Understanding Interest Only Mortgages

There are only two things people should keep in mind before taking on an interest-only mortgage. The name interest-only mortgage is misleading. If truth be told, there is no such thing as an interest-only mortgage. In an interest-only mortgage, you will still have to pay for the loan principal. When you get an interest-only mortgage, what you’re really getting is an interest-only payment method which you can combine with other traditional mortgage types.

The other thing you need to keep in mind is that the stated benefits of interest-only mortgages are exaggerated. In a standard mortgage, 95% if each dollar paid to the lender goes to the loan interest. Thus on a $100,000 standard loan with 6% interest, the total payment would be $600 with the $500 going to interest and the other $100 for equity.

A Brief History of Interest-Only Mortgages

Interest-only mortgages are not relatively new concepts. The idea behind interest-only mortgages was spawned from the more flexible and more inventive jumbo mortgage markets. Because of this, interest-only mortgages are traditionally a loan type preferred by savvy investors and well-heeled clients who want to use the principal portion of their payment on other more productive investments.

Because interest-only mortgages are jumbo loans, the difference in monthly payment grows with the larger loan amount. For example, in a $100,000 interest-only mortgage loan, the per month difference is $100. If the loan is worth $1,000,000, then the difference per month grows to $1,000, a substantial amount that can be put to better use. The savvy investor can make it so that his investment using the money he gets from the per month difference growth of an interest-only mortgage can increase within a short period, thus leveraging incomes to build assets.

This is partly the reason why interest-only mortgages are still preferred by big-time investors. However, it is only natural to assume that there are some considerable risks associated with an interest-only mortgage, especially when it comes to stocks.

Interest-only mortgages have payment periods based on adjustable rate mortgages. This however is not always the case. Interest-only mortgage payment schedules are also offered in fixed rate mortgages as well. Interest-only mortgages have also gone mainstream so virtually anyone can borrow money with this type of loan.

Temporary Payment Periods

The payment periods for interest-only mortgages almost never run for the entire term of the loan. Even with a fixed rate mortgage, interest-only mortgages are still bound to be only temporary. And InterstFirst product only lets interest-only mortgage payments for half of the total term.

The expiration schedule of an interest-only mortgage payment is usually at the end of a set period. This makes interest-only mortgages compatible to “amalgam” adjustable rate mortgages. When the interest-only mortgage payment comes to an end your payment will then rise to include principal and interest.

The great thing about interest-only mortgages

Interest-only mortgage payments also have their advantages. Borrowers can find that there are various practical benefits that an interest-only mortgage can offer. First is that, interest-only mortgages can help you in accumulating assets. Because interest-only mortgages do not demand so much during its initial years, you can use the payment differential in a cash investment. The “spare” cash provided by interest-only mortgages may also be used for college money, retirement money, and even as a seasonal income factor.

Of course, you are the only person who can really tell if the mortgage option is right for you or not. However, awareness of the issues that surround those choices is a good way to make a more informed decision.

Capital and Repayment Mortgages

What Is Capital and Repayment Mortgage?

“Repayment mortgage (also called a capital-and interest loan)

Your monthly payments gradually pay off the amount you owe as well as paying the interest charged on the loan. Provided you make all the agreed payments, the loan will be fully paid off by the end of the mortgage term.”

- Consumer Information, FSA, June 2006

Repayment mortgage and capital mortgage (or capital loan) are the exact same thing, made more confusing by the fact that this type of mortgage is known by more than one name. But don’t let that confuse you! Capital and repayment mortgage is, in fact, the same thing.

How Do I Know Capital, or Repayment, Mortgage Is Right For Me?

Repayment/Capital mortgage is great for those who want to get their entire mortgage, capital and interest, paid off by the end of their mortgage term. Once the term is up on this type of mortgage, you’re done and fully paid off. Many mortgage policies focus on the interest that you owe. Capital and repayment mortgages are popular because they allow homeowners to pay off everything that they owe.

