. But what if you aren’t ‘most people’? Well, then you will need a specialist lender. We discuss all of this in this activity.
Week 3
Protection products and insurance
Mortgages and insurance
In this activity we look at how both lender and borrower can use insurance to protect themselves against the financial loss caused if something bad and unexpected happens.
Protecting the person
A mortgage is usually a large debt and not being able to make the repayments could have serious consequences. In this activity we look at how a person can make sure they can keep making them.
Protecting the property
A mortgage is secured against a property. If it was damaged or destroyed its value may not cover the debt. In this activity we see how both lender and borrower can be protected from the financial consequences of that happening.
Week 4
How to buy a house
How to find the right mortgage
With so many lenders and so many different mortgages it will take a lot of work to find the right one. In this activity we look at a professional who can help us to do this.
Finding a property
So, you want to buy property. How do you find one to buy? Many properties are sold by an agent and it is their role in the house buying process that we will examine in this activity.
Assessment of the property
Given that the property is the security for the loan it is important that the lender is sure that its actual value matches the loan amount. In this activity we discover how they do that.
Mortgages, house purchase and the law
At last we have reached the point of actually buying the property. At this point we will need the help of a legal professional to deal with all the legal and contractual aspects. This is what we will look at in our final activity.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe how the mortgage market fits into the wider economy.
- Explain why mortgages are used and how they are agreed.
- Describe how interest on a mortgage is calculated and how the loan is repaid.
- Explain the different types of mortgage products.
- Describe the different types of lender and borrower.
- Explain why it is important to protect the ability to repay the mortgage and how this can be done.
- Explain why mortgage providers require the property to be insured and what that insurance covers.
- Explain how a mortgage adviser helps connect people with the right mortgage product and lender.
- Explain the house buying process and the role of the estate agent.
- Explain why the property’s value and condition are important in the agreement of a mortgage.
- Explain the legal aspects of mortgages and the house buying process.
- Describe the role of the conveyancer or legal representative in the property buying process.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone who wishes to better understand the process of buying a property, particularly through using a mortgage.
It will also be helpful for those aspiring or starting to work in the property market.
Who developed the course?
Chartered Insurance Institute
The Chartered Insurance Institute is a professional body dedicated to building trust in the insurance and financial planning profession.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.