Remortgage - Fix for How Many Years?

Remortgage - Fix for How Many Years?

Author
Discussion

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Monday 3rd July 2017
quotequote all
Jockman said:
Had a quick look at HSBC and First Direct 10 year products at the weekend. Decent offerings but rates would still need to rise a fair bit to make it worthwhile.

As to your other point above, I would add to the other replies the possible changes in your own circumstances such as a redundancy, death of the main breadwinner, divorce etc
Redundancy feather illness etc would clearly impact any mortgage product if you are fixed.
Also in that situation you'd be thankful you do have a fixed cost for the long term without the need to then go out and get a new mortgage which would be vastly less affordable re the banks new tests.


Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,161 posts

166 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
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So looks like 5 years might be a good idea. They can't really go any lower, I know Japan had 0% and even negative interest at some point I believe but I think that's highly unlikely to happen here. I've contacted my mortgage broker and interest rate seems to vary by 1% max between 2 and 5 year deals which isn't that much difference per month. In fact my last 2 year deal was fixed at 1.84 I believe and I can now get a 5 year deal for almost the same rate.

I can see some turbulent times ahead for the economy so probably better to be safe than sorry.


Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
I'm on 3.04% offset but it's an old one where I can draw back to its full original value up to the last but one day. So change the scheme lost that option.

Only kept that while we do the big extension but once finished I'd quite like to access these much lower rates. (sarnie I'll be in contact).

S100HP

12,684 posts

168 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
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I fixed in May 2015 for 5 years, at 3.19%...grrr

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
S100HP said:
I fixed in May 2015 for 5 years, at 3.19%...grrr
What's the ERC?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
A glance at Woolwich rates

10 year fixed 2.39% with a £849 fee
5 year fixed 1.7% with a £849 fee
5 year fixed 2.18% no fee
Lifetime offset base+2.24% so 2.49% £1,749 fee


covmutley

3,028 posts

191 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Also looking to move from a 2 yr to 5 yr fix in October.

As said, they cant go much lower, so I can only lose by a very little if they do, and are more likely to go up.

Also, another 2 yr fix would end around Brexit I think? Possible shenanigans with that?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Welshbeef said:
A glance at Woolwich rates

10 year fixed 2.39% with a £849 fee
5 year fixed 1.7% with a £849 fee
5 year fixed 2.18% no fee
Lifetime offset base+2.24% so 2.49% £1,749 fee
Out of the above list what do people think is be best option?

Jockman

17,917 posts

161 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
How big is the mortgage?

Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,161 posts

166 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
covmutley said:
Also looking to move from a 2 yr to 5 yr fix in October.

As said, they cant go much lower, so I can only lose by a very little if they do, and are more likely to go up.

Also, another 2 yr fix would end around Brexit I think? Possible shenanigans with that?
This was my thinking, the economy is already looking a bit shaky, Brexit is bound to have an impact and a 2 year fixed could put you smack bang in the middle of all that uncertainty. 5 years should be enough time that's it's all blown over by that point (hopefully)

London424

12,829 posts

176 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Don't ask me as i'm the guy who 4 years ago got a 5 year fix 'because interest rates will have to go up soon'.

Again, not an expert, but If there is a mess due to Brexit then interest rates aren't going to be going up are they?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
London424 said:
Don't ask me as i'm the guy who 4 years ago got a 5 year fix 'because interest rates will have to go up soon'.

Again, not an expert, but If there is a mess due to Brexit then interest rates aren't going to be going up are they?
Dax Cobra - ding dong.

BoRED S2upid

19,713 posts

241 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
London424 said:
Don't ask me as i'm the guy who 4 years ago got a 5 year fix 'because interest rates will have to go up soon'.

Again, not an expert, but If there is a mess due to Brexit then interest rates aren't going to be going up are they?
Possibly but they can't go any lower unless they start paying us to borrow money!

Guvernator

Original Poster:

13,161 posts

166 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
BoRED S2upid said:
Possibly but they can't go any lower unless they start paying us to borrow money!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35436187 wink

xyz123

998 posts

130 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
We were in similar situation couple of months ago and decided to go with 5 years fix at 1.99%. For me key point were certainty of payment, no mortgage fee (and form Filling etc) in 2 years and in case something goes wrong with job in 2 years I won't go back on svr (I have one year worth of buffer). There were some cheaper rates available but I went with a product which had no early repayment charges so I can make as many overpayment as I can and want. If interested, the product is from Coventry building society.

Good luck

rossub

4,458 posts

191 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
S100HP said:
I fixed in May 2015 for 5 years, at 3.19%...grrr
I fixed for 5 years at 4.59% in 2009, literally just as rates hit 0.5%. Was a long 5 years rolleyes

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
rossub said:
I fixed for 5 years at 4.59% in 2009, literally just as rates hit 0.5%. Was a long 5 years rolleyes
You make the best decision at the time no one can tell the future.

Yipper

5,964 posts

91 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Jockman said:
Yipper said:
Fix 5 years and overpay. Get the debt cleared while money is cheap.
Variable product and overpay even more?
Fixing gives certainty. When you have certainty in the future, you can plan better. And you can be more confident (but not reckless). Fixing a rate is an investing mindset, while variable is a gambling mindset.

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

199 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Yipper said:
Fixing gives certainty. When you have certainty in the future, you can plan better. And you can be more confident (but not reckless). Fixing a rate is an investing mindset, while variable is a gambling mindset.
It's a shame you cannot have part fixed part variable and be able to move the ratio of those two elements around as you see the market risk or not or whatever suits your investment strategy.

Jockman

17,917 posts

161 months

Tuesday 4th July 2017
quotequote all
Yipper said:
Jockman said:
Yipper said:
Fix 5 years and overpay. Get the debt cleared while money is cheap.
Variable product and overpay even more?
Fixing gives certainty. When you have certainty in the future, you can plan better. And you can be more confident (but not reckless). Fixing a rate is an investing mindset, while variable is a gambling mindset.
A Fix isn't a gamble?

That's certainly an interesting angle, especially with some of the tales above.