Finding the best offset mortgage is not quite as simple as it seems. There are many financial comparison sites that provide tables of the best offset mortgage deals, but these can be confusing for consumers, especially since no two sites agree on the best offset mortgage providers. There are a couple of reasons for this. First of all, offset mortgage deals change constantly, with announcements about new rates or changed criteria appearing weekly. Depending on when a particular database is updated, there's always a chance it will be slightly out of date.
The other reason why it's difficult to find the best offset mortgage loans is that not all the financial comparison sites feature all the lenders. Some sites may get their information from a particular provider and consumers can't be sure that that provider has access to all the offset mortgage deals. So a search for the best offset mortgage deals can be confusing.
Another issue to consider when in search of the best offset mortgage is the personal circumstances of the particular borrower. Here are a few examples. Suppose you are a first time buyer, with not much money saved. In fact, you've got just enough for the deposit on your offset mortgage and not much else. In such a case there are two factors that might concern you. The best offset mortgage for you might be one that allows you to borrow a large amount without a higher lending charge. The best offset mortgage for you might also be one with a low initial fixed rate to keep payments down while you are finding your feet. The best offset mortgage for you might even be one that allows you to link your family's savings accounts to your offset mortgage to keep payments low.
There are also factors that might affect the choice of the best offset mortgage for a next time buyer. A next time buyer might be at the stage of starting a family and might need a mortgage offset deal that provides flexibility with underpayments and payment holidays. Since some offset mortgages are more stringent about these than others, the best offset mortgage for a next time buyer in this situation might be one that allows payment holidays of up to six months and underpayments for successive months. These features will also be useful to people taking career breaks or those on a flexible income. However underpayments and payment holidays could increase the mortgage term and/or the total amount payable
Remortgage customers might have different requirement when it comes to the best offset mortgage. Some offset mortgage deals offer free valuations and legal fees for those who are remortgaging, while others also offer cash back. The best offset mortgage for a remortgage customers will allow them to move mortgages (if required) with as little fuss as possible. Cash back may be repayable if the mortgage is redeemed early.
These examples show that the search for the best offset mortgage is not as simple as reading a best buys table, though this will give a guide to some deals to be considered. That's why as specialist offset mortgage brokers we will take a detailed financial and personal history before recommending the most suitable offset mortgage for you from our whole of market panel of lenders.