The bank or company that you work with to determine your mortgage policy and payments can give you all sorts of options. Make sure to ask what the interest rate and payment structure on a Capital or repayment mortgage would be. The numbers will help you decide what’s right for you. After all, the right mortgage is the one that you can afford.

Do Capital and Repayment Mortgages Cost More Than Other Types of Mortgages?

“You usually pay off mostly interest in the early years and then gradually more of the capital debt. It may seem as if this is costing more but that’s because unlike the other types of mortgages you’re paying off the capital and not just the interest.”

- Repayment Mortgages, Mortgage Sorter web site, June 2006

While capital and repayment mortgages do not necessarily cost more than other types of mortgages, you may feel that you are paying out for a longer period of time with a capital and repayment mortgage. This is not true, however. Capital and repayment mortgages just allow you to pay off your entire mortgage in one complete payment cycle. And once you’re done, you’re done. That’s the beauty of a capital and repayment mortgage, one of the most popular types of mortgages used by homeowners.

I Still Don’t Know What Kind of Mortgage I Need. What Should I Do?

If you know that you want to finance or re-finance your home or property, it’s an easy decision to take out a mortgage policy. The only problem is, what kind of mortgage will suit your needs best? With so many options out there, and so much information about different types of mortgages available, it can make your head swim. When you’ve never had a mortgage before and don’t know that much about mortgages in general, how do you decide what’s best for you?

The only way to know what type of mortgage will fit your needs is to run the numbers. Have your bank, financial advisor, or the company that you’re re-financing with gives you examples of payment plans for many types of mortgages, and be sure to get your questions answered about each policy. You will think up many different questions, some of which can only be answered by those you’re working with to establish your mortgage. You’ll know what’s right for you when you see the plan in black and white, because you’re the only one who truly understands what your financial situation is.

Offset Mortgage, Offset Mortgages, Mortgage, Mortgages, Offset

An offset mortgage basically uses the interest from your savings account against the interest charged on your mortgage. Usually your mortgage lender will link your mortgage and savings account into a single account, with the same financial institution. Each month, the amount you owe on your mortgage is reduced by the amount you have in your account, before working out the interest due on the mortgage. For example, if you had an offset mortgage of £100,000 and you had savings in your offset account of £25,000 you will only pay interest on £75,000. When your savings balance goes up, you pay less on your mortgage. If you continually keep your savings balance high, this could eventually result in your mortgage being paid of early. On the other hand, if your savings go down, you pay more on your mortgage. Your mortgage lender will plan with you the minimum amount you should leave in your account each month.

Offset mortgages are especially attractive for higher rate taxpayers who would otherwise be charged 40% tax on interest earnt on their savings. When the interest earnt on your savings is automatically used to offset your mortgage, you will not have to pay any tax on those saving. According to one major financial lender in the UK, they believe that 25% of existing mortgages holders would be better off with an offset mortgage.

Offset mortgages are also flexible without a penalty. You can make extra payments, under payments and have a break from payments as long as you have made sufficient overpayments over the years.

Not all offset mortgages are the same. The competition among lenders is increasing and as a consequence the borrower has more options to choose from. This can include: free property valuations and free legal work, using two nominated saving accounts to be offset, and additional borrowing facilities. Depending on your lender, the saving accounts of family members can be combined to offset against one person’s mortgage; this is a popular choice for parents who want to help their offspring purchase their first home.

There are some disadvantages to an offset mortgage. Most offset mortgages allow the borrower to have a credit limit; if you are not disciplined about paying this back, then at the end of your mortgage period, you could be left with a big loan to pay. Thus, it takes a lot of budgeting and self-control to ensure the current account mortgage works effectively. Interest rates are different for the current account, savings and mortgage, so you do not have the opportunity to save money at the Standard Variable Rate like you can do with a current account mortgage.

