Are you being overcharged? Fancy saving £332 per month?

When initially taking a mortgage, many homeowners choose to take a fixed rate or tracker rate that lasts for between 2-5 years.  When these rates end, in most cases the borrowing will transfer onto the lenders ‘Standard Variable Rate’ (SVR) and for most lenders, this means the rate charged will be between 3.74% to 5.74%.  

Dave Rees, our mortgage expert, reveals how you could save up to £332 per month on your mortgage.

Typically, the rate for Standard Variable Rates are higher than those that are available if taking a new mortgage, so for most people a significant saving can be made by shopping around for an alternative.  For example, a mortgage of £200,000 with 20 years remaining would cost £1,291pcm on a typical SVR of 4.74%.  However, assuming there was equity of at least 25%, a 2 year fixed rate could be obtained at 1.44% - this would cut monthly repayments to £959pcm(*).

Alternatively, a 5 year fixed rate could be obtained for 1.69% with a £749 fee that would cut payments to £982pcm (*)  A new lender will require the property value to be confirmed and a solicitor to be involved but the lenders offering these products (and many others) would pay these costs on behalf of the applicants.

Consideration should also be given to taking a new product with the current lender as in most cases, lenders will offer borrowers competitive options as an alternative to switching to the SVR and if no additional borrowing is required, this is usually a quick/simple process with little/no additional underwriting involved.

Ideally, these options should be considered 2-3 months before the current product ends, to help ensure if changing, that the new product can start as soon as the current product ends.  For advice and guidance on product options, please contact Dave Rees on 01225 775923 (Option 2) or 07932 469797 or email at dave@davereesmortgages.co.uk

(* Products quoted correct as of August 2017)