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Residential Mortgages

A mortgage is a loan taken out to buy property or land. Most run for 25 years but the term can be shorter or longer. The loan is ‘secured’ against the value of your home until it’s paid off. If you can’t keep up your repayments the lender can repossess (take back) your home and sell it so they get their money back.

The money you borrow is called the capital and the lender then charges you interest on it till it is repaid. The type of mortgage you are able to apply for will depend on whether you want to repay interest-only or interest and capital.

Invariably today, residential mortgages are only granted on a full repayment (capital and interest) basis. At the end of the term, you should manage to have paid it all off and own your home. With interest-only mortgages on the other hand, you only pay the interest on the loan and nothing off the capital, meaning at the end of the term, the capital is fully outstanding and therefore owed to the lender.

With an interest only mortgage, you are responsible for ensuring a credible repayment strategy is in place so you have sufficient funds available to fully repay the loan at the end of the mortgage term. Failing to maintain an adequate repayment strategy could result in you having difficulty in fully repaying the mortgage capital when due.

Mortgages can be linked to other products, which can aid repayment. Current account mortgages reduce the overall amount ‘owed’, by taking into account savings or current account balances, and also combining them into a single account, effectively acting like one big overdraft. Offset mortgages on the other hand sees your earnings paid in, permits overpayment, underpayment, lump sum deposits, payment holidays and all the other features of a flexible mortgage, as well as giving you a cheque book, debit card and the facility to set up direct debits. However, instead of combining all the accounts (current account, mortgage, and savings) into one and having a single balance, the different components are kept separate, but work towards reducing the mortgage debt.

There are different interest rates available from all lenders, to suit varying requirements and situations, and these combined within a mortgage is termed the product:

Fixed interest rate/Stepped fixed

You pay a set amount each month for the duration of the fixed (or initial) period, thus allowing you the security of knowing your exact monthly commitments in the early years of the mortgage. You will be unaffected by changes in the underlying interest rates but if interest rates fall below the fixed rate, you will continue to pay the higher, fixed amount.

Variable interest rate

The interest rate can rise and fall in line with market conditions and so does involve a degree of uncertainty as your monthly repayments can vary and increase, but will allow you to benefit from a fall in interest rates.

Discounted variable interest rate

Again, this involves a degree of uncertainty as your monthly repayments can vary and increase but it allows you to have a discount on your mortgage payments for a specific period. Also, to minimise monthly payments, it allows you to benefit from a fall in interest rates.

Tracker mortgage

This utilises a tracker interest rate, meaning the interest rate is linked to either the Bank of England Base Rate or LIBOR and is equivalent to that rate plus a certain percentage. This means your monthly premium may vary and can increase and therefore involves a degree of uncertainty, but this does allow you to benefit from a fall in interest rates.

Capped rate

The lender will put a “cap” (ceiling) on the maximum interest rate that can be charged. It provides the security of knowing your monthly repayments will not rise above a certain amount, whilst allowing you to benefit from any drop in the rate below the cap.

Applicants would have to be aged 18 or over to take out a mortgage. Most lenders regard affordability as the most important factor in determining whether an applicant is eligible for a mortgage, and consequently how much can be borrowed. Applicants will need to prove their income, and provide the lender with evidence of any outgoings, including debts, household bills and other living costs such as clothing, childcare and travel costs.

For more information, click on the most suitable link:

Buy-to-Let Mortgages

Mortgage Protection

Buildings & Contents Insurance

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

There will be a fee for mortgage advice based on case complexity:

  • Standard residential mortgages are subject to a charge of 0.5% of the loan amount involved, subject to a minimum fee of £195 and a maximum fee of £1,000.
  • Adverse credit lending is subject to a charge of 1% of the loan amount involved, subject to a minimum fee of £595 and a maximum fee of £2,000.

The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate most Buy to Let Mortgages.