Is A Discount Mortgage The Right Product?
November 7, 2009 Filed Under: Mortgages
With so many different types of home mortgages currently on the market, it can be hard for possible homeowners to decide which mortgage is best for them. Whether an individual is looking to refinance or take out their first mortgage, lending companies have a number of different mortgage options available to fit almost anyone’s needs.
One very common of these mortgages is the discounted rate mortgage. This type of mortgage is where the mortgage rate is reduced from the variable rate for a set period of time for example 1 to 3 years. The choice of period is the buyers but the longer the reduction is for the lower the reduction will be.
So for a set period of time the mortgagee ie you will get a reduction in your interest rate for a set period of time and as such will pay less in mortgage payments than you would do on a variable rate deal. However once this discount period actually ends your mortgage will revert back to the rate that the lender has as their standard variable rate. One of the problems with discounted deals is that if the interest rates rise your discounted rate will also rise at the same rate, as it is only a discount on the standard variable rate, so if that changes so do you.
Re-mortgaging after the discounted period has ended is always a good option, but should always remember that some lenders do charge early repayment fees if mortgages are ended early that however not many lenders charge fees once the discount period has ended but is worth checking before you sign up for the deal in the first place. The main reason to refinance is to possible get another discounted deal for another set period of time and therefore save a bit more money.
Mortgages that carry a discount are extremely popular with the first time buyer as it means they can save as much money as they can, which can be quite important when you are first starting out. The only drawback to this is many can be led into a mortgage that they may find unaffordable in the future due to the artificial way that the costs have been reduced in the early years.
Many people who have sorted out this type of deal have found themselves in a bit of trouble in the future due to the rising rates which they may not have been expecting. Furthermore a re-mortgage might not be an option as times change and they may not be able to qualify for a new mortgage company in the future, and their affordability may also be different in the future due to a change in circumstances.
Discounted rate mortgages are ideal for those who are looking to buy a home, and need extra money to make improvement to the home or for other needs. Even though the interest fees and mortgage payments will be low during the discounted period, a loan like this should only be considered when the applicant is able to afford a typical mortgage but may need extra money for a set period of time.
If you are going for any type of mortgage it is always important to consider what the payment will actually be after any deal ends as this could be the mortgage that you have to live with for 25 years and as such it is very important that you know you can afford it going into the future. Relying on getting a better salary in the future is far from good financial planning and can result in you losing your home.
It is always important to save money and saving money at the beginning of any mortgage can never be far from anyones list of requirements. That said it is always important to take a long hard look at discount mortgages and particular the pitfalls of such a deal such as the variable rate and the time when the discount actually ends. This always means that getting a good mortgage broker is always the best advice so make sure you have one to hand when making this vital decision. For the best help and information on discount rate mortgages why not try Mortgage Route, quality mortgage help and information online.












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