Mortgage rates hit record lows across all types of deal saving buyers hundreds on their property purchase
- Mortgage rates at their lowest since 2007
- Buyers can access deals up to £600 cheaper now compared with in October
Mortgage rates for both fixed rates and trackers have fallen to their lowest levels since 2007.
Data from the Mortgage Advice Bureau shows there have been record cuts on rates in the past three months.
The broker's National Mortgage Index shows borrowers can now save up to £600 on a standard fixed rate mortgage compared to the deals available in October.
Good signs: Mortgage rates have fallen to record levels
Mortgage rates have been cut to record levels in recent months as banks aim to meet end of year targets and the prospect of an interest rate rise moves further away.
Borrowers across all deposit levels can now access some of the cheapest ever deals on the market.
Using data from Moneyfacts.co.uk dating back to 2007, the Mortgage Advice Bureau has found the average two-year fixed rate fell 27 basis points in the three months to November to 3.44 per cent.
Three-year rates fell to a historic low of 3.52 per cent while even tracker deals have come down to a new record average of 2.38 per cent.
Tracker rates dropped by 28 basis points in the three months to November 2014, the biggest autumn price cut on record for these products.But its not just falling rates that have benefit borrowers.
Nov 2014 average | Monthly change | Three month change | Annual change | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 year fixed | 3.44% | -7 | -27 | -11 |
3 year fixed | 3.52% | -15 | -27 | -36 |
5 year fixed | 3.96% | -12 | -25 | 10 |
2 year tracker | 2.38% | -13 | -28 | -51 |
Source: Moneyfacts |
The falls on mortgage rates may even be of more benefit to buyers than recent high profile reforms to stamp duty.
Chancellor George Osborne scrapped the slab system for stamp duty in his Autumn Statement and instead buyers will pay stamp duty progressively from 0 per cent up to £125,000; 2 per cent to £250,000; 5 per cent to £925,000; 10 per cent to £1.5million and 12 per cent above that.
Based on an average loan size of £158,791 and average purchase price of £227,619, Brian Murphy of the Mortgage Advice Bureau said a buyer would pay £2,276 in stamp duty under the old system and will now pay £2,052: a saving of £224.
However, shopping around for the best mortgage deal will have more of an effect on the overall cost of your property purchase, as the table below shows.
The mortgage price drop from October to November will save the typical borrower £463 in repayments over the initial term of a three-year fixed rate on the same loan size, compared with the £224 stamp duty saving.
The saving on a five-year fixed rate deal, coupled with stamp duty, adds up to £632, while those on a two-year fix would make a bigger saving on stamp duty than on the rate they pay for their mortgage.
Av. fixed term cost – Oct-14 | Av. fixed term cost – Nov-14 | Saving vs. Oct 14 | Stamp duty saving | Difference | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 year fixed | £19,099 | £18,956 | £143 | £224 | -£81 |
3 year fixed | £29,142 | £28,679 | £463 | £224 | £239 |
5 year fixed | £50,711 | £50,079 | £632 | £224 | £408 |
2 year tracker | £17,116 | £16,867 | £249 | £224 | £25 |
Based on November’s average loan of £158,791 and average purchase price of £227,619 |
Brian Murphy, head of lending at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said: ‘The recent changes to stamp duty are undoubtedly a coup for the majority of would-be owners, making significant reductions to the cost of buying a home. However, perhaps without realising, many have already been experiencing bigger savings in the form of falling mortgage rates.
‘This emphasises the benefit of securing a competitive rate, as doing so can save hundreds of pounds in the long run.’
Where are the best rates?
40 per cent deposit
For a short term rate, Yorkshire Building Society has a two-year fix at 1.39 per cent with a £975 fee.
A 25-year £150,000 mortgage would have monthly repayments of £612 and cost £15,682 over two years.
HSBC has a five-year fixed rate at 2.48 per cent with a £999 fee. A 25-year £150,000 mortgage would cost £691 a month and £42,497.50 over five years.
25 per cent deposit
For a two-year fix, Chelsea Building Society has a rate of 1.59 per cent with a £1,675 fee.
You would pay £626 a month and £16,719 over two years on a £150,000 mortgage.
If you want to fix for longer, The Post Office has a five-year fixed rate at 2.75 per cent with a £1,495 fee. You would pay £712 a month on a 25-year £150,000 mortgage and £42,918 over five years.
10 per cent
The Post Office has a two-year fixed rate at 2.95 per cent with a £995 fee for those with a small deposit.
The monthly repayments on a 25-year £150,000 mortgage would be £727 and £18,452 over two years.
Furness Building Society offers a low five-year fixed rate of 4.09 per cent with a £999 fee.
A 25-year £150,000 mortgage would cost £818 a month and £50,105 over five years.
5 per cent
You could get a 5 per cent deposit mortgage under the government-backed Help to Buy scheme.
The Post Office has a low fee-free two-year fixed rate at 4.75 per cent and a five-year rate at 5.45 per cent.
A 25-year £150,000 mortgage would cost £873 a month and £20,972 over two years.
Outside of the Help to Buy scheme, Monmouthshire Building Society offers a fee-free five-year fixed rate at 4.59 per cent.
The 25-year £150,000 mortgage would cost £841 a month and £50,485 over five years.
Most watched Money videos
- Range Rover Electric undergoes last extreme-weather tests
- Boreham Motorworks unveils the limited-edition Mk1 Ford Escort
- Rare 1992 Ford Escort RS Cosworth sets new world record auction price
- Amazon's latest $49,000 double-story TINY home comes with glass sunroom
- Ford presents new Puma Gen E: Best-selling now goes electric
- Toyota relaunches Urban Cruiser as an electric tech-rich crossover
- How to buy the best UK shares at a cheaper price
- Jaguar targets new customers by ditching logo and going electric
- Jaguar's EV concept revealed: Type 00 comes in two colours
- Tesla UK unveils look of sleek CyberCab in London's Westfield
- Woman becomes youngest Omaze winner after winning £3million mansion
- Fed cuts key rates again amid fears it will raise inflation
- Premium Bonds saver scoops £1million prize on their first...
- Inheritance tax raid is disaster for pensions: Attack...
- House prices went up £12,000 in 2024 - and are tipped to...
- Pound drops as winter chill hits manufacturing after...
- What are the big risks for investors in 2025? Chief...
- Pipeline to the Royal Mail: Czech Sphinx's Russian gas...
- Wildwood restaurant owner Tasty notes 'disappointing'...
- Reeves' inheritance tax raid puts millions at risk of...
- MARKET REPORT: Vodafone picks up as it sells Italian arm...
- Tesla shares fall 6.6% after sales slump for first time...
- Barbour pays founding family £30m in dividends after...
- Coventry takes Co-op Bank for £780m returning it to...
- High Street suffers as shopper numbers fall after 'drab'...
- German industry suffers a 'lost year' - helping to drag...
- Homeowners should brace for higher borrowing rates to...
- Wheels come off Brompton sales as boss blames 'really sad...
- January sales bargain hunters are warned about rogue...
- Stormy times ahead for investors with UK now seen as an...