Homeowners are showing a strong demand for remortgages. According to experts, it is a good sign that many will have found a safeguard for their financial situation in some way either big or small, but at least they have taken a strong step in weathering what could be a hardship. Despite the demand in remortgaging, there are many homeowners that either do not understand what a remortgage is, or they have a misconception of what it does. Polls are taken when rates are on the rise, and it never fails to reveal there is a lack of knowledge when it comes to the benefits of a remortgage.

To begin highlighting the opportunities in remortgaging, it has to start with the interest rate. Interest rates are the usually the main consideration when it comes to borrowing. In simple terms, the interest rate is the cost of borrowing. If there is a high interest rate, then the cost is expensive. If the rate is low, the cost is cheaper. Of course, all of that is relative to what offers are available from lenders and what offers are within reach of the borrower.

An easier way to consider interest rates is to understand that when it comes to borrowing, if there is the possibility of choosing between two loans and they are very much equal apart from the interest rate where one is higher than the other, the lowest interest rate is the best choice. Otherwise, the borrower is paying more than necessary.

There are other benefits besides the interest rate to take under consideration. The term of the loan and the type of loan will be something to take into account along with the interest rate. Usually, and because it is a strong business decision for the lender, the longer term loans, which allow the borrower to have a longer time to pay on the loan at the rate chosen, are attached to higher interest rates versus lower terms which usually offer lower rates.

For example, in ten years, no one could truly predict where interest rates will be and that is where the lender and the borrower are at odds. The lender would like to make sure they do not lose out by offering a long term at an exceptionally low interest rate when perhaps the rates could double in ten years. They would be servicing a loan that has less return than if they were charging at a higher interest rate. While the borrower is saving money over the course of the term because they are paying on a low rate from ten years ago.

Of course, rates could drop for some reason to a level that has the lender making more money due to the longer term requiring the borrower pay at a rate much higher than what is being offered since rates have fallen. The borrower is paying more than others who are taking out current rates because their rate chosen was higher than what is available due to dropping rates.

It is the business of lending, and never forget it is a business. Without it, we would not have access to the level of funds that are required to perhaps buy a home, an automobile, or start a business. It costs to use money borrowed when credit cards are used, and it costs to borrow from lenders, and usually the interest rate from lenders is considerably less than found with credit cards, but that is outside the discussion of remortgaging.

When a mortgage is chosen by a first-time home buyer there is a term attached. The loan is a certain type of loan, such as fixed rate mortgage. There is also an interest rate attached to that loan. In the case of a fixed rate loan, the interest rate is fixed, it is set and will never change throughout the term of the loan. Once the term is finished, the borrower has the choice to remortgage and choose a loan much like they did in the beginning. It could be the same type of loan, such as a fixed rate or another type such as a tracker, it will have a new interest rate reflecting the current state of borrowing and there will be a new term.

Without a remortgage, the lender will move the borrower to the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR). The SVR could be lower than the previous interest rate if rates have been declining, or it could be higher and continue to rise if the rates are being hiked due to economic conditions.

If the SVR is lower than the homeowner had been used to paying on their now expired loan, then there is no real need to rush to remortgage, for they are paying less. However, since remortgage rates are often lower than found with a SVR, even the lower SVR could be taking more money out of the homeowner’s budget than if they chose a remortgage that could have an even lower rate than the SVR.

When rates are rising, a SVR could be a very risky choice. The homeowner is facing higher repayments as the lender raises their rate. They could be in danger of those repayments growing as increases continue.

Remortgages could be helpful to homeowners that desire to find savings, to reduce their expenses rather than increase them at times when the interest rates are rising. There are other benefits as well, not only could the rate be set by choosing a fixed rate deal, but they could choose a term that saves throughout the term should rates continue to increase, and for those that have built up equity in their property they could turn it into cash with a equity cash release remortgage.

It is easy to discover information to educate about remortgages. There are information sections available on most websites of remortgage brokers and lenders, there are financial blogs, and there are government sites offering information.

It is even easier to discover what remortgage offers are available by visiting remortgage brokers and lenders to get quotes. After answering a few questions, the site will offer quotes if available. Brokers, because they work with many lenders, could provide several quotes from a variety of lenders to review and compare. Remortgage brokers often have exclusive deals as well.

Due to the fact the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has increased the standard base interest rate during each of the last six consecutive meetings, including the last in August, it should be assumed there could be more rate increases to come as inflation growth continues. The rate is now at 1.75%. 

The next meeting of the MPC was postponed from the 15th to the 22nd due to the official mourning of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.