Compare Mortgages

People feel secure when they own their own homes where their children will be kept safe for a long period of time. Many people in the UK have taken mortgage loans because of cheap mortgage interest rates offered by mortgage providers in the UK. The competition among mortgage loan providers is high, higher education institutions produce competent employees and employment is also on the rise.

First Direct is a mortgage provider in the UK which offers a standard mortgage type. The company offers 65% of loan to value ratio and a term period of 24 months which is two years. A loan borrower will pay an initial interest rate of 1.99% and 3.69% final rate with an Annual Percentage Rate (APR) of 3.6%.

Yorkshire BS gives borrowers a loan to value ratio of 60%. People taking mortgage loans with Yorkshire BS will pay a deposit of 40% of the total value of the house as deposit. The initial interest rate is 2.29% with a final rate of 4.99%. The APR that this company charges its borrowers is 4.6% and a term period of two years.

Natwest gives a mortgage loan to value ratio of 60%. Mortgage Interest Rates for this company are as follows; 2.69% initial rate and 4% final rate. The APR is 4% which is inclusive of arrangement fees and other expenses incurred when giving the mortgage loan. Mortgage Interest Rates are can either be fixed or variable depending with the mortgage provider. Fixed mortgage Interest Rates withstand inflation and bad global economy while variable interest changes with the change in the market or the Bank of England.

Scottish Windows gives the following mortgage interest rates to their clients; 3.19% initial rate and 3.99% final rate. The loan to value ratio is 75% which means the borrower will deposit 25% of the total loan value. A borrower has two years to repay the loan and an APR of 3.9%.

Here’s the first mortgage term you should learn – Standard Variable Rate, or SVR. This is the interest rate you will be paying on the total amount you are borrowing. It is usually expressed as a percentage, and is different from an APR (Annual Percentage Rate). An APR includes all costs associated with the loan, such as interest, fees, any compulsory insurances etc.

While interest rates can vary quite widely across the board, all lenders will have a Standard Variable Rate. It’s the default rate for their mortgages, and can provide a good indication of whether they are offering good deals. Comparing different lenders’ SVRs is one way to get an idea of who has lower rates generally – though there will be exceptions to this rule.

This rate fluctuates, going up or down according to the economy and the lender. The biggest factor that effects SVRs is the Base Rate set by the Bank of England. In recent years this has been kept relatively low, and mortgage interest rates have been particularly good for borrowers. However, this could change and you should bear in mind that rates could go up in the future.

Many mortgages start off with special introductory rates, and then revert to the SVR after a set period. These include capped and collared mortgages. There are also ‘fixed rate’ and ‘interest only’ mortgages available, which are covered in more detail further on in the guide. When considering mortgages with special introductory rates, you should also take into account what the SVR is likely to be once your initial period is over. Many mortgages come with the condition that you stick with the same one for several years, even after the special offer period is over. There will often be penalties if you want to change mortgage within this tied period.

Interest calculation, interest charging

Be aware that there is a difference between interest calculation and interest charging. Some mortgages calculate interest daily, which works out as fairer for the borrower as your overall balance is reducing every month, and therefore the interest will be reducing too (even by a tiny fraction, every little helps!). Other lenders calculate interest monthly or annually, although annual calculation should be avoided if at all possible, as you will be paying the same interest for a whole year despite your balance having been reduced by your repayments. You should also ensure that your interest is charge in arrears, rather than in advance.