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Featured - Account Types
What type of savings account do you need?Find out about the different types of savings accounts available to suit a variety of needs.
Savings
ISAs
Residential
Buy to let
Specialist mortgages
Featured - Debt and your credit score
How debt impacts your credit scoreA healthy credit score has its benefits, so make sure you manage your debt correctly.
Loans
Featured - Life Insurance
Life InsuranceFor peace of mind that your loved ones will be supported financially after you die, consider taking our life insurance. Find out more and compare policies.
Home & vehicle
Health & travel
Featured - High interest current accounts
Find current accounts offering in-credit interest rates up to 5.00% AER.
Current accounts
Featured - Purchase Cards
Best purchase credit cardsExplore the best cards with a 0% introductory period.
Credit cards
Credit repair
Calculators & guides
Business savings
Business products
Business insurance
How much can I give as a cash gift?
How much can I give as a cash gift?Will your loved one's gift be tax affected?
Categories
Featured guides
Popular news
Latest news - by category
Other money & finance news
Featured Star Ratings categories
Other Star Ratings categories
The 1990s saw a boom in interest-only mortgages, but many homeowners will now be coming to the end of their mortgage term still with the full or a large amount of the capital needing to be paid off. This can be a stressful time for homeowners, who risk losing their home if they are unable to repay the mortgage when the term ends and as a result, some have looked towards equity release as a way of repaying their mortgage.
While equity release can be a good way of releasing money built up in a home’s equity, it does have a long-term financial impact and, as such, speaking to an independent financial adviser is essential before committing to equity release. For those who have an interest-only mortgage and are thinking about using equity release to pay off the outstanding mortgage, we’ve looked at whether this is possible and the alternatives available.
Equity release can be used to repay an interest-only mortgage, but those considering this option must ensure that their home has enough equity that can be used to repay the mortgage. Fortunately, for many homeowners who took out an interest-only mortgage in the 1990s, the previous two decades have seen a significant rise in house prices, which means that many should have enough equity built up to repay the mortgage. In addition to this, as equity release does not require that the loan is paid back until the borrower moves into a permanent care home or dies, homeowners do not have to worry about monthly repayments.
Those considering using equity release to repay an interest-only mortgage should be aware that many equity release providers have lower valuations than estate agents’ valuations. Also depending on the type of equity release that is taken out, a low loan-to-value (LTV) may be the only option offered. Speaking to an equity release broker will help homeowners to understand which equity release provider may be best suited to their individual circumstances and potentially how much money they could expect to release.
Discover how equity release could improve your retirement finances.
Mortgage Advice Bureau Later Life offers plans from a panel of lenders. It only offers plans that meet the Equity Release Council's standards to give you extra protection.
Speak to an equity release specialist.
Call 0800 178 7901 or calculate how much you could release.
Telephone calls may be monitored or recorded to enable us to improve services to you.
Unless you decide to go ahead, the service is completely free of charge, as the fixed advice fee of £1,295 would only be payable on completion of a plan.
A big drawback to taking out equity release as a lifetime mortgage is that interest is added to the amount borrowed, which means that when the equity release needs to be repaid, the cost of the repayment not only factors in the initial amount borrowed but also the interest accumulated. As a result of this, equity release can result in the borrower leaving behind very little inheritance from their property when they die.
When taking out an interest-only mortgage, the borrower will have ideally had a plan in place to repay the mortgage when the term came to an end. For example, if the homeowner had paid into investments over the years, the money could be used to repay the mortgage.
For those who have not managed to put enough aside to repay the mortgage, another option is to choose a retirement interest-only mortgage. Unlike an equity release plan, a retirement interest-only mortgage will not pay off the mortgage but will enable homeowners to remain in their home and continue making interest-only repayments on their mortgage. The loan is repaid when the homeowner dies of moves into permanent residential care and the house is sold.
Another option for homeowners happy to move and who have seen the value of their home increase significantly is to sell their home and downsize. This option is only viable if the value of the home has increased by a significant amount, which will then enable them to repay their outstanding mortgage and buy somewhere new.
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Disclaimer: This information is intended solely to provide guidance and is not financial advice. Moneyfacts will not be liable for any loss arising from your use or reliance on this information. If you are in any doubt, Moneyfacts recommends you obtain independent financial advice.
Knowing what to do with an inheritance is vital if you want to make the most if it - find out more in our guide to managing money form an inheritance.
Knowing what to do with an inheritance is vital if you want to make the most if it - find out more in our guide to managing money form an inheritance.
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Considering an annuity or drawdown to help fund your retirement? Addressing the pros and cons, read our definitive guide before making a decision.
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You can start saving into a pension at any age. Our guide sets out how to get saving in your 20s, 30s and 40s.
Our guide to finding a mortgage for the over 70s including traditional mortgages, retirement interest only mortgages and equity release.
Our guide to finding a mortgage for the over 70s including traditional mortgages, retirement interest only mortgages and equity release.
Knowing what to do with an inheritance is vital if you want to make the most if it - find out more in our guide to managing money form an inheritance.
Knowing what to do with an inheritance is vital if you want to make the most if it - find out more in our guide to managing money form an inheritance.
Considering an annuity or drawdown to help fund your retirement? Addressing the pros and cons, read our definitive guide before making a decision.
Considering an annuity or drawdown to help fund your retirement? Addressing the pros and cons, read our definitive guide before making a decision.
You can start saving into a pension at any age. Our guide sets out how to get saving in your 20s, 30s and 40s.
You can start saving into a pension at any age. Our guide sets out how to get saving in your 20s, 30s and 40s.
Our guide to finding a mortgage for the over 70s including traditional mortgages, retirement interest only mortgages and equity release.
Our guide to finding a mortgage for the over 70s including traditional mortgages, retirement interest only mortgages and equity release.
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Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will never contact you by phone to sell you any financial product. Any calls like this are not from Moneyfacts. Emails sent by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will always be from news@moneyfacts-news.co.uk. Be ScamSmart.
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