An offset mortgage comparison is not as straightforward as it would first seem. This article will give an overview of an offset mortgage and discuss how to compare offset mortgages to help you find the right one.
Offset mortgages are fairly new to the UK market place. They were introduced to the UK in the late 1990s and originated from Australia. They were seen as a niche product, but this has changed since interest rates have decreased and the market has opened up. The principle of offset mortgages is relatively simple when a borrower takes out an offset mortgage, it is linked to their savings and/or current account. This allows the borrower to offset their mortgage debt against the money in their accounts, thus reducing the amount of interest owed. For example, if a borrower has a 250,000 mortgage and 50,000 in savings, interest will only be charged on the difference, i.e. 200,000.
The range of offset mortgages within the market place has increased in recent years and consequently, offset mortgages have becoming increasing complex. For an offset mortgage comparison, you cant just compare the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) as you would with a traditional type of...