Offset mortgage originally started in Australia and are fairly new to the UK market, however they have quickly gained in popularity. Originally, mortgage lenders only targeted the wealthy but they have now widen the market for customers who are charged basic tax and have savings. As a rough guide, a basic taxpayer needs around £20,000 in savings behind a £100,000 mortgage to make the offset deal better than a traditional mortgage. For a higher rate taxpayer, the savings requirement is about £10,000 although those figures will change as interest rates vary. If you are looking for a mortgage, an offset mortgage is something to seriously consider, particularly if you are a higher rate taxpayer and/or have substantial savings to offset. While the basic concept of an offset mortgage is simple, it does get complicated. This clearly underlines the need to talk things through with a mortgage advisor. It is their job and responsibility to ensure you get the right type of mortgage and the best deal.

Offset Mortgages Can Save you Thousands

Offset mortgages offer an attractive alternative to traditional mortgages and can save you thousands over the long term.

Buying a home is an exciting time, and it is the biggest financial purchase that most people undertake. The majority of homebuyers cannot afford to buy a house outright and it would be impractical to save up the full amount of the house before you bought it, because you would need somewhere to live in the meantime. Therefore, the usual practice is to take out a mortgage – a loan secured against the property you are buying.

In the United Kingdom, there are different types of mortgages to choose from, which include a mortgage that is a big success in Australia, from where it originated. It is called an offset mortgage. Basically, offset mortgages use the interest earnt from your savings accounts and current accounts against your mortgage interest; and as a result this reduces your overall mortgage repayments.

With offset mortgages, your mortgage account runs alongside all your other accounts, and the net balance for all the accounts is calculated, normally on a daily basis. The interest is then worked out on the overall total you have in your accounts. All the interest you have earnt from your savings and current accounts goes straight into your mortgage account.

As with most mortgages there are variations around this theme, such as a current account mortgage (CAM). Your salary is paid directly into your mortgage account where it immediately reduces your mortgage balance. You can then draw against the account for your normal spending as you would with an ordinary account. The mortgage balance and interest is calculated daily, so even if money were left in your account for a short period, it would still have some positive impact on the cost of your mortgage.

Offset mortgages are very efficient. They will enable you to dedicate the bulk of your savings to reduce your mortgage, which can save you thousands of pounds from the mortgage cost, and allow you to pay off your mortgage early. You would still have the flexibility to divert your savings to other uses, however you would give up some of the savings made on your mortgage.

The drawbacks to offset mortgages, is that the mortgage interest rates can be higher than the deals you could get on other types of mortgages, and there are often no special offers, such as low discounted rates for the first few years. If you tend to keep a low balance in your current account and have little in the way of savings, the benefits you get from combining the accounts may be too small to outweigh the extra cost of the offset mortgage. You also need to be efficient with keeping track of your financial outgoings, especially in the case of a CAM where you have just a single account for both your mortgage and current account.

You do not necessarily need an offset mortgage to pay off your mortgage early. You could have an ordinary mortgage and a completely separate savings account. Then, occasionally you could use your savings to pay off a chunk of your mortgage, which could end in you paying off the mortgage early. However, unlike offset mortgages, you would have to pay the tax that was earnt in the savings account.

An offset mortgage could be the right mortgage choice for you, if you are good with your finances, generally have a high current account balance, have reasonably high savings and you are a taxpayer, particularly a higher rate taxpayer. In the United Kingdom, an increasing number of financial lenders are offering offset mortgages because of the benefits they offer to the customer.

Flexible Mortgages are Made for Today’s Modern Lifestyle

Flexible mortgages are among some of the new mortgage packages that have been created to cater for the modern mortgage market. The modern mortgage market has become more liberal and creative, and therefore this has led to an increase in the choice and diversity of mortgage packages being offered to borrowers. Most major lenders include some kind of flexible mortgage in their product range. The majority of flexible mortgages are sold through the traditional routes and they are increasing their hold in the mortgage market, due to consumer demand.

Essentially a flexible mortgage is a secured loan that can be paid back in varying amounts, and the interest is calculated on the fluctuations of the outstanding balance. Flexible mortgages are particularly suited to today’s lifestyle, for example: ‘jobs for life’ are virtually unknown, you might want a career break to raise a family or you might expect some major life changes in the near future.

