The good news is that in recent years a number of lenders have relaxed their criteria for this type of lending. Things to be mindful of include:
This will depend on the lender...
Some lenders have no minimum income requirement although they may cap what you can borrow on an interest only basis up to e.g. 65% LTV (Loan To Value). With the balance if you are borrowing more than this being on an interest & repayment of capital basis.
A number of lender who offer higher income multiples when it comes to borrowing e.g. 5 x income will require your salary to be over a set amount pa e.g. £70,000. Different lenders will also have different criteria regarding how you pay the mortgage back.
Some interest only mortgage lenders will accept sale of property; some will have conditions on this e.g. NatWest require you to have at least £200k of equity in your property at time of sale.
This will reduce your mortgage balance over time, but at the end of the term there will still be an outstanding capital sum to repay. For advice on your interest only options click here
Lenders take different approaches to sale of house as a exit strategy for paying off a mortgage. For many people, downsizing to a smaller home later in life is a logical step, and often, it will be to a part of the country where house prices are lower.
Some lenders will want to know where you intend to downsize to so they can assess the valuation of properties and ensure you plan is plausible.
A key consideration for lenders is affordability when they lend. In assessing whether an interest only mortgage is right for you income criteria will come into play.
Typically, lenders will want to see an individual with an income of at least £50,000 or a household income of £75,000 to lend on an interest-only basis. This criteria will vary so speak to a broker such as ourselves will help you get the right deal for your circumstances.
The main reason is to keep monthly costs to a minimum.
By switching to a better deal with a different mortgage provider, an interest only mortgage could potentially allow you to benefit from lower interest rates and lower monthly mortgage repayments.
By remortgaging you may be able to releasing equity in your home.
People often remortgage to provide money for:
Remortgaging essentially means switching from your existing mortgage to a new one. This can be with a new mortgage provider, or the same one you are already using.
Your current mortgage lender may offer an interest only option or part and part option. Alternatively you may need to remortgage with a new lender to get an interest only basis mortgage.
People usually consider remortgaging because they think they can get a better deal and reduce their monthly repayments, or because they want to increase their borrowing.
There are usually several costs associated with remortgaging, typically including a valuation fee, administration fee and legal fee. Many (but not all) lenders will offer to pay these costs when you switch your mortgage to them to make remortgaging more attractive.
If you are not sure whether now is the right time to remortgage or whether you can get an interest only deal speak to our independent mortgage broker team who will be able to offer impartial advice.