By Mark Walters


Mortgages can be extremely confusing, especially for first-time buyers as there are so many aspects to consider when choosing one. This is on top of the amount of footwork needed to get a range of quotes from different lenders with which to choose a specific deal. Although you can make this process a little easier by choosing to use a mortgage broker and obtaining mortgage advice, you will still need to familiarize yourself with the different terms and conditions commonly used and the different types of mortgages available. To make this a little easier for you, this article explains how you can go about the process of comparing and contrasting different mortgage quotes.

The first and most obvious factor to consider is the interest rates offered and whether they are set at a fixed rate or fluctuate to meet inflation targets. A fixed rate mortgage is most often set at a higher initial rate than variable rates, though by signing up to a fixed rate mortgage, you have the security of knowing that the interest rate will not change for a set duration of time. Variable rate mortgages can be very beneficial if the national economy is doing better than expected and interest rates decrease to meet the country's inflation target, but that is a big 'if'.

It is also sensible to research whether certain early payment penalties would be incurred if you wish to pay off the balance earlier than previously negotiated. In this respect, a mortgage can be either open or closed. An open mortgage will give you the benefit of no extra charges for early payments, whereas a closed mortgage will mean that you will have to pay fees for paying off the balance early.

It is sensible for you to look at the possibility of signing up to a flexible mortgage if you feel that your financial situation for the duration of the mortgage is not stable either in a good or bad way. There are many different types of flexible mortgages available depending on the lender, including underpayment mortgages, overpayment mortgages, current account linked mortgages, and loan drawdown mortgages, the latter enabling you to receive an increase in the loan amount at a later date, though not exceeding a predetermined limit.

It is certainly not an easy process finding a mortgage that suits your situation perfectly, and it is more than likely that you will have to make certain concessions to accommodate all or most of your desires. Remember that although flexible mortgages look very appealing, they will almost always end up costing you more in the long run as you will be paying for the benefits advertised, though also remember to try to conservatively predict your financial situation in the future as it may help having these options.




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