How To Obtain The Best Offset Mortgage

This article will briefly discuss what an offset mortgage is; and how an independent mortgage advisor can help you buy the best offset mortgage.

An offset mortgage links your main current account and/or savings accounts to your mortgage. Every day or month, the amount owed on your mortgage is reduced by the amount in these accounts, before the interest is calculated on the loan. When the money in your savings/current account increases, you pay less on your mortgage. If the money in your savings/current account decreases, you pay more on your mortgage.

When it comes to finding the best offset mortgage, it pays to have expert advice because there is more to a mortgage deal than meets the eye. Your mortgage will probably be the largest financial commitment in your life, and it pays to take time to look at the different options available to you.

There are different types of offset mortgages available on the market. You could look at ‘best buy mortgage tables’ to find the best offset mortgage, but that only gives you superficial information. It doesn’t show you the mortgage’s flexibility; i.e. the ability to underpay, take payment holidays, or overpay, or what the fees and charges are. In the last couple of years, fees for mortgages have increased. Fees can be in excess of £1000, and several mortgage providers are now charging fees as a percentage of the sum being borrowed, for example: a 2% fee on someone borrowing £120,000 on a new low two-year fixed rate deal would pay £2,400. Once fees are taken into account, the best offset mortgage deal may not be the one with the lowest interest rate.

Recent research has shown that the best offset mortgage is not necessarily offered by the top 10 biggest mortgage lenders. The top 10 mortgage lenders offered only 11% of the best 250 mortgage deals available on the market, despite the top 10 having more than a 60% share of the mortgage market. To guide you through this myriad amount of information available, an independent mortgage broker will give you impartial advice about the best offset mortgage, as they have comprehensive knowledge of the mortgage market. A mortgage broker is fully authorized by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and they have the necessary qualifications to advise you.

Your mortgage broker will perform a ‘factfind’ to learn about your financial situation and circumstances, and your wants and needs. Your broker will assess your ability to repay the mortgage, your credit history and credit scoring profile. Offset mortgages are usually calculated on an affordability basis and not on a simple income multiplier, which allows people with ad hoc financial income, such as a self-employed person, to possibly obtain a larger mortgage than with a standard, more traditional mortgage. All of the information you provide will help your broker obtain the best offset mortgage available for you on the market.

After the best offset mortgage has been sourced for you, your independent mortgage broker will provide you with written details about the mortgage, which will include:

- How much you want to borrow
- The type of offset mortgage you’re interested in
- A description of the mortgage; who the lender is and the interest rate
- Overall cost of the mortgage including the fees
- How much your payment would be if the interest rates increased
- The flexibility of your offset mortgage

An independent mortgage adviser will answer any questions you have and ensure you have all the necessary information about the mortgage market. It is worth spending time with them, as they are there to help you find the best offset mortgage.Resources