A flexible mortgage can offer:

Overpayments

You can pay off your mortgage quicker by making regular overpayments or by paying in a lump sum on an ad hoc basis, without incurring any redemption penalties. A flexible mortgage recalculates your outstanding mortgage balance on either a daily or monthly basis, and your interest payments are quickly adjusted for the overpayments that have been made.

Underpayments

You can reduce your regular mortgage payments or even have a complete payment holiday without being in default. There will be conditions attached to this option, for example: you might have to build up a reserve of overpayments before being allowed to underpay. However, a consequence of underpayment means an increase in your outstanding mortgage balance.

Further loans

You can withdraw lump sums from your mortgage account to be used for any purpose, without the formality of applying for a new loan. There are usually conditions attached to this feature, for example: you might have to build up a reserve of overpayments against which you can borrow, and there will probably be a ceiling on the overall amount you can borrow through your original mortgage.

Not all flexible mortgages offer those features, so you will have to shop around.

The ability to pay off your mortgage early is a necessary feature of all flexible mortgages, and the main point of distinction for a flexible mortgage is the extent to which you are allowed to withdraw funds from your mortgage account. The least flexible mortgage combines overpayment facilities with only the option to take occasional payment holidays.

In a recent survey of flexible mortgages carried out for the Council of Mortgage Lenders, nearly half of the surveyed borrowers had not made use of the flexible options that their mortgage gave them. The borrowers that had made use of the flexible options mainly used the overpayment option to allow them clear their mortgage early by either regular overpayments and/or an occasional lump sum payment.

A more structured approach to the flexible mortgage is offered by the current account mortgage (CAM) and the offset mortgage. With a CAM, there is just one account as it combines your mortgage account and current account. The offset mortgage uses separate accounts for the mortgage, current, and savings account. The interest earnt by the current and savings accounts is offset against the outstanding mortgage capital and the interest is reduced accordingly. It is important to make sure the mortgage rate is competitive because some lenders charge a higher rate than average and thus the benefit is lost.

Flexible mortgages have been around since the 1990’s and they have grown in popularity since then. The future looks good for flexible mortgages, with even more options for borrowers to choose from as time progresses.

Types of Mortgages Offered by Banks in Turkey

With the new mortgage bill that became effective on March 2007, banks in Turkey started to ofer a variety of mortgage products to their customers, tailored to each individual’s needs. These products and the rates differ widely from bank to bank when you include loan duration, down payment, commission fees, prepayment options and fees etc. All of these variables make decision making much more confusing to the customer. In addition, when you add foreign currency based lending, different closing costs for each bank, expertise fees, etc, choosing the best mortgage product suitable for the customer turns into a multivariate optimization problem. Therefore, the role of the mortgage broker becomes critical. To better assist his clients and find the best mortgage product and the rate, a broker must have many years of experience in their fields, in finance, and in real estate business. In addition, it is vital that a mortgage broker must be equipped with the top of the line financial calculators and mortgage software, and access to up-to-date rates and products offered by banks.

Mortgage types being offered in Turkey can be classified as follows:

1. Fixed Rate Mortgages:

This is the most common mortgage type offered and given by all of the banks. The loan duration and the monthly payments are fixed and thus do not change through out the life of the mortgage. The borrower can payoff the entire loan with a prepayment option, however there is an early closing fee, which could be up to 2% of the loan amount.

2. Variable Rate Mortgages:

This type of mortgage is based on a variable rate specified by the bank and the federal bank and changes with the rate changes in the markets. Borrowers should pay attention to setting a ceiling rate when negotiating with the bank so that when the rates change their payments do not go above a certain rate. The early closing fee that exists in fixed rate mortgage does not exist in this type of mortgage.

3. All Inclusive Mortgage:

If the borrower wants to include all the fees associated with the purchase of his home and the mortgage in the mortgage, this type of mortgage would be the most ideal one. These fees are are realtor commision, life and porperty insurance premiums, disaster insurance, moving fees, closing fees, expertise fees, etc. The amoun of these fees depend on the property and the lender. However, all of these fees could be included in the mortgage and be bundled as the mortgage package.

