There are many different kinds of mortgages products aimed at fulfilling the borrowing needs of a range of different types of customers. Which will make sense for you depends on your specific requirements and personal circumstances.
For most people looking at buying their first home, raising a sufficient deposit is a major concern. First time buyer mortgages generally allow you to borrow a larger percentage of the purchase price that standard mortgages, often as much as 95%. They may also offer discounted interest rates for an introductory period and allow parents to help out by acting as guarantors.
To buy a property to rent out, you will normally need to apply for a dedicated buy to let mortgage. This will generally limit the amount you can borrow to 75% or less of the purchase price and the amount you can borrow may also depend on the monthly rental income of the property.
Changing your mortgage to a new provider can allow you to get a better deal on your interest rate, increase your borrowing or pay off part of the capital on your mortgage. This can reduce your monthly repayments, leave you with spare money for home improvements or other requirements, or allow you to pay off your mortgage sooner.
If you need to increase your borrowing, a second charge mortgage can sometimes be a cheaper way to do it than remortgaging. This is most often true if you have a particularly good deal on your existing mortgage. A second charge mortgage is an entirely separate loan secured against your property which allows you to borrow more without affecting your existing mortgage.
To work out which mortgages products will allow you to borrow enough to fund your desired property purchase, you need to look at the loan to value (LTV) ratio they offer. This tells you what percentage of a property’s purchase price you will be able to borrow with that mortgage product.
For example, if you need to borrow £75,000 to complete on a property worth £100,000, then you would need to find a mortgage offering 75% LTV. Most lenders will offer better interest rates on mortgages with a lower LTV, although various other factors will affect the exact rate you receive.
When searching for the best deal on your mortgage, it is advisable to compare as many different products as possible from a wide range of lenders. Our mortgage calculator makes this much easier by allowing you to see deals from various providers all in one place.
Just head to the top of the page and plug in some basic information about your borrowing needs. The calculator will match this with mortgage offers from leader providers across the market so you can make an informed decision.
Whether it will be a good idea for you to remortgage depends on a number of factors, including your goals and your personal circumstances.
However, in general, if interest rates are lower than you are currently paying on your mortgage, it may be a good time to remortgage.
If interest rate are higher than you are currently paying, it may be better to look at other options, such as a second mortgage or a personal loan (if you aim is to borrow more).
If you are not sure whether now is the right time to remortgage, it is a good idea to speak to an independent mortgage broker who will be able to offer impartial advice on Barclays mortgage products.