Useful Resources
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- The bigger your deposit, the better
your chances of negotiating a good deal.
- Negotiate all fees, such as establishment
costs.
- Investigate the use of a revolving credit
facility. This is when your regular income is credited directly
against your mortgage as a form of repayment. However, only
a part of your income will eventually be used as a mortgage
repayment. As you require the use of the rest of your income
for other needs, you can "draw down" on your revolving
credit facility.
The benefit is that for a small window of opportunity, the balance
of your mortgage is reduced and this, of course, reduces the
interest payments. Used correctly, such a facility can potentially
reduce interest payments over the term of your mortgage by thousands
of dollars. Discuss the details and costs with your bank.
- Pay off as much as you can afford.
Increasing your repayments from as little as $10 each week can
take years off your mortgage.
- Pay off the mortgage as fast as you
can. Look at all options to speed up repayments, from making
lump sum payments, to using your pay increase to reduce your
debt.
- If a bank gives you an extra loan, it's
good business for them, but not necessarily good for you. It's
relatively easy to get a loan today, so think very carefully
about adding to your mortgage, building that sun deck or
extra room for example. You can only really start saving for
the future once your mortgage is clear. An additional loan,
no matter how small, can add years to the life of your mortgage.
- Apart from the interest rate, be aware
of other costs, such as application and establishment fees.
- Be aware of the charges that may
be incurred for lump sum and early repayments. This applies
particularly to fixed interest loans. You may have to save the
money in a separate bank account until you can transfer the
sum to your mortgage without penalty.
- Begin arranging the loan at the start
of the house-buying process. Your ability to negotiate is
reduced when you've just found the home of your dreams.
- You don't have to have a mortgage with
your own bank. There are many providers so shop around: "care
where you invest, but not where you borrow."
If you can,
- Increase your initial deposit,
- Reduce the length of your mortgage,
- Increase your payments, and
- Reduce the interest rates or costs.
See the next page
for some working examples.
Books to motivate and inspire your early
mortgage repayment:
- Save Money on Your Mortgage, by
Martin Hawes, and
- Your Mortgage and How to Pay it off
in Five Years (NZ edition), by Anita Bell.
Insurances
Banks will offer life and income protection insurances. We recommend that you contact the Shape of Money for an independent assessment of your needs. This will ensure that you get the right product with the right level of cover and all at the right price.
For a confidential, no-obligation insurance quote, please call the Shape of Money today on 0800 28 78 78.
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