It can make a significant difference if you do overpay your mortgage even if it is in small increments as well as the interest you pay back during your mortgage. The quicker you begin paying this, the sooner these extra payments can take effect.
As a First Time Buyer in York, you may be aware of the difference when you overpaying your mortgage and the impact it can have on interest when you pay it back regardless of whether you are only over by small amounts. The reason why overpaying early can be better is because the extra payments have a longer period to take effect.
In some cases, homeowners may not be able to make these extra payments but you could say that many decide not to overpay as they would instead use the remaining money on something more interesting and exciting!
With this in mind, we suggest you arrange a standing order payable to your lender each month. It would be wise if you do organise this standing order to go out on the same date as your standard mortgage repayment, this additional payment will hopefully start to feel a part of your standard mortgage payment.
The advantage of going for a standing order is that, instead of a direct debit, you are able to manage this, not the receiver. Therefore, if you have a financial emergency you can easily log into your online banking and cancel the standing order as this doesn’t go out the next month. As much as it’s not the best to stop overpaying, you still will be able to benefit from the overpayments make up until that point.
Getting into the routine of overpaying your mortgage is a great habit, the amount you overpay doesn’t have to be a large amount, however, you’ll be happy when you are at the end of your mortgage repayments and find you have taken off a year or two.
Sometimes, lenders will allow you to make reduced mortgage repayments or take a payment holiday if you provide evidence of a history of overpaying. Prior to taking a payment break, however, it’s key that you check with your lender that you are eligible. If you don’t, this could mean you end up with a negative mark on your credit report and this is something you should strive to avoid.
If you are looking to overpay your mortgage, you should speak to your mortgage lender to see if this is doable.
Another option for people who have already been overpaying and are seeking Remortgage Advice in York ahead of releasing their equity to remortgage onto a better deal, take advantage of our free remortgage review. Here at Yorkmoneyman, a designated Remortgage Advisor in York.
When you apply for a mortgage, having a high credit score improves your chances of being successful. That being said, a high credit score alone won’t guarantee that the financial institution will approve your mortgage.
Every mortgage lender has its own unique mortgage lending criteria, meaning a high credit score in the eyes of one, might not necessarily be a high score in the eyes of another.
Speaking to a mortgage broker in York, like ourselves, is just one of the great ways to improve your chances of success. Using our knowledge of mortgages, we’ll look to get you matched up with a suitable lender for your circumstances.
If you want to get a much more in-depth knowledge of your credit score, you can take a look at a wide variety of credit scoring agencies. For people seeking mortgage advice in York, you will probably come across the bigger names, such as Experian or Equifax.
It is important to check more than just one of these though, so you can get a more accurate look at how your credit file is currently. It also helps to spot any mistakes or inconsistencies amongst the different platforms.
Of course if you’re doing multiple credit searches, you may also harm your chances of getting a mortgage approved by a mortgage lender, especially if you are doing too many.
Instead, try to limit it to a small selection of trusted credit scoring websites, in order to prevent doing any potential harm to your mortgage chances.
People on the voters’ roll are considered to be much more stable and organised than people who are not, and it is something that will reflect positively on your credit score.
If you have not done this before or have not updated your information, it may be worth doing so in order to possibly improve your credit score and consequently, your chances of being accepted for a mortgage.
Another way to improve your credit score is to know your maximum credit limit and make sure you don’t go over that amount.
Maxing out your credit limits your credit score may not help with your mortgage lenders perception of your ability to stabilise your finances.
A mortgage lender will prefer to work with individuals of whom they know can maintain their finances responsibly, with minimal to no risk of falling into arrears.
It is very important to update your address history to ensure that your provider knows where exactly you live at a given time. Failure to do so could give the impression that you’re living in two places at once.
Ensure that the details are correct, especially if you live in a flat- which could be quite difficult due to different address formatting.
If you have any old credit accounts that you no longer use, contact the providers to close the accounts. Doing so will be sure to streamline your finances, protects you from fraud and reduces the risk of harming your credit score.
If you have family, an ex-wife or husband, or any other person that you are financially linked to, it is important to sever those ties prior to a mortgage application.
The truth is, those links may potentially harm your credit score, especially if that person develops a poor credit score of their own. Due to the link, your score will also go down.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer in York, looking to remortgage in York, moving house in York or any other kind of mortgage scenario, your credit score should always be one of your top priorities.
