The term overpaying your mortgage refers to the voluntary additional payment of cash into your mortgage account over and above the agreed monthly sum.

There are a variety of reasons you might want to do this.

If you have no outstanding debt elsewhere (which is likely to be more expensive) and surplus net income or cash sitting in a savings account earning you little or no interest, then reducing your mortgage is a prudent option. Saving 3.85% in mortgage interest when you are only earning 2% gross interest in your best ISA might seem like a ‘no brainer’.

Alternatively, you might want to use a windfall or bonus to reduce the mortgage sum in case interest rates rise in the future, making payments hard to meet. Or perhaps you are planning a few months sabbatical and you want to take a ‘mortgage holiday’ thus making no payments whilst you aren’t earning.

We all have different priorities and financial circumstances and it’s impossible to consider whether or not you should consider making over payments without knowing more about your personal circumstances. For example, it might be prudent to keep some cash readily available for that rainy day, especially if you are self employed or currently find in a precarious state of employment!

The starting point should be to make sure that your mortgage agreement allows you to do what you are considering. Not all lenders will allow repayment holidays or over payments and some of those that do might charge significant fees for this activity, even if you only slightly exceed what may be allowed.

For more information or to speak to a mortgage adviser, contact us on 01628 507477.

Download our Free First Time Buyers Guide

Recent posts

BoE Building   Web Larger

The Bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey, has advised that, due to the “very big energy shock” the economy is facing, they won’t be in a rush to increase UK interest rates.

Deals of week web larger

Here are the lowest fixed mortgage rates of the week, available to first-time buyers, home movers, buy-to-let, and those remortgaging.

Call us for more information: 01628 507477 or email: team@mortgagerequired.com.

Home Insurance Invalidate    Web Larger

Many homeowners don’t realise that a simple act or oversight could invalidate their home insurance policy. Home insurance is essential in protecting your most valuable assets; however, it is important to understand what affects your cover to ensure you are fully protected.

Views   Web Larger

In certain areas, impressive views are one feature that buyers are willing to pay price premiums of more than 30 per cent.   

Lenders React To Iran War   Web Larger

The UK mortgage market is seeing lenders withdraw deals and hike mortgage rates amid the escalation of conflict in Iran. This isn’t great news for borrowers, with the average rate for a two-year fixed deal sitting above 5%.

Salaries Not Enough For Deposit   Web Larger

Statistics now show that those looking to purchase a property would have to save a deposit bigger than their annual gross pay.

Prices Set To Rise For FTB   Web Larger

Analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) shows that those looking to buy their first home could face a sharp increase if house prices follow the latest predictions, as Coventry Building Society suggests.

Mortgage Cheaper Than Rent   Web Larger

According to Zoopla, four in 10 homes are now cheaper to buy with a mortgage than to rent due to lower-cost mortgages - a sign that ownership is becoming more affordable.