How to remortgage your house
Mortgages are hot topic right now, with increased interest rates and inflation making homeowners rethink their commitments and look for good advice as well as savings. For many, it has also highlighted the risk of remaining on their lender’s standard variable rate (SVR), with over 2 million Brits with a standard variable rate or tracker mortgage hit the hardest.
Given the mortgage is most people’s biggest monthly outgoing, and with inflation on the rise, it makes sense to keep payments as low as possible. But with so many different mortgage deals available, how do you know which one is the right one for you?
If you haven’t remortgaged in a while and are already on the SVR, you are probably paying more than you need to.
We review the remortgage process with mortgage experts, SPF.
Mark Harris, Chief Executive at SPF explains: ‘’With money markets continuing to rise, mortgage pricing is also edging upwards accordingly. Borrowers who are due to remortgage in the next few months may wish to consider securing a new deal sooner rather than later, ready to move onto once their existing product comes to an end.
“This may reduce the payment shock if mortgage rates rise further between now and when you need to move onto a new deal. Alternatively, if a more competitive pricing environment returns before then, you can apply for another mortgage – it keeps your options open.’’
Why would I remortgage?
If your home has increased in value since you took out your mortgage or last remortgaged, you may also be able to obtain a better rate as your loan-to-value (LTV) will have fallen. This is the amount of mortgage borrowing in relation to how much your home is worth – if your LTV is lower, you will pay a cheaper rate because lenders regard you as being less risk.
Another reason for remortgaging is to protect yourself against further interest rate rises. The SVR is set at the discretion of the lender so can move up and down as it decides; if you opt for a fixed-rate mortgage, however, you will be protected from any rate rises. This helps with budgeting every month and is particularly welcome if money is tight.
In a nutshell, if you can’t afford to be wrong – that is, if interest rates go up further you would struggle to pay your mortgage, then a fixed rate makes sense.
How easy is it to remortgage?
If you are considering a remortgage or you haven’t remortgaged for a while, a mortgage broker should be your first point of call.
Looking through lender websites directly and entering the same income and outgoings information over and over again can feel overwhelming and exhausting – and each lender will have different criteria so you may find a huge variation in outcomes.
Keep it simple. A mortgage broker will take all the information they need from you just the once and set about finding the right mortgage product for you while you carry on with your day. Most of this is now done online or over the telephone, while there are some brokers that are willing to visit you at home or meet in an office if preferred.
There are three different types of brokers: ones that work with a single lender, ones who work with a limited number of lenders, and ‘whole of market’ brokers.
If they feel you will be served better by your current lender, they will tell you.
Tip: if you are self-employed, using a broker can make life a lot easier. They will know the best lenders to approach and will be able to clearly guide you through all the evidence you need to provide to proceed with your application.
How long does it take to remortgage?
If you are hoping to switch before the end of the year, start the process now! In fact, if you are looking to switch from one deal to another you can start the process around six months before your current product expires.
On average, depending on the complexities, it can take four to eight weeks to go through after you have applied, but this is only an estimate as everybody’s circumstances are different.
Tip: It’s worth noting that, even if you don’t proceed immediately, many mortgage offers are valid for 6 months! This may be useful to line up as mortgage rates are rising.
How much does it cost to remortgage?
Some lenders will charge a fee for a new product; others offer a range of fee-free deals, although the rate may then be slightly higher. Some lenders will let you add the fee to the mortgage; others will want it paid on completion.
Mortgages advisers get paid a commission by the lender for introducing your business to them. This is stated in the Key Facts Illustration (KFI).
Some mortgage brokerages also charge a fee, which can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the mortgage amount, depending on the work involved and level of complexity. This is payable on completion.
The mortgage adviser will discuss this with you upfront and all fees will be included in the KFI.
How to remortgage and release equity
If your home has increased in value since you took out your mortgage or last remortgaged, you may wish to use a remortgage as an opportunity to release equity that has been built up in the property.
While many people are moving home for more space, others are choosing to stay put and extend or renovate instead – if you need funds to do this and have enough equity in your home to raise them against it, you could remortgage your existing deal and extend your loan at the same time to cover the cost of the works. This can be more cost-effective than taking out a personal loan, extending your overdraft or putting the borrowing on a credit card.
How does the remortgage process work?
Contact your mortgage adviser. If you already have an adviser, they should be in touch a few months before your current deal ends. If you don’t have an adviser, around nine months before your deal ends is a good time to approach one.The adviser will ask for information about your current mortgage, income, plans for the future and risk profile i.e., whether you would prefer a fixed or variable rate.The adviser researches the market to find the best option for your circumstances. They obtain a ‘decision in principle’ whereby the lender broadly agrees to the remortgage.Once you are happy with the lender and choice of product, the adviser completes the application form and submits it to the lender.The lender will underwrite the remortgage and instruct a valuation to ensure the property is worth what you intend to borrow.Once the lender is satisfied with everything, it issues a mortgage offer.Your solicitor finishes the paperwork.Completion. You have successfully remortgaged and move onto your new deal.
One important part of any mortgage application is to ensure you are adequately insured, from life insurance designed to cover your new mortgage amount, to home and contents insurance. Whether you stay put or move, your local A-Plan branch is always available to discuss any changes to your home insurance.
