Case Study: High Loan-to-Income Refinance Using Latest Bonus Income

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Case Study: High Loan-to-Income Refinance Using Latest Bonus Income
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Overview
An associate at a London law firm approached us looking to refinance his existing property in order to buy out his former partner. His income included a basic salary and substantial annual performance-related bonuses. With no dependants and strong affordability, the client needed to maximise borrowing and utilise his latest bonus income to remain in the property.
The Challenge
Many lenders calculate bonus income based on a two-year average, which would have significantly reduced the client’s borrowing potential. To buy out his former partner, he needed to stretch both loan-to-income and affordability. A high loan amount in his sole name was essential, and preserving the home was a priority—to avoid moving, incurring stamp duty, and additional legal and estate agent fees.

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Our Solution
We sourced a lender willing to use the most recent bonus alone—rather than averaging over two years—which reflected the client’s current income trajectory and increased borrowing capacity. The lender also offered an income multiple of 5.5 times salary and accepted full use of his bonus income thanks to his strong financial profile. To manage ongoing repayments, we structured the loan over a longer term while selecting a product with a generous overpayment allowance, allowing the client to reduce the effective term using future bonuses.
The Outcome
The client was able to refinance the property into his sole name, securing a loan large enough to buy out his ex-partner and remain in the home. With flexible repayment terms and the ability to reduce the loan balance over time, this solution gave him control over his financial future while avoiding unnecessary moving costs.
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Kite Mortgages were brilliant from start to finish. With most of my income coming from bonuses, I’d expected the mortgage process to be painful, but David and…
David was really helpful. Provided clear advice on my own mortgage and also helped provide advice to me when my buyers had issues securing a mortgage…
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David has been great. He was very responsive, he found the right deal, and he helped me (successfully!) navigate a few curveballs on the journey!
Mr. Simon Hart helped us during the process of purchasing our first home. As complete new to the experience, we asked many questions and Simon…
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I am a first time buyer and not originally from the UK so the whole process of buying was pretty new to me. I found Kite Mortgages online which connected me with Simon…
I highly recommend David and his team at Kite Mortgages. David has helped me secure mortgage finance for two homes now, and recently helped…
David and the team at Kite mortgages have been fantastic. They helped us secure mortgage finance for our home and a seamless subsequent…
During a difficult purchase, David was everything we needed from a mortgage broker. He presented us with the best options and took his time to talk us through the…
I was put in touch with Simon Hart at Kite Mortgages by my estate agents Alex & Matteo to help with the purchase of my first property. Simon was super responsive…
We found David/Kite through google search. This was our first purchase so we quite nervous and naive of the process. But we had excellent service throughout…
David was a calm, extremely knowledgeable and very reliable voice throughout the entire process of buying my first flat. He explains complicated and unfamiliar…
David at Kite Mortgages has helped me out on multiple occasions to get the best deal for re-financing. Excellent communication and always quick to respond. I wouldn't…
What We Can Do for You
Complex income structures, partnership splits, and refinancing challenges don’t have to mean starting over. We know how to make lender criteria work in your favour—especially when income is made up of variable elements like bonuses. If you're looking to retain your home and need to borrow more than standard routes allow, we’re here to help.
Request your fee free mortgage consultation today. No obligation, just sound advice.
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An Italian CTO earning in Swiss francs and living between Zurich and London needed to refinance his UK home. We secured a competitive high street mortgage using 100% of his foreign income—overcoming currency and age-related challenges to replace an inflexible international loan with a cost-effective long-term solution.
We helped a newly promoted non-equity partner at a US-headquartered law firm secure a £2.48m mortgage on an £3.1m purchase. By structuring the loan with a mix of repayment and interest-only borrowing, we kept monthly costs manageable while meeting complex income requirements including USD bonus earnings.
We helped a law firm associate refinance his home and buy out a former partner by leveraging his most recent bonus income and a high 5.5x loan-to-income multiple. Our tailored approach allowed him to maximise borrowing and stay in his property—without the disruption or cost of moving.
An international lawyer buying his first home in London faced challenges due to a low personal deposit, reliance on bonus income, and a long lead time to completion. We secured a competitive 90% mortgage using the developer incentive, included offer flexibility, and ensured affordability—despite limited bonus history.
A young contractor, told he needed two years of accounts, came to us seeking a 95% mortgage on a £600k property. Using his current contract and smart structuring, we secured the loan with low monthly payments—enabling him to buy now, refurbish, and remortgage on better terms later.
YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSESSED IF YOU DON’T KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE
Kite Mortgages is a trading style of Kite Financial Ltd which is an appointed representative of The Openwork Partnership, a trading style of Openwork Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
APPROVED BY THE OPENWORK PARTNERSHIP ON 27/06/2025