4. Discounted Commision based Mortgage:

If the borrower is interested in low monthly payments, he/she then can choose to pay a commision up front which consists of a percentage of the interest that needs to be paid. After subtracting this amount from the loan, the monthly payments would be lower. These types of mortgages have higher closing fees than other types, however. The early closing fee aplies to this mortgage as well.

5. Mortgage with payments specified at different months:

If the borrower is interested in making payments on only certain months, then this type of mortgage would be the most ideal one.

6. Zero Down Mortgage:

For those who has another property, this property can be used as a collateral to finance the purchase of the next property. If the other property has a higher value, then the collateral could cover the entire mortgage of the new house, thus making it a zero down mortgage payment. One thing that the borrowers should pay attention to is that most banks give mortgages up to 80% of the value of the property.

7. Foreign Currency Indexed Mortgage:

In addition to mortgages given in YTL (New Turkish Lira) currency, banks started to give out mortgage loans in other currencies as well. Some of these currencies are USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, and JPY. These types of foreign currency indexed mortgages can be obtained both as fixed rate and variable rate mortgages.

8. Refinance Mortgage:

The refinance option is now available as well. In case borrowers are interested in refinancing their mortgages with lower interest rates, they can change the mortgage either through the bank that they obtained the mortgage of through any other lender. The only caviat in applying for refinance in Turkey is that if your mortgage was applied prior to March 6th 2007, there will not be an early closing fee. However, if it started after that date, then there will be an early closing or early prepayment fee applied which could be up to 2% of the loan amount. The borrower also needs to pay for all associated fees related to the new mortgage.

9. Home Equity or Personal Loan Mortgage:

If the borrower is in need of additional finances, he/she can choose to get a loan by using his/her property as a collateral. This loan could be applied to home improvement as well as any other personal need. They are usually given at a higher interest rate than other types of loans but less than regular personal loans.

A Quick Guide to Flexible, Offset and Other Specialist Mortgages

The choice and diversity of mortgage packages being offered to borrowers has increased dramatically in recent years to cater for the modern mortgage market. Most high street lenders offer some find of flexible or offset mortgage in their product range. Below is a quick guide to some of the main types:

Flexible Mortgages

Essentially a flexible mortgage is a secured loan that can be repaid in varying amounts. The interest is calculated on the fluctuations of the outstanding balance and while a flexible mortgage has a higher interest rate, the ability to make overpayments and lump sum payments means the mortgage can be paid off earlier.

Offset Mortgages

Offset mortgages basically use the interest from your savings account against the interest charged on your mortgage. Usually your mortgage provider will combine your mortgage and savings account into a single account. Each month, the amount you owe on your mortgage is reduced by the amount you have in your account, before working out the interest due on the mortgage.

Current Account Mortgages

Current account mortgages have been around for well over 10 years in the UK and are a type of flexible mortgage. Current account mortgages work by combining your mortgage and current account into a single account, usually with the same financial institution. The balance is calculated daily and the home owner only pays interest on the balance. Any saved income you have in your current account at the end of the month is automatically deducted from the mortgage debt you owe.

Flexible Loans

A loan for building a home is known as a ‘self build mortgage,’ and there are several different types of self build mortgages currently available in the market place. Recently, home buyers who want to build a property for themselves or for investment purposes opted for flexible loans. A self build mortgage is different from a traditional mortgage. The money is released in stages and to acquire a self build mortgage, the providers will want to see plans, timescales and the end-value of the property as well as enthusiasm for the project.

Self Cert Offset Mortgage

A self cert offset mortgage combines the benefit of declaring your own income with the freedom of an offset mortgage that allows over payments, lump sum payments, under payments, and payment holidays.

Offset Tracker Mortgages

Offset tracker mortgages are relatively new in the market place. They combine the benefits of an interest rate that tracks the Bank of England’s base lending rate, with the ability to ‘offset’ the interest earned on savings and current account against the interest charged on the mortgage.

Flexible Tracker Mortgages

Flexible tracker mortgages offer the benefits of two types of mortgages rolled into one. The mortgage not only offers financial control due to different repayment options, the mortgage interest rates tracks the Bank of England Base Rate.

