The average rate for a two-year fix rose 1 basis point to 2.58% this week, says Moneyfacts. Alongside this, the average three-year fixed rate increased 5 basis points to 2.77% and the average five-year fix moved up by 2 basis points to end the week at 2.81%. Meanwhile, the average 10-year fix stayed at 2.98%.
Nationwide is relaunching into the 5% deposit mortgage market (Paul Faith/PA)
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Britain’s biggest building society, Nationwide, is relaunching into the 5% deposit mortgage market, in a boost to first-time buyers and other borrowers with small deposits.
Mortgage deals for borrowers with 5% deposits largely vanished from the market last year, as providers became cautious about riskier loans and the possibility of house prices falling in the tough economy.
News Analysis: Offset – ‘Use it before we lose it’
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‘Undersold’, ‘misunderstood’, ‘complex’… the adjectives that describe offset mortgages aren’t the most flattering, but the somewhat unusual circumstances of the last 12 months may have created an environment and borrower need that could thrust the little mortgage product that could onto the centre stage.
“Through the coronavirus pandemic, over six million people in the UK have become ‘accidental savers’ due to a maintained income alongside reduced outgoings. That’s millions of people who could be looking for a way to make their savings work harder,” says Coventry Building Society head of intermediary relationships Jonathan Stinton.
There were 112 mortgage deals needing just 5% deposits at the start of May
The Government s mortgage guarantee scheme gave banks confidence to return to low deposit lending - but only 40 of the 5% mortgages are actually using it
Across all types of mortgages, interest rates remain at a historical low
The number of available products is now three quarters of pre-pandemic levels
Furness Building Society’s 80% loan-to-value (LTV) 2-year fix at 1.79% has been awarded an ‘outstanding’ rating by Moneyfacts.
According to the lender, the offering priced at 1.79% sits towards the top on sourcing for this type of product.
The fee has been reduced to £999 and it offers an incentive package for standard remortgages in England and Wales, which includes free valuations and legal fees.
For cases in Scotland, the lender will contribute £150 towards legal fees.
Residential applications are welcome on new-build houses, from employed and self-employed customers, with lending from £30,000 up to a maximum of £800,000.
Alasdair McDonald, head of intermediary mortgages at Furness for Intermediaries, said: “We’re really pleased that this 2-year fixed rate has been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by Moneyfacts.