It is imperative to get good advice when it comes to your mortgage, since this is such an important transaction.
A mortgage could be taken out on your home if you own it outright. If you already have a mortgage on your property, you have two options; either remortgage to raise capital or consider a second charge mortgage, also known as a secured loan or a homeowner loan.
This involves taking out a new mortgage based on a larger amount of equity than your current mortgage. The capital raised can then be used to pay off your existing mortgage and to improve your home.
Take for example, if your home is worth £200,000 and you owe £50,000 on your mortgage, you could take out a secured homeowner loan on some of the £150,000 equity in the property. There is a possibility that second charge mortgages may be cheaper if your existing remortgage has a large early repayment fee.
Renovations not only improve your quality of life, but they can also add value to your home if done properly. Negative equity can also occur when your mortgage value exceeds your home's value. For example, if you ran out of money halfway through a renovation, leaving your home unfinished.
You may lose your home if you fail to make your repayments on a remortgage or second charge mortgage. As a result of your homeowner loan, your main mortgage works on a 'second charge' basis, which means if you fail to make payments and your house is repossessed, your main mortgage will be repaid first through the sale of the property.
The best way to find the best mortgage product is to shop around thoroughly beforehand. You may also benefit from speaking with an independent mortgage advisor.
Independent whole-of-market advisers can offer impartial advice on mortgages and homeowner loans and search across different providers to find the best products based on their expert knowledge of the market.
If you are not sure about options for financing home improvements speak to our independent mortgage broker team who will be able to offer impartial advice or you can call us on 0117 403 3464