Book online to speak with a mortgage broker in York. A dedicated advisor will talk you through any necessary steps for you to take.
There is the option out there for someone to have a second mortgage, however, this all depends on the individual’s circumstances with some situations requiring a person to have a second mortgage. Like with any mortgage, you need to know if you are eligible to do this.
Many people decide to go for this option for a number of reasons like:
In the circumstance where you have built some existing equity in your home, you may look at taking out a second mortgage. You might look to do this so you can release some of the equity to fund another purchase. Our expert Mortgage Advisors in York can help you out with this.
In this situation, a second mortgage is also referred to as a secured loan.
If you are currently on a lenders standard variable rate, you might find that a dedicated mortgage broker, like us, will be able to look around in the hopes to find you a more competitive deal for you along with helping you to release some capital.
Another option that may benefit you is further advancement with your current lender.
When people move home, usually they onto their new mortgage leaving their existing one behind by simply transferring to another deal. On the flip side, you may find that some people prefer to keep on to their current mortgage and property as a way to rent it out. As a result, your new second mortgage will now be your residential one. This is known as a Let to Buy and will only occur when you are Moving Home in York.
This has become an option that has become increasingly popular. In the current climate of property prices and inflation constantly rising, many First Time Buyers in York have found getting on the property ladder a challenge.
Because of this, many parents and grandparents see their challenging situation and provide a helping hand. You could see this as a different form of a gifted deposit, they could even give them their property and move out themselves.
Sometimes, people look for a second mortgage for a Buy to Let. This is perfectly acceptable, with landlords having multiple mortgage. Through our time providing Buy to Let Mortgage Advice in York, we have helped many landlords and built strong relationships with them to find them the best Buy to Let mortgage product. Our team are happy to help do the same for you!
Some of our customers are in situations in which they are currently named on another mortgage and are looking to purchase another property.
Normally, these types of customers are going through a divorce or separation. The good news is that we have extensive experience and rich knowledge in dealing with these cases. Therefore, one of our open and honest Mortgage Advisors in York will work hard to help you with this.
Whatever situation you are in that would lead to enquiring about a second mortgage, we can help you as a fast & friendly Mortgage Broker in York. We have access to a large panel of lenders which allows us to search through 1000s of mortgage deals for you.
This means you will be provided with a service where you will be recommended the most appropriate product that is perfect for your situation.
Congratulations, you have now passed all of the necessary exams and now class yourself as a Newly Qualified Teacher. Now it’s time for the next step, which is for you to now make use of your new skills and find yourself a teaching job using your well-earned qualification.
Depending on where you’ll be working, you will need to start looking into the different options that are available for you with Moving House in York, as you could be working further away from where you currently live.
Later down the line, you may find yourself looking to move somewhere else, perhaps maybe finding it a little more challenging between finding the balance between homeownership and getting into your new role.
Throughout our time as a mortgage broker in York, we have worked with a lot of home buyers and homeowners, all of whom benefitted from speaking with one of our expert Mortgage Advisors in York, to take the stress away whilst they keep their minds focused on their new career.
We tend to find, that it’s not always so straightforward to search for a mortgage lender who will be happy to offer a mortgage to someone who is a newly qualified teacher. Problems tend to appear when there isn’t any work history they can look at or because they only have a non-permanent contract.
Although these can be an issue, there are still many options out there for Newly Qualified Teachers who are looking to obtain a mortgage. Over our time as a mortgage broker in York, our responsive team of Mortgage Advisors in York has helped many newly qualified teachers (NQTs) obtain a mortgage.
We aim to make the process goes smoothly, we have access to many mortgage lenders, whose criteria will be suitable for your situation, which in this case is usually what would be the most challenging part of the mortgage process.
When issues like these crops up, our experienced mortgage advice team in York will search through 1000’s of mortgage deals for you, doing everything we can to find you the most suitable deal for your situation.
Make sure to bear in mind that whilst yes, mortgages can sometimes be complicated for Newly Qualified Teachers, it doesn’t mean you are restricted in what is available to you on the mortgage market.
Below we have listed some of the different types of mortgages that crop up when working with cases alongside Newly Qualified Teachers:
There are some known mortgage lenders out there who do not need to see previous employment and may allow you to obtain up to a 95% LTV (loan-to-value).
