Mortgage Rates – the Fly in the Ointment

(Before It's News)

Many people trying or dreaming of buying a house or flat for the first time in Britain might be cheered by the news that fixed rate interest loans for five years are at their lowest rates ever. Apparently you can fix the rate at between 2.69% and 3%. However there is a rather large fly in the ointment, or if you prefer to use a modern idiom, rather a lot of horsemeat in the hamburger.

In order to qualify for the low interest rate you will need a deposit of 35% to 40% of the property price.

Traditionally people in these islands like to buy their own homes. It gives them a feeling that the monthly payment is not wasted and that they can control their own homes, improve them and perhaps after the mortgage has been paid off after twenty five years be able to afford another home and ultimately leave something to their children.

Renting a home usually means paying more each month in rent that you would in paying a mortgage. Most renters pay their rent but do not qualify for a lower mortgage payment because they have insufficient capital. So there are many people who rent and many people who buy property as an investment in order to rent it to the renters. Once someone starts to rent it is very hard to save enough to become an owner, mainly because the monthly rent is higher than the monthly mortgage payment on an equivalent property.

Most people live on a financial edge. They have to meet their obligations as they go, and because getting or keeping a job is much less reliable than it has ever been, it is really hard for the young to build up any savings. Buying a house is a good way of saving; the value of the house may go up or down but at least you will not have to pay the secret commissions and fees that insurance and investment companies charge.

It should not be beyond the wit of the mortgage lenders to devise a mortgage with low interest rates but requiring a modest deposit.

Filed under: climate change Tagged: buying a home, lower mortgage payment, Mortgage Rates, mortgages, property purchase, real-estate, renting a home, the Fly in the Ointment

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