Mortgage Guide
A mortgage is basically a loan which is secured against your home. In return for a loan to help buy your home as part of your mortgage agreement you agree to repay the loan and any interest over a set term. If for any reason you are unable to make repayments the mortgage company have the right to reposess your home to recover their money. As a mortgage is for most people the largest financial transaction they will make it is important that the following factors are considered:
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Affordability - In this respect when you are considering buying a property or moving house it is very important you can afford to pay back what you borrow. If you opt for an interest only mortgage it is imperative that you make adequate provision to pay off the mortgage when the mortgage term expires. Use our mortgage calculator to help you work out how much your monthly outgoings would be based on the amount you wish to borrow.
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Change in Circumstances - In a period of low interest rates borrowing is cheap, but if interest rates rise this can have a significant impact on mortgage repayments. It is important that mortgage repayments are affordable now and any future interest rate rises are considered as part of the budgeting exercise. Also consider how you would cope if your employment situation changed and your income stopped or reduced. In this respect you may want to consider mortgage payment protection insurance.
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Mortgage Type - There are a range of different types of mortgage product and it is important you choose the right mortgage for your circumstances. If you are unsure you should seek independent mortgage advice.
Mortgages are offered by banks, building societies and specialist lenders who will on the whole be regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). This is also the case of mortgage brokers who advise on mortgages. You should check that the mortgage company or adviser you are dealing with is registered on the FSA website as this will provide you with a route to make a complaint if things go wrong.