The main reason most people want to move their mortgage is to enjoy lower monthly repayments, which is not surprising in the current economic climate. But as well as lower rates, there are other equally valid reasons why it might make sense to look at changing lenders.
More flexibility: many people want to pay lump sums off their mortgage, or reduce it by means of regular monthly overpayments. If your current lender won’t allow you to do this – or wants to impose a penalty for making overpayments – then it might make good sense to look at what’s on offer elsewhere.
To borrow more: sometimes you simply need to borrow more money: for example, your family may be growing and rather than move you’d like to extend and improve your present home. If your current lender won’t increase your mortgage, then there might be no option other than to look for a new lender.
A particularly attractive rate: it’s important to remember that your mortgage is only part of your overall financial planning, and there are times when your circumstances mean that a particular type of mortgage is attractive. You might be starting a family and need to keep your payments as low as possible for a couple of years: on the other hand many people near the end of their mortgage like the security of a fixed rate as their mortgage nears completion. If a different lender is offering a mortgage which is exactly right for you, that can be a powerful reason for moving.
But while there may be good reasons for moving your mortgage, switching does have disadvantages. There will certainly be costs involved if you change lenders. There is a good chance that you’ll be faced with a valuation fee and legal costs. And you may also be charged a penalty (or ‘redemption’) fee by your existing lender if your current mortgage product has some time to run.
The costs of moving your mortgage can be significant – but the good news is that the arithmetic is relatively straightforward. If the saving you’ll make by moving outweighs the cost, then all well and good. Equally, you may feel that the benefits you’ll gain are still worthwhile, irrespective of the costs involved.
If ‘sort out mortgage’ is on your list of resolutions, then it makes sense to speak to an experienced and independent IFA or mortgage broker. Whilst there are online tools available for mortgage comparison, they can be complicated to use. In the current economic climate (with lenders being understandably cautious) there’s no substitute for experience and knowing both the market and the individual lenders. As well as finding you the best deal, a good mortgage adviser will explain all the different types of mortgage to you and help you find the one that is exactly right for you.
Finally, even if now is not the right time to look at your mortgage, it makes sense to have it reviewed regularly. Most IFAs and mortgage brokers would suggest that six months before any current deal finishes is a good time to start looking at your options and many advisers offer a ‘diary’ or ‘recall’ service, so that they can remind clients when their mortgage is due for review.