Depending on the mortgage lender that you go with, you may find that a 12-month first contract is treated the same as a permanent job role, rather than just being seen as a temporary contract.
We tend to find, that there may be a selection of mortgage lenders around the country who are willing to get started on your mortgage before you officially start your job, though to do this you will have to provide evidence of a signed contract and a confirmation of your start date.
This can come in quite handy, as you may potentially be prepared to start making your first mortgage payments at the time when you are due your first month’s wages from your new job, by the time your mortgage has been completed.
Our open & honest team of dedicated mortgage advice experts in York have extensive knowledge and experience of helping customers across the mortgage and property markets, providing help to lots of first time home buyers with their mortgage needs.
There is a great deal of benefits to using the services of a trusted Mortgage Broker in York. We always strive to take away your stress, looking through thousands of different and tailored mortgage deals for you, our customer, suggesting possible conveyancing solicitors for you to use and more.
Find out what you may have available to you as a first time home buyer, by getting booked in online for a free mortgage appointment with an experienced and reputable mortgage advisor in York, who will collect information from you and help you onto the next step of your journey.
When lenders are requesting your bank statements, they will be looking into various things. By assessing these bank statements, the lender can get an idea of the type of person you are and how well they would be able to manage their mortgage payments. Through our experience, we have encountered numerous enquiries asked by applicants wondering if gambling transactions look bad on their bank statements.
As much as gambling can be a risky activity, we are not saying that it is an illegal act, however, lenders do judge applicants in a less favourable light if there are a large amount of gambling transactions in a shot space of time on their bank statements. You might have seen many gambling adverts on TV where they always urge customers to ‘gamble responsibly’, this is something in the mortgage industry we persuade too.
Obviously, it’s not the lender’s job to tell you what to do with your life with your finances or to lecture you on the rights and wrongs of gambling but, they do have a duty to lend responsibly.
Lenders need to demonstrate to the regulators that they are making judicious lending decisions. Therefore, it isn’t entirely unreasonable of them to have similar expectations of the people who are looking to borrow from them. Put it in this perspective, if you were to lend your own money, would you lend money to the individual who gambles or the one who doesn’t?
It is not illegal to gamble, therefore, the odd gambling transaction on your bank statement does not automatically mean you will be declined for a mortgage. On the other, these transactions will be judged by the lender as to whether these transactions are rational. Along with this, they will look at the frequency of these transactions, the size of the transactions in relation to the applicant’s income and the overall impact on the balance.
When the transactions are infrequent small amounts that make no big impact on a regular credit bank balance, then they are not likely to be regarded as important. On the other hand, if an applicant gambles most weeks and is constantly in their overdraft, the lender will see this as irresponsible and decline your application.
The reason lenders like to look at your bank statement is for them to understand your financial behaviour with managing money and can conclude whether or not they are confident in lending to you.
Lenders are financial institutions that, either directly or as part of a wider group, often sell current accounts, overdraft facilities credit cards and personal loans. With this in mind, you need to understand that these all factor in prudent financial planning. It’s important for a mortgage applicant to look into how these facilities work.
For example, if you occasionally find yourself in overdraft, this is not inherently a bad thing. Whereas regularly exceeding the overdraft limit is not so good. Furthermore, lenders will look for excess overdraft fees or returned direct debits as these would usually show that the account is not well conducted.
Credit transactions from pay-day loan companies; “undisclosed” loan repayments (e.g. if you said on the application that you have no other loans but here appear to be regular loan payment, this could be an issue) is just some of the things to look out for. They would also look out for outstanding missed payments and they might see how much of a typical month is spent overdrawn – i.e. if you only just go into credit on payday and for the rest of the month is overdrawn, how sustainable is this mortgage?
Be sensible and plan ahead, if possible. Usually, a bank would request up to three months of your most recent bank statements. This will show the lender your salary credits and regular bill payments. Therefore, if you are thinking of applying for a mortgage in the distant future make sure that you avoid any of the above pitfalls. It’s best that you take a break from gambling for a short time and work on presenting your bank account in the best possible light.
There are a number of lenders out there who may ask for fewer bank statements than others or some may not ask them at all, this is something a mortgage broker could help you with. Despite this, these lenders do still have the right to request bank statements in particular circumstances so it’s best you are prudent in the run-up to any mortgage application. It’s important you if you do gamble, please gamble responsibly!
