Dec 21 2008

Because Swapping Mortgage Rates Sometimes Isnt The Best Way To Saving Outgoings

Many people are watching their current mortgage deals coming to an end and are thinking about moving to a new mortgage to save expense. But is it always the case that a lower rate mortgage saves you money in the long run?br /
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On the face of it, if you can reduce your monthly mortgage costs by half a percent then you could be saving yourself a lot of monthly expense. This could be a reduction that you can spend elsewhere or if you are unlucky and expecting a huge rise in mortgage costs, just a reduction in the increase of the monthly cost.br /
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Using mortgage comparison charts tell you what mortgage is the charges the least on the market right now, but is it appropriate for you? More importantly, will it actually save you money in the long term?br /
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Although interest rates have dropped at the moment and are expected to continue this way for some months, some experts believe a reduction is on the cards in the near future. So if you lock into a 2-year, 3-year or longer a href=http://www.comparemortgagerates.co.uk target=_blankfixed term mortgage/a, by the end of the term you might be paying more than a variable mortgage if you had continued as you are.br /
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On the other hand, we could be surprised by a recovery and interest rate rises and then you would be extremely pleased. Thats the nature of this game. But this isnt the only area in which you could be paying a lot more than you need to.br /
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Look carefully at those best mortgage offers that you see in mortgage charts and read the small print. Look for the upfront fees – arrangement fees, legal fees etc. Take a look at your existing mortgage, how much is involved in ending that? There may be exit and deed release fees. These fees may also exist in the new mortgage – are they significantly higher than the current mortgage – thats equivalent to a cost in the future?br /
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When you look at these fees, how much will you be paying to change your mortgage? Many building societies allow you to add this to the borrowing, but then you are paying further interest on them for the duration of the mortgage. Even more outgoings each month!br /
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If you are able to pay these fees at the time of the move then eventually that way is going to be more cost effective. But then look at your existing mortgage. If you are having to pay £2,000, maybe even more to remortgage, could you instead pay off a small chunk of the mortgage, or at least put that cash away in a high interest account instead? Then take a look at how that would reduce your payments – or work out what your net payments are after the money put aside earns some interest.br /
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Changing to a new lender may not always be the right thing to do. First, speak to your building society and see what monthly charges they can get you down to with your existing mortgage. Then, instead of relying on tables to a href=http://www.comparemortgagerates.co.uk target=_blankfind how to compare mortgage rates/a, speak to a few mortgage brokers and get them to do all of the maths for you and write down exactly what you will be left paying each month.