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Mortgage Broker Q&A; what’s an offset mortgage?

Author: Andy Bedford » Publish Date: 24 September 2009

Mortgage Broker Q&A; what’s an offset mortgage?

In Q&A, we look at some of the questions mortgage advisers answer; on a day-to-day basis. Question; what is an Offset Mortgage, and how could one save me money?

Offset Mortgages have lessened in number thanks to the credit crunch, but for some people, they could still represent a very effective way to save money on mortgage repayments.

In an offset mortgage, a savings account is retained with the lender, and any balance in that account; will offset the outstanding mortgage amount.

The savings earn no interest, and none is owed, on the equivalent balance, of the mortgage.

The benefit of this is that mortgage interest rates are generally above savings interest rates, as this difference is the premium or margin the lender will make for the loan.

You are also taxed at either 20% or 40% on your savings interest (unless you don’t pay tax, but let’s assume you do if you have a mortgage).

That means that if you could get a savings rate of 3.5% gross, and your mortgage was 4.5%, for example, then the real return on your savings would be either 2.8% or 2.1% after tax.

That would mean for every £1000 in the offset account, you would be better off by either £17 or £24 a year in this scenario, and your mortgage payments could be reduced: by £45 per £1000.

But it doesn’t end there; you can usually choose for the offset either to; reduce the term of your mortgage or your monthly repayments.

If you reduce the payments but deposit the savings into the offset, the balance will increase, accelerating the reduction of your interest payments; increasing savings month on month.

But, it also can be used as a way of effectively paying lump sums off a mortgage with the added benefit that these can be easily accessed should you have a rainy day.

For more information on offset mortgages, call a mortgage advisor on 0845 4594490 for advice.

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