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real estate investment : investment loans : fixed rates- "The Ups And Downs To Fixed Rate Mortgages"

By: Chris Clare

For anyone wanting a mortgage nowadays finding the wood for the trees can be more than a daunting process with so many mortgage companies offering so many mortgage products. Factor in the fact that you just cannot tell the future make the whole job that little bit harder. It is for this reason that fixed rate mortgages exist. When you have a fixed rate mortgage you know just what you are going to be paying for a given period of time. There can be good points and some bad points to this type of mortgage loan within this page we will try to deal 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.

One of the main good points to a fixed rate mortgage is the benefit of the rate staying at the same level for the duration of the fixed rate period. This as a result ensures that your payment stays the same and as such gives you the benefit of being able to budget with your finances for that period of time.

The many fixed rates on the market and the length of time that they are fixed for is set by both the market place and the lenders that sell them. But it is a rule of thumb that the longer the fixed rate is for the higher the pay rate will actually be and in contrast the shorter the rate the lower the pay rate. For this reason and the many different types out there good quality mortgage advice is a must for any buyer.

One other great good point to a fixed rate is if you are savvy to were rates are going to be in the future you are able to bet against the market. If you know rates are on the up and you secure a low fixed rate you will be saving money and over a long period of high rates this amount could be hundreds or even thousands.

On the other side, if you lock in a fixed rate and then interest rates fall, you are stuck paying the higher interest rate. And over time, this could cost you a considerable amount of money. Therefore, it is important that you have a clear understanding of the interest rates' predicted future and what exactly you need from your mortgage over that period of time.

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.

In summary it can be hard choosing the right mortgage at the best of times factor in complex rates like fixed rates and the job just gets that little bit harder. Never has there been a better time to seek independent mortgage advice just to ensure that you are not unnecessarily spending money you don't need to, but knowing the good and bad points of fixed rates should make it a bit easier.

Article Source: http://www.realestateinvestmentarticles.net

Mortgage Route offer specialist mortgage advice for assistance on mortgages with fixed rates

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