What Mortgages Need To Be Avoided?
There are a wide range of mortgages available to lenders; however some mortgage features should be avoided at all costs.
Many mortgages come with an early redemption penalty. This basically means that if you pay the mortgage off early for any reason – including moving to another lender, you will have to pay a penalty charge. Be especially careful if you are choosing a mortgage with a cheap introductory rate – make absolutely sure that the penalty period does not extend beyond the introductory rate period!
Another one to avoid is a mortgage which ties you into insurance – buildings, contents or life insurance. If your lender insists that you take their insurance, beware! You can almost always find a better deal on these sorts of policy elsewhere.
If you think there is any likelihood of being able to make extra payments at any stage during your mortgage, ensure that there are no penalties for overpaying. If there are then move on to the next one!
If you don’t expect there to be much change in what you earn over the coming years then it is probably best to avoid any sort of mortgage whose payments will increase over time. Try and stick to a fixed rate deal so you know where you are going to be financially. If the fixed rate ends you can always look for a new mortgage deal.
Double check any fees that will be applied to the mortgage. Some lenders charge a percentage as an administration fee which is then added to the overall amount you have borrowed – you should avoid this if possible.
Avoid mortgages with annual interest. This is because the interest you pay each month will be based on the amount of money you owe at the beginning of each year.
If you are looking at borrowing a high percentage of the value of your home, then be aware that some lenders will apply a Higher Lending Charge which is better to avoid, as is Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee which can add around £1500 to a mortgage of £100,000.
All of these things can make your mortgages more expensive or difficult to get out of so be aware of them before you borrow.
Comments off
