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The good and bad points to fixed rate mortgages.

By: Chris Clare

As a consumer you will find that there are a lot of different types of mortgages available to you, and as such it can be very difficult for you to choose the right one that best suits you. However when you do not quite know what lies round the corner one solution can stand out from the rest and that is a fixed rate mortgage. On fixed rate mortgages you will find that the rate that you pay is secured for a set period of time. There can be benefits to this and there can be disadvantages this article deals with some of them.

In times of uncertainty fixed rate mortgages tend to be the most popular type of mortgage loan. As the majority of loans for property are arranged on a 25 year basis having some sort of security over payment is considered quite beneficial. Having said that you do find mortgages exceeding 25 years, and some can be as low as only ten years.

A great up side to a fixed rate mortgage is the fact that the rate itself will stay the same and as such so will your mortgage payment. Because of this it does make budgeting on a monthly basis exceedingly easy for most people as they know exactly were they are with their payments each month.

The term and interest rate of the loan is determined by the lenders and market. Therefore, it is important that you thoroughly research a variety of different lenders to ensure that you are getting the best rate and terms available for your particular situation.

Another really good upside to a fixed rate loan is if you are aware rates are set to rise and stay quite high. If you get a fixed rate before they do and rates then subsequently go up you will stay at your chosen lower rate and therefore save quite a bit of money and as such over time if rates stay high you can save quite a lot.

However the opposite is also the case if you secure a fixed rate and the markets rates reduce you will be paying more than the market and as a result you will be financially worse off. With that in mind you again should ensure that you seek good independent mortgage advice as the type of people supplying it may have a better handle on what the market is or is not likely to do.

Fixed rate mortgages do vary from lender to lender but as a rule of thumb if you are going for a 3 year plus fixed rate you should expect to pay a little over the lenders standard variable rate and if you go for a shorter period you might find that the rate will be a bit below the variable rate. Because most lenders get their fixed rate money form the money markets you will find that they will charge you a fee for the deal and as a result the more competitive the rate the higher you will find the fee being charged.

In many instances, lenders will charge a substantial fee if the loan is repaid within the fixed rate period or than the original stated date, this fee goes by many names but is normally known as a redemption penalty. This simply means that if you choose to pay off the loan earlier than expected, a fee will be added to the overall price of the loan. So you must ensure that if you have plans in the future you do not arrange a fixed rate that might lock you in beyond those plans or there will be a cost to change.

At first glance, it is may seem difficult to know which type of mortgage best suites your personal needs. However, with a little bit of research, it will be easy to determine what type of mortgage you truly need. A fixed rate mortgage has a variety of pros and cons. Therefore, when considering a fixed rate mortgage, be sure you have weighed the pros and cons in order to assure you are taking on a financial commitment that is right for you.

Article Source: http://article-kingdom.co.uk

To find the right fixed rate mortgage for you why not use Mortgage Route Free independent mortgage advice online.

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