Cheque Book Mortgage

A cheque book mortgage main feature is that it is designed to be user friendly. All your savings, debts and mortgage are rolled into one account, with the same financial institution, for easy management of your finances, and the mortgage is flexible, which is an attractive feature for many borrowers.

Discount Offset Mortgage

A discount offset mortgage is an offset mortgage with a discount on the standard variable rate of interest for a set amount of time.

Conclusion

With such a wide array of mortgage products available it’s important you shop around and seek the advice of an independent mortgage broker. Understand the features, benefits and negative aspects of each option so that you are equipped with the knowledge to select the package that best suits your specific personal circumstances.

High Ratio Mortgages: Refinancing Options For Canadian Home Owners

With housing prices stalled, or even having falling in some local markets, Canadian home owners seeking mortgage refinancing and who are looking at a high ratio mortgage – i.e., home owners who are refinancing a mortgage where the mortgage exceeds 80% of a home’s current market value, or those looking at a second mortgage but who lack the requisite 20% down payment – need not be discouraged. Mortgage loan insurance is available, and affordable, commercially through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), a federal crown corporation, or through private mortgage loan insurers such as Genworth Financial Canada.

Most federally regulated lending institutions in Canada – the banks, credit unions and caisses populaires that compete for the bulk of the Canadian mortgages market – are prohibited by regulations under the Canadian Bank Act from providing mortgages without mortgage loan insurance for amounts that exceed 80% of the value of the home or property purchases with less than a 20% down payment.

Homeowners who initially started out with a high ratio mortgage, or whose home equity is flirting with the 20% equity ratio under the Bank Act can readily access affordable mortgage loan insurance for high ratio mortgages. The CMHC explains that “mortgage loan insurance helps protects lenders against mortgage default, and enables consumers to purchase homes with little or no downpayment – with interest rates comparable to those with a 20% downpayment.” Similarly, mortgage insurance is available for high ratio second mortgages where home owners do not meet the 20% equity threshold and need financing but are unwilling or unable to renegotiate their first mortgage because the interest rate on their first mortgage loan is significantly lower than current interest rates, termination penalties are too high, or they would not re-qualify for the same mortgage amount today.

As with any other form of insurance, there are insurance premiums to be paid, although they need not be prohibitive nor unduly expensive. Insurance premiums for high ratio mortgage loans vary and can range between 0.65% and 2.75% depending upon how much of the home’s value is to be financed.

The structure and costs of a high ratio mortgage will, of course, vary between lenders, as will the price and coverage for mortgage loan insurance. The best step for a homeowner who is looking at his or her refinancing options and is at or past the cusp where mandatory mortgage insurance coverage kicks in, is to comparison shop with the assistance of an experienced mortgage broker. The options that are available when looking at refinancing a high ratio mortgage or financing a high ratio second mortgage can vary significantly between lenders and insurers.

Some options that are available to qualifying home owners who are looking at a high ratio second mortgage include:

- High Ratio, equity based 2nd mortgages up to 85%
- Insured second mortgages that are typically available for up to 95% of the property value;
- High-ratio second mortgages that are usually available for up to 100% of the property value, albeit with limited fees;
- Open 2nd mortgages and Lines of Credit typically available for up to 90% of the property value;
- Mortgage amortizations of up to 35 years, or interest only mortgages; and
- Loan terms ranging from 1 – 5 years.

Those homeowners who are looking at refinancing and are faced with the prospects of refinancing with high ratio mortgages, or who may be seeking second mortgage financing in order to avoid the real and hidden costs of refinancing their first mortgage, should seek the services of an accredited Canadian mortgage broker so that they can investigate the full range of mortgage and insurance options that are available to them.

An a – Z (almost) of Mortgages, Part 1

100% Mortgage – This is when you borrow the full property value from a mortgage broker. This type of mortgage requires no deposit or down payment, and is therefore popular with first-time buyers. However, because of the credit crunch, 100% mortgages are hard to come by.

