How will Brexit affect my mortgage?

Monday, 28th January, 2019

Ah, Brexit. If there’s one word that people – regardless of their position – are tired of hearing, it’s probably that one. However, it’s a reality and one that is affecting all markets – including the mortgage market.

Regular readers will know that the team at Complete Mortgages isn’t one to shy away from topical debate, so as the official date approaches (or moves further away?), we thought we’d address Brexit and mortgages head-on.

Is it a bad time to get a mortgage?

There is general uncertainty around Brexit – and understandably so.

However, you may be surprised to learn that despite all the talk of doom and gloom, housing transactions, post-EU referendum, have remained relatively stable.

Figures from HMRC UK Property Transaction Statistics suggest that the biggest spike was pre-referendum in April 2016, when there was a big push for mortgages and house purchases prior to the introduction of the 3 per cent stamp duty surcharge. Since then, there haven’t been any dramatic reductions or increases in the number of houses being sold.

Shall I make the jump to a fixed mortgage?

There is still a long way to go – maybe even longer than we thought – before we officially leave the EU. As a result, our advice to those who are about to apply for a mortgage is don’t put your life on hold.

Mortgage rates are still very low so there are still some fantastic deals on the market. Equally, given the turbulence around Brexit, it has become a buyers’ market. On that basis, buying now could result in the savvy property hunter bagging a bargain.

Yes, there are some incredibly competitive fixed rate mortgages on the market right now, however any decision to switch to a fixed rate mortgage, in our view at least, should be made with more than just Brexit in mind.

Taking a long-term view

Often, when you’re in the eye of the storm, it’s difficult see beyond the immediate issues and consider the long-term picture.

Whilst very different to Brexit, the financial crash of 2007/8 caused much panic and saw house prices slump significantly. However, much less than a decade later, house prices bounced back and the impact of the crash drifted from the minds of UK homeowners. 

Whilst Complete Mortgages cannot predict the future, buying a house is a long-term investment, so making decisions using a short-term view could be, well, shortsighted.

Brexit is unknown territory, yet regardless of the direction that it takes us in – for good or for bad – the world will still continue to spin and people will always need mortgages to buy property.

As a Guildford mortgage broker, we have access to hundreds of fixed rate mortgage deals available NOW that will provide certainty of payments in these uncertain times for homeowners – existing and prospective – in Guildford and the surrounding areas. If you’re sitting on the Brexit fence and need some mortgage advice from a Guildford mortgage adviser, why not contact the team on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk.

How will the second interest rate rise affect my mortgage?

Tuesday, 7th August, 2018
mortgage broker guildford

After much speculation the second interest rate rise has happened.

As of now, the interest rate is 0.75% following only the second rise by the Bank of England in a decade. In fact, the last time the base rate sat around this region was in 2009 – so it’s no surprise that it’s heading on an upward trajectory.

But what everyone wants to know – particularly those on either a standard variable rate mortgage or a tracker mortgage – is how the interest rate rise affects mortgage repayments.

As per our last interest rate rise article, we’re going to keep it simple and say that the increase of 0.25%:

  1. Increases a £100,000 repayment-based tracker mortgage that matches any rise in the base rate by £12 a month
  2. Increases the monthly payments on a £200,000 mortgage loan by £25

For some, a rise of 0.25% may be manageable. For others, this increase and the possibility – or, if we’re honest about it, the probability – of others further down the line may be unsettling. On this basis, many will now be viewing the fixed rate mortgage as a safer bet given the consistency and stability it represents.

The good news is that there is still a raft of competitive fixed rate mortgages on the market.

Inevitably, in the wake of this week’s news, lenders across the nation will be looking to reflect the rate rise in their products, so those considering applying for a new mortgage or remortgaging will need to move relatively quickly if they are to agree a deal before any changes are implemented.

According to the Guardian, the number of people on a variable mortgage has fallen to 35% from 70% in 2001, so there is a clear move towards the security offered via fixed rate mortgages.

As a mortgage broker in Guildford, we’ve seen countless people switch to a fixed rate mortgage since the first interest rate rise in November and we now expect to experience a sharp rise in fixed rate mortgage applications in the coming weeks. And, as a Guildford mortgage broker with access to a comprehensive selection of mortgages that includes some of the most competitive deals on the market, our advice is don’t waste time.

If you’re either about to apply for a mortgage or are thinking of switching your mortgage from variable to fixed, then contact us on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk.

By Mark Finnegan, Director at Complete Mortgages

How will the interest rate rise affect my mortgage?

Monday, 27th November, 2017
complete mortgages

Well, it’s finally happened.

We knew it was coming, of course; or at least we had an inkling. Those of you who follow the news may even say we had fair warning.

The thing is, a rise in interest rates had to come at some point. Especially when you consider how the base rate dropped to 0.50% way back in April 2009 and maintained that level until August 2016, when it dropped a further 0.25%. The recent announcement was, in fact, the first interest rate rise since 2007.

And whilst it’s good news for savers, those on standard variable rate mortgages and tracker mortgage products are likely to notice the difference, particularly if their level of mortgage borrowing is substantial. As a result, there will undoubtedly be many people wondering how much more expensive their monthly mortgage repayments will become following the hike.

Rather than provide a breakdown of costs based on mortgages valued at X, Y and Z (particularly when there are countless mortgage calculators online that can give you the exact difference to the pound), I’d like to use this article to reassure homeowners with mortgages and let them know that there are still hugely competitive fixed rate mortgages available.

First of all, the 0.25% interest rate rise equates to a monthly mortgage repayment increase of around £18 based on an average 25 year repayment mortgage of £150,000 – or £216 a year. However, perhaps the most important thing to consider is the likelihood of a continued rise in interest rates – something that none of us can predict.

For example, if we take that average mortgage amount of £150,000 and add another 0.25% rise, and then another 0.25%, monthly repayments begin to climb by £36 and £54 respectively; £432 and £648 if we approach it on an annual basis.

And whilst nobody knows when the next interest rate rise will be, it is our job to make our clients aware of the financial implications of further incremental raises.

Our advice is as follows: –

1. Find an online mortgage calculator and understand the implications of further interest rate rises in increments of 0.25% (for many people, this hasn’t been a consideration for almost a decade!)

2. Review your current mortgage; even if the recent rise isn’t enough of a shock to make you switch your mortgage, there’s no harm in reviewing it and weighing up your options.

3. Contact a member of the Complete Mortgages team to find out how we can help you benefit from some very competitive fixed rate mortgages – before they become less competitive. Don’t delay – we have access to some great 5 year fixed mortgage rates which won’t be around forever – speak to one of our advisers now.

Contact Complete Mortgages on 01483 238280 or email info@complete-mortgages.co.uk to find out more. Remember, we also offer specialist mortgages including limited company buy to let mortgages, equity release mortgages and adverse credit mortgages.

By Mark Finnegan, Director at Complete Mortgages