Second
property

Fixed rate

A fixed rate mortgage charges a set rate of interest for a predetermined period. Once this period is over, the interest rate usually revers to the lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR).

Tracker

Trackers are a type of variable rate mortgage which see interest rates rising and falling based on the Bank of England’s base rate. However, unlike traditional variable rate mortgages, a tracker mortgage doesn’t have to match the Bank of England’s rate exactly. Instead, the rate the borrower is charged is likely to be a little above the base rate.

Offset

An offset mortgage links the borrower’s savings to their mortgage balance. By choosing an offset mortgage, homeowners can reduce the amount of interest charged and potentially pay off the mortgage sooner.

Cashback

A cashback mortgage pays the borrower an upfront lump sum. This can enable them to pay for a costly expense such as home furnishings, a car or university tuition fees. The rate paid tends to be based on the bank's Standard Variable Rate (SVR).

Discount rate

A discount rate mortgage offers borrowers a reduction on the lender’s Standard Variable Rate (SVR) for a set period of time. The rate can fluctuate and so although the borrower will repay less than the SVR, their repayments could rise or fall.

Variable rate

A variable rate mortgage sees the interest owed rise or fall depending on the base rates set by the bank. When the base rate is low, borrowers may benefit from extremely low mortgage repayments. However, if the base rate increases, so too will the amount borrowers are expected to pay in interest.

Interest only

When a homeowner has an interest only mortgage, they won’t pay traditional mortgage payments each month. Instead, they’ll only repay the interest that is due. At the end of the mortgage term, the homeowner will be expected to pay the property’s value in full.

Capped rate

A capped rate mortgage offers similar security to a fixed rate mortgage. The rate payable will be capped for the duration of an agreed upon period of time. During this time, the rate may rise or fall in line with market fluctuations, but it will never exceed the capped rate.

As a result, a capped rate mortgage enables borrowers to benefit from falling rates without placing strain on their budget as a result of unaffordable increases.