Do you have an expensive loan you want to clear?

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2020 saw a sharp rise in the number of homeowners looking to utilise a second charge loan to consolidate their expensive long-term unsecure debt.

This notable growth in the level of household debt, alongside record low rates on second charge products, are combining to boost demand for second charge loans.

2021 has seen the trend for second charge demand increase again as borrowers are shifting away from expensive shorter term unsecured loans. It would seem the so called “pay day” lenders are far less attractive to the homeowner due to the extremely high interest rates being charged.

A second charge loan will not suit all needs, debt consolidation is a complex issue and needs to be researched to ensure the best deal is found.

As an example, borrowers who are paying a low interest rate on their main mortgage, or they are within an early repayment charge period, a second charge mortgage can be the most sensible way to consolidate that expensive debt.

There are now a lot lower rate second charge products on the market than ever before due to lenders recognising the growth in this form of lending.

Lending these days is a very confusing area for most consumers with so many alternatives available. It is highly recommended that anyone considering taking out a new loan should seek independent professional advice as a mistake could prove very costly in the long run.

Can we help?

If you are considering taking out a secured loan, please do make contact and one of our fully qualified independent advisers will be happy to assist.

Second charge lending is getting a lot of attention

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There has been a flurry of activity in the second charge loan sector recently as lenders look to re-price their products downwards. We are pleased to inform you second charge loans are at their lowest rates the sector has ever seen.

Great news for borrowers indeed, this is without doubt one of the contributing factors to second charge’s rapid growth over the last five years. This type of loan has been getting less expensive as competition for business intensifies, plus new funding sources are coming into the market rapidly.

Lenders are now looking for ways to attract more business and we are now seeing a lot of new offers creeping into this expanding form of lending.

Speed of funding is crucial

We are always asked with virtually every case we do “how quickly can this be done”. The answer is every case will vary due to the complexity of the deal. The average time currently to complete on a “straight forward loan” is 18 working days.

To help complete the case quickly clients should follow these golden rules.

Good fast communication.

Online contact details.

Return applications rapidly.

Easy access to the property for the survey.

Internet access.

Need some advice

If you require assistance with your next loan please do call one of our expert independent advisers who will be happy to help.

Seconds are very progressive

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Second charge mortgages are becoming a progressively more competitive way for borrowers to raise funds on their existing property, and product innovation means that there are more ways for clients to access a second charge mortgage.

For example, a growing number of landlords are choosing to raise capital with a second charge on a buy-to-let property and there is a growing range of options for clients.

We are also seeing a rise in second charge mortgages that take an equitable charge on the property. With an equitable charge, the lender does not take a legal stake in the property, but instead is given the right for a judicial process of recovery, which means that an equitable charge can be used where the first charge lender declines their consent to a second charge being registered. It even means that equitable charge mortgages are available to clients who have bought their home using a Help to Buy loan.

Therefore, with the growth in the availability and diversity of second charge mortgages, here are four frequent opportunities where a second charge mortgage might just prove to be the most suitable solution for a client.

Low legacy rate or interest-only

There are many borrowers on a lifetime tracker or variable rate that is so low that they would be unable to match their current rate by re-mortgaging. For clients in this situation who want to raise extra money from their property, it can sometimes be more cost-effective to use a second charge loan to borrow the money, rather than shift the entire balance onto a more expensive rate.

We also encounter clients on an existing interest only mortgage who, if they were to re-mortgage, would need to shift to capital repayment. A second charge mortgage can enable borrowers in this situation to borrow money on their home and keep their existing interest-only mortgage in place.