What is a Fixed Rate Mortgage?

As the term implies, with a fixed rate mortgage the mortgage rate is fixed for a set period of time, so no matter what movements occur in the lender's standard variable mortgage rate, the borrower's arrangement is fixed and, therefore, so are the monthly fixed rate mortgage payments.

A fixed rate mortgage would suit someone who likes to know where they stand. A fixed rate mortgage, as suggested by the name, is a mortgage where equal repayments are made every month.

Fixed rate mortgages allow you to easily manage and plan your monthly expenditure - because the payment will be the same every month and you won't be affected by any rises in the base rate. If the interest rates rise above the fixed rate on your mortgage, you will see the real benefits of the fixed rate mortgage.

A fixed rate mortgage makes it easy to plan ahead, because as the name suggests, the interest rate on your mortgage stays fixed.

This means that as a fixed rate mortgage customer, even if the Bank of England Base Rate changes, the interest rate on your mortgage remains constant over a fixed period of time. This makes your budgeting easier, because you can plan ahead knowing exactly how much your monthly repayments will be.

The fixed rate period can be anything between six months and five years, but it's always best to refer to a financial services professional before deciding what period of fixed interest rate to choose.

The biggest advantage of a fixed rate is that irrespective of fluctuations in interest rates, your monthly repayments remain the same throughout the period of the fixed rate - usually six months to five years.

A fixed rate mortgage is suitable if your mortgage repayments take up a large proportion of your income as it protects you from rises in interest rates. However, you would not benefit from any reduction in the lenders standard variable rate.

Fixed rate mortgages generally incur a penalty if redeemed within the fixed rate period.

The advantage of a fixed rate mortgage is that you know exactly how much your mortgage will cost, and for how long. If interest rates on your mortgage rise, well the fixed rate will not. Conversely, however, when mortgage rates drop, your fixed rate mortgage will not drop with them.

The key benefit of a fixed rate mortgage is that you are able to accurately budget your repayments for a set period of time. In addition, fixed rate mortgages are an excellent option, if it becomes apparent that interest rates may be rising over the coming years, as you can protect your mortgage repayments against rises by choosing a fixed rate mortgage.

You may freely reprint this article provided the author's biography remains intact:

About The Author

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help UK homeowners find the best available loans via the http://www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.


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In The News:


Interest rate drop opens door to refinancing
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 6 hours ago
By Shonda Novak, MS Taboada The recent sharp drop in mortgage interest rates is creating a window for homeowners nationwide to refinance and providing an ...
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Ben Bernanke: Fresh Attack on Mortgage Rates
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 13 hours ago
Lower rates will enable some borrowers to refinance out of adjustable and into fixed-rate loans. But those who need to refinance the most have homes with ...
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Self-Employed Are Frozen Out of Mortgages
Wall Street Journal - 5 hours ago
He's been unable to find a lender willing to refinance the $900000 adjustable-rate mortgage on his primary residence, which he says is worth around $1.1 ...

Md. sees drop in loss of homes
Baltimore Sun, United States - 2 hours ago
Many borrowers took on mortgages at the height of the housing boom, believing they could eventually refinance to a lower loan rate or sell their homes if ...

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Begins Development of Hope for ...
MarketWatch - 18 hours ago
For borrowers who refinance under H4H, lenders are required to "write down" the mortgage to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-provided ...

BBC News

Mortgage rates fall, but many borrowers will have trouble qualifying
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 27, 2008
Jeff Lazerson, a Laguna Niguel mortgage broker, said all the customer calls he received Tuesday were from people seeking to refinance, not buy homes. ...
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New mortgage crisis looming, experts caution
San Bernardino Sun, CA - 7 hours ago
And since investors no longer want to buy commercial mortgages, banks are reluctant to write new loans to refinance those facing foreclosure. ...

Good time to refinance your mortgage?
WKTV, NY - 16 hours ago
By GARY LIBERATORE (WKTV) - If you are in the market to buy a home, it's a really good time, but if you're selling, it's not so good. ...

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Newsday, NY - 1 hour ago
... take measures that will result in lower mortgage rates, "so people can afford to buy up housing inventory and refinance mortgages at affordable rates. ...

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