Getting some specialist mortgage advice in AREA will benefit First time Buyer in York like yourselves, especially if you have little knowledge about mortgages. They can provide a helping hand with your application and look impressionable to lenders. Simply book online your free mortgage appointment to speak with one of our mortgage advisors in York today.
When it comes to removing a name from a mortgage, it isn’t as straightforward as it sounds. Many look at this option if they are going through a break-up, marital or otherwise, leaving joint ownership, or a rare case where you rather have the mortgage in one name.
Whatever the reason is, we have a team of hard working Mortgage Advisors in York who work around the clock to help you out by using their extensive experience as well as support you through financial separation.
This circumstance is one that we find is the most common. In some cases, a couple were tied to the mortgage but are looking to remove a name because they are getting divorcing/separating. Financial commitments should be a priority to sort out when going through a breakup.
If you do leave this until the last minute can create a lot of added stress that could have been avoided. You need to factor in time for the different companies you are financially tied to, like your mortgage lender, to process everything. This is something that will take time so be patient.
From your mortgage lender’s point of view, they will need to be sure that both parties will be able financially comfortable with only one income to draw from. For the remaining one on the property, lenders will need to be sure that they will be able to manage the monthly mortgage payments by themselves.
When it comes to taking a name from a mortgage, both parties will need to agree. Therefore, if one party disagrees, you will have to go through court proceedings. This can be costly, time-consuming and cause unnecessary negativity.
You will definitely find Specialist Mortgage Advice in York helpful if you are going through a difficult divorce or separation. Our team will be available to help sort out your mortgage.
This type of process is one that is surprisingly more simple than you would think, especially, with the assistance of a hard working Mortgage Broker in York.
This would involve the homeowner transferring equity to whomever they wish, whether it’s a family member or a friend. The mortgage will get transferred with the equity still inside of the home. As the new owner of the home, you will have to pass the lender’s eligibility and affordability checks.
When a member of the party isn’t keeping up with their end of the deal, the financial association can cause you problems. As an experienced Mortgage Broker in York, we have encountered this often and it’s usually because some of the party have fallen out.
If one person misses their bills, this may affect you also. One vital point you need to keep in mind is that signing for a mortgage with multiple names does mean you need to put your trust in their ability to manage their payments. If they miss any payments, it won’t only affect their credit score, but yours too.
If you find yourself in this situation, it’s wise that you get in touch with your lender. Another option that could be helpful to you is getting in touch with a Mortgage Advisor in York to see what you can do before the problem gets worse.
It may be clear that you are able to manage your monthly payments and have a good track record, but it’s that view your current situation from a lender’s perspective. You are still asking the lender to trust one income rather than two (or more if it’s joint mortgage) that they had originally.
A mortgage lender would favour the idea of both names being on the mortgage in order to improve financial security. Furthermore, they will want some form of a financial blanket if mortgage arrears or repossession occurs, as they will be able to chase two parties for payments. As well as this, the chances of being paid are reduced if there is only one party.
Removing a party comes down to affordability. In the case where you would like the home to be in your name, without your ex-partner or housemate, you will have to go through all the criteria checks that you would’ve done initially, so you can demonstrate that you are able to keep up with the monthly repayments by yourself.
It depends on the lender and your situation as to whether this will possible. It may be beneficial for you to seek help and support from a reputable Mortgage Broker in York.
You may find that, after speaking to an advisor, it is more suitable for you to switch mortgage lenders for a better deal in your sole name to ease any ongoing problems.
If you are struggling with this situation, we can help by providing Specialist Mortgage Advice in York in the hopes to relieve some of your stress. Get in touch today to see how we can help with your situation.
First Time Buyers in York who are looking to put their foot onto the property ladder, or finding themselves once again at the end of their fix term, might find the process a little daunting.
Depending on the homeowner and homebuyer circumstances there are many different routes to take. Ideally, you’ll want a service that gets it right the first time, saving you time and money.
Here at Yorkmoneyman, we firmly believe that First Time Buyers in York like yourselves will find our service beneficial during the entire process.
Rest assured, you are in safe hands with us, we have absolute confidence in our ability to help customers. We also understand that some people may be wondering how a Mortgage Broker in York can actually help.
This is why we felt it was best to put together a balanced summary of why speaking with a Mortgage Broker in York will be beneficial, as well as why others instead choose to directly to a mortgage lender.
