What do you need to get a fast mortgage decision in principle?

Get a Decision in Principle with Trinity Financial

Looking to understand how much you could borrow? At Trinity Financial, we make it easy to take the first step toward your new home with a Decision in Principle (DIP)—quick, simple, and commitment-free.

Why Get a Decision in Principle?

A Decision in Principle (also known as an Agreement in Principle or Mortgage in Principle) gives you an estimate of what you could borrow from a lender, based on basic financial information. It shows sellers and estate agents that you're a serious buyer and strengthens your negotiating position.

At Trinity Financial, we’ll guide you through the process and help you secure a DIP tailored to your circumstances—whether you're buying your first home, moving, or investing.

How It Works

1. Speak to Our Expert Brokers
   We’ll gather a few key details about your income, outgoings, and credit history to understand what you can afford.

2. We Search the Market for You
   We access a wide range of lenders to find the most suitable mortgage options for your situation.

3. Secure Your Decision in Principle
   In most cases, we can obtain your DIP on the same day—often within hours. With many lenders, it won’t normally affect your credit score unless you choose to proceed with a full application.

What You’ll Need For A Decision In Principle

• Basic personal information

• Details of your income and expenses

• An idea of the property price and deposit amount

No documents are required for the DIP stage, and you’re under no obligation to continue.

Why Choose Trinity Financial?

✅ Whole-of-market access – We work with major banks and specialist lenders to get you the best deal.
✅ Expert advice – Our experienced brokers provide clear guidance every step of the way.
✅ Speed & ease – We’ll handle the paperwork and make the process as smooth as possible.
✅ No impact on credit – Getting a DIP typically involves a soft credit check.

Getting a Decision in Principle (DIP) typically takes:

• Within a few hours if you're working with a mortgage broker like Trinity Financial, assuming you provide all the necessary information upfront.

• Same day in most cases, especially if your situation is straightforward.

• A few minutes if using some online tools from lenders—but these are often generic and may not reflect what you can actually borrow through a broker.

At Trinity Financial, our expert advisers can often secure a DIP within a couple of hours, depending on the lender and your circumstances. If your case is more complex (e.g., self-employed income, multiple sources of income, adverse credit), it may take slightly longer, but we’ll keep you updated every step of the way.

Here's a simple checklist of the information you’ll need to prepare for a Decision in Principle (DIP) with Trinity Financial. You won’t usually need to provide physical documents at this stage, just accurate details.

1) Personal Information

• Full name

• Date of birth

• Current address (and your address history for the past 3 years)

• Marital status

• Number of financial dependents (e.g., children)

2) Employment & Income

If employed:

• Job title and employer

• Length of employment

• Gross annual salary (before tax)

• Any bonuses, commission, or overtime (if regular)

If self-employed:

• How long you've been trading

• Recent annual income (ideally last 2-3 years)

• Business type (sole trader, limited company, etc.)

Other income:

• Rental income

• Benefits

• Pensions

• Investment income

3) Outgoings & Commitments

• Monthly credit commitments (loans, credit cards, car finance, etc.)

• Child maintenance or school fees

• Any existing mortgages or secured loans

• Approximate monthly spending (if asked for budgeting assessment)

4) Property Details (if known)

• Purchase price of the property

• Deposit amount

• Property type (house/flat, freehold/leasehold)

• Whether it’s a home to live in or a buy-to-let

5) Credit History

• Any missed payments, defaults, or CCJs

• If you’ve ever been declared bankrupt or entered a debt management plan

• Whether you’ve done a credit check recently