Should I Repay My Mortgage Early?

With interest rates at a historic low, it’s worth considering early repayment of your mortgage. In the current market, you’re unlikely to find a savings account rate with a better return than your current mortgage rate. This makes it more promising to pay off your mortgage early, potentially taking years off your plan.

Try this Mortgage Overpayment Calculator to see whether paying off your mortgage early makes financial sense.

The benefit of paying off some of your mortgage is that the interest rate, which may be higher in the future, will take its percentage from a smaller amount. This will decrease the overall amount you end up paying for your mortgage. The drawback is that lenders aren’t keen for you to do this. They might charge a fee for making an early repayment.

Talk to your lender about any possible penalty fees before you make your decision. If they do charge an early repayment fee, then make sure to work out whether your savings would exceed the costs of repayment.

We’d also recommend taking into consideration your broader financial situation. Make sure to pay off expensive debts with higher interest rates, such as personal loans, or credit cards, before you make early mortgage repayments.

It’s also good practice to have at least 3-6 months of savings in reserve for everyday emergencies, such as a broken boiler or unexpected redundancy, before thinking about paying off your mortgage early.

If you have any further concerns get in touch with a mortgage advisor. They will be able to provide tailored advice for your unique financial situation.

Refinancing

Consider refinancing if:

• You’re able to lower your interest rate by at least 1-2%

Refinancing typically costs around 3-6% of the loan’s principal. If you’re not able to reduce your interest rate by 1-2% then your refinancing costs may indeed exceed your savings.

 
• Interest rates have decreased and you are looking to decrease a loan’s term while incurring the same monthly mortgage payments.

Refinancing in these conditions could help you decrease your loan’s term whilst repaying the same amount monthly.

 
• Interest rates are falling

Converting to an adjustable rate mortgage plan may be a great option for homeowners who are planning to live in their current property for a few more years. The change allows borrowers to benefit from lower interest rates - and corresponding lower monthly payments - but won’t lead to an increase in monthly mortgage payments when interest rates eventually rise again.