Flexible mortgage
Encyclopedia
The term flexible mortgage refers to a residential mortgage loan
that offers flexibility in the requirements to make monthly repayments. The flexible mortgage first appeared in Australia
in the early 1990s (hence the US term Australian mortgage), however it did not gain popularity until the late 1990s. This technique gained popularity in the US and UK recently due the United States housing bubble
. The term mortgage acceleration
is also used, as the mortgage loan can be paid off faster than standard mortgages if the borrower is in a position to do so. With traditional mortgages, borrowers often face large penalties for additional capital repayments or if payments were not made on time.
A specific type of flexible mortgage common in the United Kingdom
is an offset mortgage. The key feature of an offset mortgage is the ability to reduce the interest charged by offsetting a credit balance against the mortgage debt, with interest charged based on the outstanding net debt. Some lenders have a single account for all transactions, this is often referred to as a current account mortgage.
These features allow a flexible mortgage to be adaptable to individual circumstances. This is especially useful for self employed borrowers and those with a variable income. By way of example, borrowers whose income includes a significant but irregular commission
component might make use of commission payments to make overpayments, thereby reducing the term or enabling them to underpay at other times.
is an offset mortgage. The key feature of an offset mortgage is the ability to reduce the interest charged by offsetting a credit balance against the mortgage debt. For example, if the mortgage balance is £200,000 and the credit balance is £50,000, interest is only charged on the net balance of £150,000. Some lenders have a single account for all transactions, this is often referred to as a current account mortgage.
Lenders normally set a credit limit at outset of the mortgage and allow borrowers to credit and redraw up to this limit. This limit may be periodically reviewed. The lender may place restrictions on the lending limits towards the end of the mortgage term with the aim of ensuring capital repayment. However many lenders allow full drawdown up to the end date of the mortgage where the loan must be repaid. This can cause great problems for undisciplined borrowers and those approaching retirement if the lender is unwilling to extend the term (especially on the grounds of age).
Other lenders have multiple accounts. As a minimum there is a mortgage account and a deposit account. Often the lender allows multiple accounts for credit balances and sometimes for debit balances. These different accounts allow the borrowers to notionally split their money according to purpose whilst all accounts are offset each day against the mortgage debt.
s for UK residents is deemed income and is taxed at source; the rate is at least 20% .
Mortgage loan
A mortgage loan is a loan secured by real property through the use of a mortgage note which evidences the existence of the loan and the encumbrance of that realty through the granting of a mortgage which secures the loan...
that offers flexibility in the requirements to make monthly repayments. The flexible mortgage first appeared in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in the early 1990s (hence the US term Australian mortgage), however it did not gain popularity until the late 1990s. This technique gained popularity in the US and UK recently due the United States housing bubble
United States housing bubble
The United States housing bubble is an economic bubble affecting many parts of the United States housing market in over half of American states. Housing prices peaked in early 2006, started to decline in 2006 and 2007, and may not yet have hit bottom as of 2011. On December 30, 2008 the...
. The term mortgage acceleration
Mortgage acceleration
Mortgage acceleration is a term given to the practice of paying off a mortgage loan faster than required by terms of the mortgage agreement...
is also used, as the mortgage loan can be paid off faster than standard mortgages if the borrower is in a position to do so. With traditional mortgages, borrowers often face large penalties for additional capital repayments or if payments were not made on time.
A specific type of flexible mortgage common in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is an offset mortgage. The key feature of an offset mortgage is the ability to reduce the interest charged by offsetting a credit balance against the mortgage debt, with interest charged based on the outstanding net debt. Some lenders have a single account for all transactions, this is often referred to as a current account mortgage.
Features
Typical features include the facility:- to make overpayments (more than the normal amount)
- to redraw (borrow back) any previous overpayments
- to underpay - less than the normal amount
- to take a payment holiday - stop repayments for a period, typically 3 to 12 months.
These features allow a flexible mortgage to be adaptable to individual circumstances. This is especially useful for self employed borrowers and those with a variable income. By way of example, borrowers whose income includes a significant but irregular commission
Commission (remuneration)
The payment of commission as remuneration for services rendered or products sold is a common way to reward sales people. Payments often will be calculated on the basis of a percentage of the goods sold...
component might make use of commission payments to make overpayments, thereby reducing the term or enabling them to underpay at other times.
Offset mortgages
A specific type of flexible mortgage common in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is an offset mortgage. The key feature of an offset mortgage is the ability to reduce the interest charged by offsetting a credit balance against the mortgage debt. For example, if the mortgage balance is £200,000 and the credit balance is £50,000, interest is only charged on the net balance of £150,000. Some lenders have a single account for all transactions, this is often referred to as a current account mortgage.
Lenders normally set a credit limit at outset of the mortgage and allow borrowers to credit and redraw up to this limit. This limit may be periodically reviewed. The lender may place restrictions on the lending limits towards the end of the mortgage term with the aim of ensuring capital repayment. However many lenders allow full drawdown up to the end date of the mortgage where the loan must be repaid. This can cause great problems for undisciplined borrowers and those approaching retirement if the lender is unwilling to extend the term (especially on the grounds of age).
Other lenders have multiple accounts. As a minimum there is a mortgage account and a deposit account. Often the lender allows multiple accounts for credit balances and sometimes for debit balances. These different accounts allow the borrowers to notionally split their money according to purpose whilst all accounts are offset each day against the mortgage debt.
Tax advantage
Offset mortgages may have tax advantages for the borrower, since instead of earning interest on the credit balance (which may incur tax), the credit earns a reduction in the mortgage interest paid (which does not). For example, in the UK offset mortgages are often marketed as offering "tax efficient" savings. Interest generated within deposit accountDeposit account
A deposit account is a current account, savings account, or other type of bank account, at a banking institution that allows money to be deposited and withdrawn by the account holder. These transactions are recorded on the bank's books, and the resulting balance is recorded as a liability for the...
s for UK residents is deemed income and is taxed at source; the rate is at least 20% .