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The rates on 10-year fixed-rate mortgages have dropped to the lowest on record, but is it ever a good idea to lock your deal in for a decade? Lenders are increasingly looking to tempt homebuyers and remortgagers to take out longer-term deals, but borrowers could be hit by high costs if they choose unwisely. Here, Which? explains the pros and cons of taking out a 10-year fix, and offers advice on choosing the right mortgage term.

Why are 10-year deals so cheap now? Data from Moneyfacts shows that the average rate on a 10-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 2.76% in November – the lowest figure on record and down 0.32% in the space of a year. This price drop has been prompted by eight more lenders launching decade-long fixes, resulting in the number of deals rising from 101 to 158 in the space of 18 months. Cheapest rates on 10-year fixes 10-year fixes are available at most loan-to-value (LTV) levels, though the smaller the deposit you have, the fewer products you’ll find. The cheapest rates for borrowers with bigger deposits are very competitive, but some of the best deals are only available to people looking to remortgage. As you can see in the table below, it’s possible to get a decade-long fix with a rate of just 2.2% if you have a deposit of at least 35%.

Best 10-year rates for buyers with smaller deposits This isn’t to say you should avoid a 10-year fix if you’ve got a slightly smaller deposit, as rates are competitive at both 75% and 85% LTV. At 90% and above, however, rates are significantly higher than shorter fixed periods. Borrowers with a 10% deposit can get an initial rate of below 3% on a 10-year fix, though this is considerably higher than the 2.2% you can get on an equivalent five-year fix. Things get significantly more expensive if you’ve only got a 5% deposit. At 95% LTV, the only lender in the market is TSB – and its rate of 4.09% is considerably higher than the 2.75% you can get on a five-year fix.

Pros and cons of 10-year fixes Right now, 10-year fixes are steadily increasing in popularity, but this is still a developing market, especially for borrowers with smaller deposits. 10-year fixes provide rate security for the longer term, and locking in a deal while rates remain cheap can be a sensible move. The big attraction of such a long-term fix is that it protects you against any future rises in the Bank of England base rate, which is currently just 0.75%. There are, however, a couple of big drawbacks you’ll need to consider. Early repayment charges First of all, the penalties if you need to repay your mortgage early can run to thousands of pounds. The market-leading deal we listed earlier from Chelsea Building Society has the following early repayment charges (ERCs).

Some 10-year deals come with even higher ERCs of up to 7% for the first four years. On a £200,000 mortgage, an ERC of 7% would mean handing over £14,000 to end your deal early. So you need to think carefully about your circumstances before taking out such a long-term product. If there’s any chance you might want to move during the term, either choose a shorter fixed term or ensure you get a mortgage that can be ported to your new home. Cheaper five-year fixes The second reason to consider avoiding a 10-year fix is that five-year deals are also falling in cost, and offer greater flexibility. These mortgages have grown significantly in popularity over the past couple of years, with around 1,900 products now on the market. Five-year fixes have become more attractive as homeowners increasingly look to stay put for longer and lock in a great rate amid economic uncertainty. As with 10-year deals, they can come with high ERCs of up to 5% in the first year. The graph below shows how the average cost of a five-year fix has dropped over the last two years.

Could you fix for even longer? It’s now possible to fix your mortgage rate for even longer than a decade. Earlier this year, Virgin Money caused a stir by announcing a range of 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, and Accord and Yorkshire Building Society have since followed suit. Virgin offers the cheapest rate of 2.55% at 65% LTV (£995 fee) and the best rate for borrowers with small deposits – 3.45% at 90% LTV (£995 fee). Again, the big stumbling block with these deals comes in the shape of early repayment charges. Virgin charges 8% of the balance in years 1-5 and 7% in years 6-10, so you’ll need to be sure your circumstances won’t change before tying yourself in. Find out more: how to apply for a mortgage Choosing the right mortgage term Two-year and five-year fixes are by far the most common types of mortgage, with 83% of the 4,645 fixed-rate deals currently on the market fitting into these categories. There are plenty of niche products out there, though. As well as 10 and 15-year fixes, it’s possible to fix for three, seven or eight years. Here’s a brief guide to different mortgage terms: Two-year fix Summary: lowest rates but less long-term security. Vulnerable to base rate changes. Suitable for: first-time buyers and homeowners who are looking to move in the short term. Borrowers who want the freedom to regularly renegotiate their rate to get the cheapest deal. Not suitable for: homeowners who plan on staying put for longer or borrowers who tend not to stay on top of managing their finances. Five-year fix Summary: the popular mortgage option with very cheap rates, but watch out for early repayment charges. Suitable for: borrowers who like the security of having their monthly repayments set for a longer-term. People looking for a safe bet without gambling on the base rate or mortgage market. Homeowners who aren’t planning to move in the next five years. Not suitable for: homeowners who are planning to move in the next five years. Borrowers who want to be on the deal with the cheapest rate at all times. 10 or 15-year fix Summary: growing in popularity but still niche products that aren’t suitable for everyone. Suitable for: people living in their ‘forever’ home or those with 10 or 15 years left on their current mortgage. Risk-averse remortgagers. Not suitable for: people planning to move home in the short or medium-term. Homeowners with less than 10 or 15-years left on their mortgage.

 

Read more: https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/12/10-year-mortgage-rates-fall-to-record-low-is-now-the-time-to-fix-for-a-decade/