‘Good news’ for mortgage debtors as rates of interest stabilise

Aug 01, 2023 at 1:57 AM
‘Good news’ for mortgage debtors as rates of interest stabilise

may quickly have some reduction from rocketing rates of interest and the surge in repayments.

Kevin Roberts, managing director of Legal & General Mortgage Services, informed Express.co.uk there are indicators that charges are levelling off.

He stated: “It is too early to tell whether rates are on their way down, but there is good news for borrowers in that swap rates – which are used by lenders to predict future interest rates – are starting to stabilise, dropping by 0.25 percent last week.

“It’s not clear whether rates have really reached their peak, but it does provide a glimmer of hope.”

However, analysts are predicting the will proceed to extend, which implies repayments for folks on tracker and variable charge mortgages will go up once more.

Mr Roberts urged debtors to verify they perceive what kind of mortgage they’ve and the way it will likely be affected by future charges will increase.

He stated: “A tracker rate, for example, will rise in line with any movement in the base rate. A Standard Variable Rate (SVR) mortgage may also see a rate rise if the base rate climbs next week.

“To give an example, a homeowner borrowing £200,000 over a 35-year period could see an annual increase of £1,179 if their rate changes from five percent to six percent.

“Alternatively, for those on a fixed rate mortgage, the impact won’t be felt until they need to lock into a new product.

“Every borrower is going to be in a slightly different financial position and, depending on their circumstances, it is worth speaking to a mortgage adviser who may suggest paying off capital or adjusting the length of a mortgage term, which could help ease repayments.”

He additionally urged Britons to have a look at the broader context as charges have been very low over the previous few years and at the moment are nearer to historic averages.

He stated present five-year swap charges counsel mortgage charges may stay at round 5 to 6 % “for the foreseeable future”.

The knowledgeable added: “Of course, we don’t have access to a crystal ball to suggest when rates will start to fall, but we do know that we have entered a new normal this year.

“I would urge any borrowers who are considering purchasing a home or remortgaging their current property to seek professional mortgage advice and discuss all the financing options available to them in this new climate.”

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