We promise to try our best to save money by going direct and finding your own mortgage deal. This isn’t entirely untrue, as a mortgage broker in York may charge a fee, though this is very much circumstantial.
If you’re experienced in doing it yourself, have a straightforward case and knowledge of lender criteria, by all means, this will be easier and more cost-effective. The downside to this comes with more complex cases and people who don’t understand the lending criteria.
If you have the basic understanding of doing it by yourself, have a simple case and have knowledge of the lending criteria, by all means, this will be a walk in the park and more cost-effective.
However, those with a complicated case and people who don’t understand the lending criteria could either end up on the wrong deal or unsuccessfully apply for a mortgage deal.
Both situations could poorly result in you spending more money than what’s needed, or harming your credit score, resulting in your overhaul chances of obtaining a mortgage in the future.
Our Mortgage Advisors in York aim to recommend the most suitable deal for your circumstances. Whilst again, this may come with a service fee, you could be saving yourself a lot more money in the long run.
Another point that many more senior customers think works in their favour of going directly to the bank, is the way the mortgage process was previously run. Before online banking and the ever-increasing popularity of technology, you would be a loyal customer of your nearest branch regularly, often communicating to the same people.
Back then before credit scoring, you would sit with the bank manager themselves, who understand your finances inside and out, and would accept you for a mortgage. Whereas in the present, a lot has changed since.
Now, the bank manager won’t run through your case personally. Instead, it goes through an online system, to determine if you are eligible to qualify for a mortgage. These days, more people get given a good chance to apply for a mortgage, it no longer matters which company you bank with for years.
You may have heard that you can get better access to better deals by going direct. This may be somewhat true, they can offer good deals, but these deals are only exclusive from their own company.
Not all mortgage lenders are banks and there are many other deals out there to choose from. The most suitable deal your bank can offer, might not be the best deal overall that you could have got, by going elsewhere.
At this point, seeking Mortgage Advice in York will be very beneficial. Our Mortgage Advisor in York will go through your case and find you the most suitable deal with one of the many lenders we have on the panel, rather than from just one source.
It’s also worth noting on the topic of exclusivity, that you may also find deals with a mortgage broker in York, that you can’t find anywhere else. Whether you are a First Time Buyer wanting to put your foot onto the property ladder, looking to Remortgage in York or have a specialist case, there will be more options for you when going with a Mortgage Broker in York.
Prior to the 2007-08 credit crunch, as summarised in the 2014 Mortgage Market Review, lenders were no longer allowed to sell mortgages to their customers on a non-advised basis.
What we mean is, you cannot just walk into a bank, tell them you want a mortgage and be accepted without any background checks.
These modifications also brought about consumer protection, that a bank otherwise would not have given you. Nowadays you are now in a position to complain to the Financial Ombudsman if you feel misadvised in any way. You also can make a claim via the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Whichever journey you are going down, going to either a mortgage broker or mortgage lender, you will be in safe hands, secure and professionally advised.
What gives a Mortgage Broker in York an upper hand is it can sometimes take time to try and speak with an advisor at the bank. Once you have made that contact and started your process with your bank, you’re not always guaranteed to be kept in the loop.
A benefit of using a Mortgage Broker in Durham is that we work around your busy schedule and arrange a time that suits you. Our dedicated teams of Mortgage Advisors in York are here from morning until late, every single day of the week, including weekends and certain bank holidays too.
Not only can you book yourself on a day and time that suits you, but sometimes we offer same-day appointments, subject to availability.
Don’t panic if you work a 9-5 job and need to speak with a qualified Mortgage Advisor in York. We’ve got you covered! With the help of our booking feature, it’s never been easier to speak with a Mortgage Advisor in York!
Here at Yorkmoneyman, we pride ourselves on being open and honest with our customers. All new and existing customers will always be kept in the loop no matter what stage of the mortgage process they’re in. Any changes made, you will be notified as soon as possible.
Over time the public perception of Mortgage Broker in York has changed. It’s thanks to our high level of customer service, had led to more people choosing brokers over going to a bank for Mortgage Advice in York.
Everyone’s mortgage situation can be more challenging than the ‘average’ case. Recurring examples of this that our team have encountered over the years working in the industry include (but are not limited to):
Previously, mortgage lenders could easily compete with one another by offering deals that were better than the other. Times have changed since then, and now the main difference in which deal you go with, is whether or not you match their lending criteria.
