The Bank of England's dramatic 1.5% cut to the base rate has made some standard variable rate mortgages cheaper, but are you going to benefit?
Standard variable rate (SVR) mortgages have been a huge no-no for borrowers for as long as I can remember.
That's because in normal times, you're much better off borrowing on a mortgage 'deal.' So when you first take out a mortgage, you might sign up for a three year introductory deal where you're paying a better rate than the SVR. Then when the three year period is up, you switch to another special rate deal and avoid the dreaded SVR.
But all that has changed because, bizarrely, the banking crisis has now forced lenders to price SVRs so competitively that some are now among the best mortgages on the market.
As you know, the Bank of England cut the base rate by a bold 1.5% earlier this month. Since then, the government has put serious pressure on the largest lenders to pass on the cut to borrowers. And suddenly lots of SVRs are attractive.
Here's how the big players reacted to the base rate cut:
New standard variable rates
Lender | New SVR % | % cut | New monthly repayments* | Monthly reduction in payments* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Abbey | 5.44% | 1.5% | £921 | £139 |
Barclays (Woolwich) | 6.64% | No change | N/A | N/A |
Halifax | 5% | 1.5% | £876 | £136 |
HSBC | 6.25% | No change | N/A | N/A |
Lloyds TSB/C&G | 5% | 1.5% | £876 | £136 |
Nationwide | 4.69% | 1.5% | £850 | £133 |
Northern Rock | 5.84% | 1.5% | £951 | £141 |
RBS NatWest | 5.19% | 1.5% | £893 | £137 |
*Based on a £150,000 repayment mortgage over 25 years.
Most of the big mortgage lenders have indeed chosen to pass on the rate cut, reducing the SVR by the full 1.5%. But, interestingly, Barclays and HSBC -- both of which turned down help from the government's £37 billion bank bail-out -- are yet to apply a similar cut. Although HSBC will be reducing the SVR to 5.44% from 5 December.
Nationwide is currently offering the most competitive rate on the market at 4.69%. A borrower with a £150,000 mortgage (over 25 years) would pay just £850 a month.
But, don't forget, SVRs haven't reduced across the board. If your mortgage deal is almost up, don't make the mistake of assuming your lender's SVR is necessarily a good bet.
At the other end of the spectrum, Chelsea Building Society's SVR is far higher at 7.24%. Here monthly repayments would set you back £1,083 -- that's £233 more each month than a borrower would pay on Nationwide's SVR.
Should you choose the SVR now?
If your current lender has a brand new, cheap SVR and your introductory deal with them is due to end soon, lucky you! There's certainly a case for sticking where you are -- at least in the short-term.
Better still, you'll be moved onto the SVR automatically if you don't do anything else, so it should be a hassle-free option. And you won't normally have to shell out for an arrangement fee, or be tied-in if you decide you want to remortgage elsewhere later on.
For those of you with a relatively small mortgage, avoiding high remortgaging fees becomes even more important. It may be more cost-effective to move onto your lender's fee-free SVR, rather than pay arrangement fees for a special rate with another lender -- even if that rate is lower. Make sure you compare mortgage deals on the basis of true cost before you take the plunge.
New borrowers
But what happens if you aren't an existing borrower? The trouble is -- even though SVRs were once the lender's bog standard, no frills home loan -- now they're far more attractive, many are simply no longer widely available to borrowers.
Nationwide's SVR is really tempting, but alas it isn't open to new borrowers or remortgagers. And you won't be able to get your hands on Lloyds TSB's 5% SVR now either. This is becoming a pretty common story these days.
SVRs are certainly more exclusive today than they have been in the past, but it's not impossible to find a competitive deal which is still open to new borrowers.
Bristol & West, for example, offer an SVR at an appealing 5.49% which is available to all new customers.
What's more, there's no arrangement fee and no early repayment charge. You will, however, need a deposit, or equity stake in your home, of at least 25% to qualify.
Just one word of warning: if you can find a competitive SVR with a new lender do watch out for the arrangement fees. With SVRs you won't normally be tied-in, so the lender has no way of knowing how profitable you'll be to them as a borrower, or for how long. So to boost the lender's profits in another way, arrangement fees have been creeping up.
Should you stay or should you go?
If you're starting to think your lender's SVR could work for you, do bear these points in mind:
- Your lender will decide what rate the SVR will be set at, so there's absolutely no certainty what will happen to your repayments in the future.
- Your lender may choose not to pass on future base rate cuts. If your lender has already dropped the SVR by 1.5%, they may not be so keen to pass on further reductions to borrowers.
- Other deals may be more suitable for you. If you want to know exactly how much your mortgage will cost each month, go for a fixed rate instead.
- Tracker mortgages look attractive when the base is expected to fall because lenders have to cut the rates accordingly -- unlike SVRs. Further reductions are on the cards, so you may prefer this type of deal.
Choosing the right mortgage can be been tricky. If you need help, why not speak to a broker at The Motley Fool Mortgage Service.
More: The Best Fixed Rates And Trackers | Make The Most Of The Base Rate Cut | Find a great mortgage via The Fool's award-winning mortgage service