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Mortgages: Different Ways of Buying Your Home

Mortgages Explained

Mortgages are particular types of secured loans. There are different types of mortgages, the differences mostly being about the choices you have over:

the way mortgages are repaid
how interest is calculated on mortgages

A conventional mortgage may not be the best form of investment or best way to get the lifestyle you want. Try our Mortgage Calculator with a difference to find out what other options might suit you.

Mortgages and repaying what you borrow

Endowment	You invest monthly in an endowment policy, and get an (unknown) lump sum at the end of the loan period.
Repayment	You pay off repayment mortgages bit by bit, every month.
Interest Only	You don't pay anything back until the loan expires, when you have to find the money by other means (eg: by selling your house).
ISA	You invest monthly in an ISA, and get an (unknown) lump sum at the end of the loan period.
Pension	You invest monthly in a pension, and get a proportion of the fund as an (unknown) lump sum at the end, the remainder of the fund being used to pay you a pension.

Mortgages and different ways of calculating interest

Tracker	Monthly payments automatically track general interest rates. That is, when general interest rates change, your monthly payment changes accordingly.
Variable Rate	Monthly payments move according to the rates set by your lender. They might be changed monthly, or as infrequently as once a year.
Fixed Rate	Monthly payments stay the same for the first few years.
Discount	Your monthly payments can changed, but they are discounted for the first few years.
Capped	Your monthly payments change in response to interest rates, but never go above a pre-determined level.

Other features

Cashback	You receive a lump sum at the start, eg: to buy furnishings
Flexible	You can vary your monthly payments, eg: to pay off the loan early or take payment holidays. In some mortgages you may also have other flexibilities, such as the ability to offset your savings and mortgage, to save money.
Penalties	There are sometimes penalties if you decide to switch mortgages to another lender or pay them off early; you have to pay the lender a cash sum.
Self-certification	If you are unable to provide proof of income, some lenders will trust the borrower to declare their own income. Self-certification mortgages are usually the most expensive of all mortgages.

More information

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