You may come across a cheap deal you aren’t eligible for. The lender will either do a hard or soft credit search, to see if you are eligible to have a mortgage.
If you apply for the mortgage and the lender declined you an agreement in principle, this may damage your credit file. The worst part is you will be given no reason as to why you were declined.
A Mortgage Broker in York like ourselves will be able to run through your case beforehand, ensuring that everything is good to proceed and inform you of anything you need to increase your odds of being accepted for a mortgage.
Utilising the vast amount of lenders of our pane, we can match you with deals that fit your eligibility and supply you with an Agreement in Principle. We aim to supply you with an Agreement in principle within 24 hours after your free mortgage appointment.
However, this doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to be agreed, but it’s much safer for your credit file to be organised and get everything sorted beforehand. As expert Mortgage Advisors in York, we aim to get our recommendation right the first time.
As an expert Mortgage Broker in York, who has been in the industry for over 20 years, we have helped many customers achieve their mortgage goals. From First Time Buyers in York getting onto the property ladder for the first time, to people at the end of their fixed period, looking to Remortgage in York, it’s safe to say you are in safe hands with us.
As you can see, there are indeed pros and cons to going with a Mortgage Broker in York. Likewise, there are also pros and cons to going direct as well. It comes down to how quick you want your service to be, and how secure you want to be.
If you would like to speak with one of our Mortgage Advisors in York, feel free to book yourself in for a free mortgage appointment or remortgage review. Everyone here at Yorkmoneyman is here to help with all your mortgage needs, around a time that is most suitable for you, subject to availability.
For more information, please feel free to take a look at our genuine customer reviews. They are a reflection of the high-end levels of service that we provide to all new and existing customers.
There are lots of different types of mortgages, and some of them will be more suited to you than others. This is because each of them are different and can benefit you in different ways.
Here we are looking at the cashback mortgage and how it works. Will it benefit you and how does it compare to other mortgage options?
First of all, if you would prefer to watch our cashback mortgage YouTube video, make sure to watch it below. We regularly post helpful mortgage guides and tips on our YouTube channel MoneymanTV. Make sure to subscribe if you enjoy our content!
To put it simply, with a cashback mortgage, after you complete your term, you will get some money back.
The way that this is worked out is through a percentage of what you have borrowed. It’s usually something small like 1%-2%. In some cases, lenders will state a fixed amount in your mortgage contract.
Like all types of mortgages, Cashback Mortgages have both advantages and disadvantages. For example, you may be offered a free property valuation with your Cashback Mortgage, it all depends on your lender.
They are very popular amongst those looking to borrow lower mortgages. This is because you will get some money back along with some benefits on the side. If you get offered a competitive percentage on your Cashback Mortgage, it is definitely worth considering as an option. You may get a lot of money back upon the completion of your term.
The disadvantage to Cashback Mortgages is that they often come with high interest rates.
Cashback Mortgages, although they sound great, aren’t at the forefront of the mortgage market. They were more popular in the early 2000s.
It’s not a mortgage option that should be shoved under the rug, however. We still find customers taking out Cashback Mortgages; it’s not like they’re a bad choice. Quite a lot of buyers choose them as their backup option.
If you want Specialist Mortgage Advice in York and want to speak with an expert, get in touch with our team. We have experience with lots of different types of mortgages and can help you find one that suits you the best. A mortgage advisor in York will be right by your side during the whole moving home process.
Whether you are looking to buy a home as a first-time buyer in York, are moving home in York, or are ready to remortgage in York, you’ll quickly begin to realise there are a lot of options out there for you when it comes to taking out your mortgage.
In this article we have put together a comprehensive list of the most popular types of mortgages available to customers on the mortgage market.
If you have any questions regarding any of the mortgage options that we talk about below, then please do not hesitate to get in touch with a dedicated mortgage advisor for expert, open & honest mortgage advice in York & surrounding areas.
A fixed-rate mortgage will mean that your monthly mortgage payments will remain unchanged for the duration of your mortgage term.
The length of which you want to fix your payments for is your choice, with typical choices being somewhere around 2, 3 or 5 years or longer.
No matter what happens with inflation, the interest rates or the nationwide economy, you know that your mortgage payment, which is usually a person’s single biggest outgoing, will always be routinely consistent.
A tracker mortgage will serve the purpose of providing you with a mortgage interest rate that basically mimics the Bank of England’s base rate.
