Reasons why you might want to switch your current mortgage
- Lower interest rates: One of the most common reasons for switching mortgages is to take advantage of lower interest rates, in our current climate talking to a mortgage broker before the end of your current rate, may allow you to lock in a new lower rate especially when rates are continuing to increase.
- Better mortgage terms: Switching to a new mortgage can allow you to take advantage of better mortgage terms, such as a longer or shorter mortgage term, a fixed or variable interest rate, or more flexible repayment options.
- Equity release: If your home has increased in value since you took out your mortgage, you may be able to switch to a new mortgage that allows you to release some of the equity in your home, which can provide you with additional funds for things like home improvements, paying off debts, or funding your retirement.
- Debt consolidation: If you have other debts with high interest rates, such as credit card debt or personal loans, you may be able to switch to a new mortgage that allows you to consolidate all of your debts into one loan with a lower interest rate.
- Changing personal circumstances: If your personal circumstances have changed since you first took out your mortgage, such as a change in employment status or a change in your financial situation, you may want to switch to a new mortgage that better reflects your current needs and circumstances.
Let’s explore this a little further…
Anxious homeowners eager to secure a new deal
There are numerous reasons and benefits why you might want to remortgage your home and switch to a new mortgage deal. As we started the new year, the continuing prospect of further rising borrowing costs means many anxious homeowners will be eager to secure a new deal before their current one expires.
Since the beginning of October 2022, the average five-year fixed mortgage rate touched 6.02%, the highest rate since February 2010. The average two-year fixed rate also crossed the 6% mark to 6.11%. This rate is the highest over the past 14 years[1].
Reasons to consider a remortgage
There are numerous reasons to consider a remortgage. Maybe your current mortgage term is coming to an end. At this point you’ll revert to your existing lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) which you’ll want to avoid as the interest rate is likely to be considerably higher.
You may want to increase your borrowing to release equity for a major purchase or expense. You might be moving home and want to borrow more. Or have a home improvement project you need to fund, or want to pay for measures to improve your home’s energy efficiency, pay for school fees or debts you want to consolidate.
Making your mortgage more affordable
You could be looking for a cheaper deal to make your mortgage more affordable every month and want to reduce your monthly repayments. Remember, you don’t have to borrow more to switch to a more competitive mortgage deal. However, you do need to consider that there may be fees involved in exiting your current deal, but it could still be financially worth it.
Due to the rising Bank of England base rate, if you’re on a SVR mortgage then you might want to shop around for a more competitive rate. Or if your property has increased in value, in which case you now have a lower Loan to Value (LTV), you might qualify for a lower mortgage rate.
Important to compare your options
Whatever your reason for considering a remortgage and switching to a new mortgage deal, it’s important to compare your options and make sure you get the right deal for your personal situation. Essentially, when you remortgage you are switching from one mortgage to another on the home you already own.
This might be a new deal with your existing lender, or you might decide to move to a new mortgage with a different lender. The process of remortgaging is very similar to getting a mortgage for the first time. You will need to compare products and rates, and go through the application process.
Know exactly how much money you’ll need
However, there are some things that you need to be aware of before you start the process. Make sure you know exactly how much money you’ll need to cover the costs of remortgaging. This includes the fees charged by both your old and new lenders, as well as any associated costs such as valuation or legal fees.
It may be possible to remortgage early, even if you’re in the fixed-rate interest period of your current mortgage, but you need to calculate the costs before you do anything. Check that you’re actually eligible to remortgage. Not all borrowers are allowed to switch mortgages, so make sure you meet the requirements of both your old and new lenders. Familiarise yourself with the terms and conditions of your current mortgage, so you know which fees will be applied if you remortgage.
Start the process of looking to remortgage
You should start the process of looking to remortgage at least three to six months before your current mortgage deal is set to expire. This will give you enough time to research and compare different deals. There are a number of things you should think about before you decide to remortgage your home. Can you afford higher monthly repayments? What if interest rates go up, or if you lose your job? If you’re planning to start or extend a family, your expenses may rise significantly.
Compare your existing mortgage with other offers. It’s not all about the initial rate – work out how much interest you’ll pay over the full term too. Also remind yourself of your current mortgage deal. What type of mortgage are you on? What is the current interest rate? How long have you got left to pay? What are your monthly payments?
First six months after buying a property
Generally, you won’t make sufficient savings in the first six months after buying a property to make remortgaging worthwhile, but there will be exceptions. It can take around two to three months to remortgage, so keep this in mind if you want to time your new deal to start when your fixed-rate period ends.
If you remortgage with your current lender it’s considered a ‘product transfer’ and requires no additional legal work. Otherwise, a remortgage will require you to have a solicitor or conveyancer to help with the legal side of things.
Part of the cost of ‘arranging’ the mortgage
If you are on a fixed rate or discounted mortgage deal, it’s likely that you’ll have to pay an early repayment charge in order to end that arrangement. They are usually calculated as a percentage of the balance still owing on the mortgage. Many lenders charge an exit fee for closing your mortgage account. It may be called something different.
Lenders can charge you for a number of things as part of the cost of ‘arranging’ the mortgage and may refer to them as product fees, admin fees or application fees. The majority of legal fees on remortgages are usually covered by the lender themselves. Valuation fees will depend on the value of your property and lenders will have their own fee scale and in many cases the lender will offer a free valuation.
In this post we have used a fair amount of terminology, please have a read of our Mortgage Terminology – what does it all mean post or drop us a message via the chat function and we will help clear it up. (DISPLAY SECTION)
Are your mortgage payments about to go up?
Even if you are locked into a certain mortgage deal, there could still be options available to you. If you are looking to remortgage, we can explain the solutions to meet your needs and help you through the entire process. Our recommendation is to talk early – it allows us to review your situation, talk to lenders, find a more competitive deal. Book a call today to talk through options – you can email us on [email protected] or call us on freephone 0800 6125596.
Source data:
[1] Source: https://www.finder.com/uk/mortgage-statistics October 17, 2022.
At Yes Mortgage Services, we offer a comprehensive range of products from across the market.
Irrespective of whether you are looking to buy a new home, re-mortgage an existing property, or looking to protect your family from the unpredictability that life throws at it or protect your income if you are unable to work due to accident or ill health.
Yes Mortgage Services are committed to offering you the highest possible standards of service. We can undertake the whole process from answering the initial questions through to handling multiple product applications. Ensuring that everyone gets treated with the same urgency and maintaining your best interests are our main goals irrespective of the value of the mortgage.
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