Mortgage rates are expected to fall in the coming weeks due to an escalating price war, reducing the cost of borrowing by thousands of pounds.
Since peaking in November 2022, fixed mortgage interest rates have continued to decline. The financial crisis has troubled branding institutions as well. After months of economic turmoil, the race among banks to save their businesses from borrowers has also intensified.
Lenders are cutting rates to attract new customers’ attention as the mortgage price war continues. And this has resulted in a significant reduction in home loan costs, with average annual payments down by £1,700.
Yes, this mortgage price war benefits new buyers who want to climb the property ladder and make the most of it. They also have the opportunity to increase their wealth by making suitable investments.
The lower cost means they can avail of the mortgage at cheaper rates and hence have more options when choosing a home. However, whatever scheme the banks of countries make, the public benefits from this price war.
In addition, existing homeowners can also benefit from the mortgage price war by repricing their existing loans and taking advantage of lower rates. This could save them thousands of pounds throughout their loan repayment period. They do not need to pay a pre-determined amount as they can get a lower interest rate by changing their mortgage provider, which will benefit them in saving several bucks.
The Monetary Policy Committee will take an important decision in the coming few days as they predict that the central interest rate will increase by 0.5 percentage points to 04 per cent.
This step has been taken to deal with the rising inflation in recent months. The decision will have a massive impact on businesses, consumers and investors alike, with many expecting it to impact the economy in the long run positively.
The decisions of the Monetary Policy Committee attempt to ensure that inflation remains under control while providing some scope for economic growth.
This mortgage space is becoming an exceptional destination for borrowers, with fixed rates falling over the past few months while bank rates continue to rise.
Therefore, it is recommended that all borrowers get in touch with the bank manager or broker, even if they have a confirmed mortgage offer or have yet to be attracted. Hopefully, the prices will come down very soon. You should know that these cheaper borrowing costs have already reduced thousands of pounds in mortgage costs over the past three months.
If we talk about the average fixed rate of two years, it has come down from 06.65 per cent in November to 05.46 per cent today. This means that borrowers are saving a lot from this reduction in mortgage rates.
Supposedly, a borrower with a £150,000 mortgage is saving £150 a month thanks to the reduction in the fixed rate, and annually, a substantial amount. Similarly, a borrower of £200,000 is also saving £200 every month, which translates into annual savings of £2400.
The fixed rate of mortgage has also dropped by 01.29 percentage points from 06.51 per cent to 05.22 per cent. This means a borrower with a £200,000 revised deal is saving £214 a month, which translates into a considerable amount over a year.
David Hollingworth, a broker at L&C Mortgage, said further rate cuts are on the way. This news suits those who want to take loans in the coming few years.
With relatively low rates, this could mean more people can take out mortgages to live in their dream homes, making homeownership more accessible to everyone.
It can also lead to higher housing prices in some areas as demand increases due to lower rates. It remains to be seen what impact this will have on the market, but it’s undoubtedly one to keep an eye on.