A better choice of lending?

More people than ever before are turning to a second charge mortgage to raise funds rather than taking out a personal loan or re-mortgaging.

What is a second charge mortgage?

Second charge mortgages are becoming increasingly popular, with the number of people opting for one at its highest level since 2008. They allow you to borrow a lump sum secured against your property which you repay alongside your existing mortgage over a fixed term.

Many people use them to raise money as an alternative to a re-mortgage.

How do you qualify?

To qualify for a second charge mortgage you must be a homeowner, although you don’t necessarily have to be living there. While a first charge mortgage is based on a number of factors, including your deposit, credit score and ability to pay each month, a second charge mortgage is based on the equity available in your property.

Equity?

This is the percentage of your home owned outright by you. You can work this out by calculating the amount you owe on your property against the value of it. So, if your property is worth £300,000 and you still have to pay off £200,000 on your mortgage, you have £100,000 in equity.

You don’t need to have a high credit rating; in fact you might even be able to get one with a low score. This is because lenders look more favourably on borrowers with a poor credit rating if they are prepared to borrow against their home. The typical minimum term is three years, and the maximum is 30 years, plus they can be paid off alongside your existing mortgage. You can borrow from £1,000 (varies from lender to lender) upwards and the greater the equity in your property, the more you will be able to secure.

Like to know more?

If you would like to know more please do make contact and one of our independent qualified advisers will be happy to help.