Mortgage Tips and Resources

For most people, a mortgage represents their deepest financial commitment, yet many do not take a few moments to pull up a plan in order to slash their mortgage costs. That’s a shame, because thousands of people could significantly reduce their mortgage commitments by following the below advice:

1. Understand What Type Of Mortgage Is Best For You

The type of person you are, the nature of your occupation and your future plans could have a huge impact on what mortgage may be best (and cheapest) for you. For example, if you’re on a very tight budget then a fixed mortgage may well be best, but if you have a bit of cash available then a recent new type of mortgage called an “offset” can save you hundreds a month. With an offset mortgage your savings and mortgage are set against each other – so if you owe $100,000 but have $30,000 in cash you only pay interest on the $70,000. This is usually a tax efficient way of saving on your mortgage.

2. Make Small Payments Regularly To Cut Down The Value Of Your Mortgage

Depending on the type of mortgage you currently have (and assuming you do not get penalised for it), you could make small additional payments onto your mortgage. Even as little as $50 extra toward your mortgage per month could have significant benefits in terms of the final interest amounts your mortgage costs you.

3. Is It Time To Refinance?

The mortgage industry is a highly competitive one. Many lenders are now offering good deals to steal business from their rivals. You may find that by switching your mortgage to a new lender you’re able to save thousands of dollars (or you may receive a cash incentive to switch). You must make sure you’re not breaking any rules of your current mortgage term or you may well offset any potential gains in penalties.

4. Challenge Late Penalties

If you have been late on a payment, some banks can charge a stiff penalty for this. Sometimes, you can write to the bank or call the manager and tell them there was a slight mix up with your bank account and they may be willing to reverse the fee (especially if you drop a hint about going elsewhere).

5. Buy Off Season Mortgages

If you buy at times when the mortgage industry is at it’s cyclical low, you’ll find they often try and have special deals at these times. This can be a great way of getting your mortgage at the lowest possible rate.

6. Fix Your Credit

Make sure your credit is as good as it could be before applying for your mortgage. The higher risk you are, the more you’ll have to face if you have existing arrears.

These are six simple, yet highly effective tips to ensure your mortgage is the lowest it possibly could be.