This means that neither yourself or the mortgage lender will set the rate and it will change as and when the base rate does. If the base rate goes up, your interest rate goes up. If it goes down, yours will go down too. Of course, this happening is beneficial to you.
You will be paying back at a percentage that is above the Bank of England base rate. If we use this in an example; Let’s say the base rate is 1% and you are tracking at 1% above base rate, that means you will be paying back your interest a rate of 2%.
When you take out a repayment mortgage this means that each month you will be paying back a combination of both the interest and capital. This is the standard mortgage people think of when looking to buy a home.
Going off the basis that you are able to keep your payments going for the mortgage term duration, you will be guaranteed to have paid it off in full and own the home of your dreams by the end of it.
This is generally, across the industry and wider world, considered the most risk-free way to pay your capital back to the mortgage lender. Early on in your term, the amount you’ll be paying will be mostly the interest, with your balance reducing at a slower rate. This is especially the case if your term is 25, 30 or 35-years.
The process quickens up within the last ten years or so of your mortgage, where you will be paying back more capital than interest, with the balance reducing at a far quicker rate.
Whilst we do still regularly encounter many buy-to-let mortgages being set up on an interest-only basis (this is an option that works out much better for many landlords), it is increasingly more difficult these days to get a residential property on an interest-only mortgage.
The reason for this is because once you reach the end of your term, you will still have the full mortgage amount to pay off all in one go, with no additional income to fund the amount you’re required to pay.
That being said, there are various unique circumstances where this can be a suitable option for customers, including downsizing when you are older or if you happen to have other investments you are able to use to pay back the capital.
Lenders are often incredibly strict when it comes to offering these products now and the loan to values tend to be much lower than they were in previous years.
The way an offset mortgage works is that your mortgage lender will set you up a savings account that will work in tandem with your mortgage account.
To explain this using an example, let’s say that you have a mortgage balance of £100,000 and you deposit £20,000 is into your savings account, you will only be paying interest on the difference between those figures, which in this instance would work out at £80,000.
This can be a very efficient way of managing your finances, especially if you are wont to be paying higher rates of tax.
When the mortgage deal that you are on initially finally reaches the point of confusion, your mortgage lender may wish to offer you a new deal for you to accept, ensuring that you stay with them. This kind of deal is known as a product transfer.
Although it would be nice, you will not be rewarded by a mortgage lender for your loyalty. The offer that they make you may not be competitive with the kinds of deals you could have access to elsewhere.
What also tends to be an annoyance for customers, is that the mortgage rates for these product transfers are not as good as the types of rates they would be offering their new customers. Great for a first-time buyer, not so much for an existing homeowner.
It may look like a fairly simple, straightforward process to just swap onto your current lenders new deal, but please always bear in mind that it will be in your interest to at least have a look at what other deals you may be eligible for.
You might find that your lender tries to sway you onto their deal, without providing any mortgage advice.
This can be a really risky process, because if you go into their new deal without advice, you are essentially saying goodbye to all the valuable consumer protection you would otherwise have benefitted from by speaking to a Remortgage broker in York.
Over the years we have seen numerous examples of customers just agreeing to go onto these “follow-on” deals and locking themselves into a deal that is not appropriate for their circumstances.
The kicker here, is that because they agreed to move onto the deal out without taking any mortgage advice, they have waived a lot of their rights in terms of making a complaint about the lender or the deal.
We once had a mortgage case where a customer who was pregnant opted to take this route and was declined for a small further advance to fund some necessary home improvements a couple of months down the line.
She was then left with having to pay quite a large early repayment charge in order to swap from her existing lender onto a new one who was willing to lend her the necessary funds to accomplish her home improvement goals.
After we have taken a look at your case, if we think a product transfer is the most suitable deal for you we will absolutely recommend that as a course of action for you. If we don’t think so, then we’ll look at where to go next.
When we arrange the mortgage for you as a mortgage broker in York, then all the regulation and consumer protection will apply to you.
In short, even if the mortgage process seems pretty quick and straightforward, we will still always recommend that you seek expert mortgage advice. A second opinion costs nothing and making a mistake when taking a new product can be something that ends up costing more than you thought it would.
If you are looking to remortgage in York, you’ll find that the mortgage market is highly competitive and savings can typically be made by a dedicated mortgage advisor scanning the market for a new and more favourable mortgage deal.