Adverse (or bad) Credit Mortgages – These are, as the name suggests, available to people with a low, or nonexistent, credit score. These are increasingly hard to come by, and usually have a very high interest rate attached. It’s better to rent and work on improving your credit score before applying for a mortgage. They are also known as sub-prime mortgages.

Base Rate Tracker – Interest rates on all mortgages fluctuate, but a Tracker mortgage will vary depending on the base rate set by the Bank of England. For example; if the deal you find offers base rate plus 0.75% for life, you will always pay exactly 0.75% over the base rate, whatever it is. The advantage of this is that if the base rate goes down, so do your repayments, and quicker than with a standard variable mortgage (covered below).

Capped Rate Mortgage – Another rare deal, the capped mortgage guarantees that you will not pay more than a pre-determined amount of interest on your repayments over a set period of time, no matter how much they go up. The admin fees on this type of mortgage are usually higher than on more standard deals, but there is the advantage of knowing, at least for a few years, that your payments won’t rise above a certain level.

Current Account Mortgages – Relatively new on the mortgage market, this type of mortgage, often called a combined mortgage, works like a bank account. You get a fully functioning bank account with direct debit facilities, chequebook and statements, and your earnings are paid into this account. The amount of the mortgage is also paid into this account, and it works like a big overdraft – you can borrow money from it to pay for holidays etc, but this theoretically gets repaid as your wages are paid in. the temptation is to borrow a little too much when faced with such a large amount of cash, so this is only really good for those who can manage their money well!

Divorced Mortgages – Some lenders recognise that a couple in the midst of divorce, or a newly divorced homeowner, may need special assistance. Therefore, certain mortgages come with a fixed interest rate for up to 5 years, with an interest free period for the first few months. For the new divorcees buying a home, alimony payments can be calculated into the income when determining a mortgage limit. These mortgages are often 100% deals, and are only offered to divorcees.

Endowment Mortgage – These mortgages are linked to the Stock Market. Often called an ‘interest-only’ mortgage, your monthly repayments only cover the interest due; the idea being that your investments will do well enough to pay off the whole capital at the end of the term. Of course, if your investments fail to make you money, you could be faced with a huge debt at the end of the term.

Fixed Rate Mortgage – Like all mortgages, this has good and bad points. You get a fixed monthly payment amount for a set term – usually between 1 and 5 years – and during this time you are guaranteed to pay that amount no matter what happens to interest rates. It’s good because you know exactly what you’ll be paying for that term but at the end, you might be in for a nasty shock if rates have risen substantially. In addition, if rates drop below the rate you’re paying during your fixed term, you’ll be paying more than you would on a different type of mortgage.

Flexible Mortgage – This type of mortgage deal has massive benefits as it allows you to vary your mortgage payment amounts, under- or over-pay as needed, and even miss payments altogether if you need cash for a holiday or Christmas. Potentially you could save thousands in interest if you pay off this type of mortgage early, as there are no repayment penalties as with other deals. But again, you need to be responsible with this as the interest will keep mounting up during a payment holiday.

Guarantor Mortgages – A guarantor is a person who acts as a kind of financial backup for a borrower. In the case of mortgages, the guarantor would be responsible for repayments should the borrower default. It’s a huge responsibility which involves a lot of trust on both sides, but for a first-time buyer it can be a good solution to a first mortgage. A guarantor needs to prove that they could afford your repayments as well as their own commitments in the event of a default. Most lenders will look favourably on an applicant with a guarantor, so it’s worth securing one even if you don’t foresee any problems.

This concludes part one of the mortgages guide. Part two will cover more mortgages such as offset mortgages and the classic repayment mortgage.

An a – Z (almost) of Mortgages, Part 2

Investment Mortgage – More commonly known as a buy-to-let mortgage, this type of deal involves getting a mortgage on a property which you intend to rent out to someone else. Instead of being calculated according to your income, an investment mortgage is calculated based on the projected income from your investment, for example a house being rented out as student accommodation. A BTL mortgage deposit is typically 10%, and is available is a repayment or interest-only option.

