At the end of last year, rumours about a base rate rise in the near-future reached boiling point, but it appears that providers were unaffected by the predictions and chose not to increase their rates – instead, Moneyfacts.co.uk can reveal that fixed mortgage rates have continued to fall across all loan-to-values (LTVs) and terms.

Charlotte Nelson, Finance Expert at Moneyfacts.co.uk, said:

“Rumours flourished throughout the latter part of 2015 regarding an imminent rate rise, but now that Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney has said that it isn’t quite the right time to raise base rate many borrowers can breathe a sigh of relief – at least for the present. However, it is still a question of when the Bank of England will raise interest rates rather than if, so borrowers need to take advantage of current low mortgage rates before they disappear.

“For the last few years, new and old borrowers alike have been enjoying the benefits of downward-spiraling mortgage rates, which have been fuelled by heady competition in the mortgage market. For example, the average two-year fixed rate deal at 75% LTV has fallen by 0.69% in just one year, while the average five-year fixed deal at 75% LTV has dropped from 3.25% to 2.94% over the same period.

“With the average Standard Variable Rate (SVR) standing at 4.82% today, it’s unsurprising that more and more mortgage holders are remortgaging to a better deal: by switching to the average two-year fixed rate at 60% LTV today, borrowers can potentially save £3,618.72 in the first year*.

“After taking advantage of the cheap rates on offer, borrowers should consider using the money saved to make overpayments on their mortgage. Most deals offer this option, and by paying an extra £100 a month on top of their normal mortgage repayments, borrowers could shave three years** off their mortgage term.

“Mortgage payments are one of the biggest financial outlays a homeowner can have, so it’s a no-brainer to grab a low rate deal while they’re still available. Of course, borrowers need to look at the mortgage as a whole to ensure they get the best deal for them, but by taking advantage of the rates on offer today, they could end up saving a significant amount of money.”

www.moneyfacts.co.uk - The Money Search Engine

Moneyfacts.co.uk is the UK's leading independent provider of personal finance information. For the last 20 years, Moneyfacts' information has been the key driver behind many personal finance decisions, from the Treasury to the high street.

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