That’s why lots of us are now moving straight from “Aha! My interest-only mortgage is coming to an end” to “Hmm – but can I extend my interest-only mortgage term?”
We’ve put this article together to help. We’ll talk you through:
- what happens when your interest-only mortgage ends
- can you extend an interest-only mortgage?
- could equity release be an option to repay an interest-only mortgage?
What happens at the end of an interest-only mortgage term?
When your interest-only mortgage ends, your lender will expect you to pay off the loan in full with a single lump sum. Hopefully this won’t be a surprise. Your lender should have been in touch with you a year before, six months before and finally just before the end of your mortgage.
If you’re a younger borrower, you can usually:
- extend your mortgage
- switch to another lender.
As you get older, that can get harder. But on the plus side, once you’re 55 or older, other possibilities open up. You might be able to pay off your loan by:
- pulling some money out of your pension
- taking out an equity release mortgage.
And whatever age you are, if you’re ready to move you might be able to pay off your loan by:
- selling your current place and downsizing.
Can I extend my interest-only mortgage?
It’s possible to extend an interest-only mortgage, but it’s never guaranteed. Whether or not you can extend yours will depend on your lender.
The FCA recommends getting in touch with them as soon as possible. As a rule, the earlier you ask “can I extend my interest-only mortgage term”, the more they’ll be able to do for you.
There are several different ways they could extend your mortgage, including:
- turning all or part of it into a repayment mortgage, with a later agreed full repayment date
- letting you repay it with several agreed payments rather than just one lump sum.
They’ll let you know what’s possible when you talk with them.
Will equity release help you pay off an interest-only mortgage?
If you’re over 55, you might be able to take out equity release to pay off your interest-only mortgage. One equity release choice is a lifetime mortgage. It’s a loan secured against your home that lets you access the money tied up in it, without having to move out.
If you do take one out, you have to start by paying off your current mortgage. You can’t have a standard mortgage and a lifetime mortgage at the same time. You don’t have to release your equity all at once – you can leave some untouched, ready for any future expenses.
From a budgeting point of view, lifetime mortgages can be very flexible. The loan itself will be repaid when the last borrower dies or moves into long-term care. Before then, your lender will charge interest on your loan. You can either pay it directly or have it added to your loan.
You can only take one out through a qualified financial adviser. They’ll make sure that you:
- understand your options and the product you finally choose
- don’t have any better ways of paying off your current mortgage
- are making the right choice for you.
A lifetime mortgage may affect any means-tested benefits you receive, as well as your tax position and any future inheritance. Your adviser will go through all this with you as well.