Key Worker or Shared Ownership Mortgages – These are a newer type of deal which allows someone in rented accommodation from a Council or housing association to purchase part of the property they occupy, while still paying rent on the other half. This option is also available for ‘key workers’ such as nurses, teachers or police officers, who are typically on lower incomes. First-time buyers can also benefit from these schemes, as there are some which allow part-purchase of new homes from participating builders.

Offset Mortgage – If you have substantial savings, an offset mortgage can be a great way to keep your repayments to a minimum. It takes the amount you have in a savings account and counts this towards you total mortgage debt and therefore reduces the amount you owe. When you earn interest on your cash savings, you avoid paying interest on the equivalent amount of your mortgage. The principle is similar to a current account, or combined mortgage (see part 1).

Overseas Mortgage – This is self-explanatory; it’s a mortgage you take out on a property abroad. It typically involves more work and potentially higher admin costs, and of course if you’re planning on renting out the property to tourists you need to make sure the demand is there. But if you choose the location carefully you could reap the rewards and recoup your initial costs. Different countries have different property laws so you’re better off consulting with a specialist overseas mortgage broker before making any final decisions.

Pension Mortgage – This is a form of endowment mortgage, with the repayments going towards paying the interest each month. But instead of investing directly in shares, a pension mortgage requires you to pay an additional sum into a pension plan to cover the capital at the end of the term. This is still tied to the Stock Market and therefore cannot guarantee to cover the whole capital at the end. Payments into the pension plan must be kept up regardless of other financial hardships if the final sum is to stand a chance of clearing your capital, but as a pension plan is not legally accessible until after the age of 55, some of the temptation to spend it is removed. One major disadvantage this has over a repayment mortgage is that there is no opt-out; you’re tied to the deal until you reach retirement age. Potentially this could mean a term much longer than the standard 25 years, and therefore more interest would be paid.

Repayment Mortgage – We come to the mainstay of the mortgage industry, and the most common type of deal. A repayment mortgage is the only way you are guaranteed to have full ownership of a property at the end of the term, provided you’ve kept up with repayments. The amount you pay each month on this type of mortgage is used to pay off part of the interest and part of the capital, so there is nothing left to pay at the end of the mortgage period. The early years of a repayment mortgage are mainly spent paying off the interest and only a small amount of the capital, but this is often preferable to other types where you pay off nothing but the interest.

Remortgage – If you’re part-way through paying off your mortgage, and find you need a large amount of cash for repairs, renovations or perhaps even a holiday or wedding, you could remortgage your home and release some of the equity on it. This often involves switching lenders to find a better deal i.e. a lower interest rate, or perhaps taking out a new mortgage for the full property value and using this cash to pay off your current, lower, one. But be careful if you decide to do this, as there may be an early repayment penalty on your existing mortgage.

Self-certification Mortgage – Often assumed to be only for the self-employed, this type of mortgage is useful for anyone who cannot guarantee or prove an exact income amount or do not wish to disclose their total annual salary. People such as seasonal workers or freelancers, or perhaps company directors who do not have a fixed annual salary are all eligible for a self-certification mortgage. Other than the standard credit checks, there are no checks made on your financial status, income or employment record, so it stands to reason that a good credit rating is necessary for this mortgage.

Standard Variable Rate Mortgage – An extremely common type of mortgage, this takes its interest rates from the base rate like a tracker mortgage, but charges a higher additional percentage. So, the interest rate you pay will fluctuate when the base rate does, but you may pay 2% over instead of 0.75% (see part 1 of this guide for more details on base rate tracker mortgages). In addition, any drops in the base rate won’t necessarily pass benefits to you straight away, as the interest on these mortgages tends to be calculated monthly or annual rather than daily. Those with poor credit scores will end up paying a higher additional percentage than those with good credit histories.

It’s important to remember than none of these mortgages are mutually exclusive. For example, you could have overseas mortgages with capped rates, or remortgage from a tracker base rate to a standard variable rate. In all circumstances, it’s best to seek expert advice and shop around for the best rates.