The overall desire for using offset mortgages has dwindled since the 1990’s, though they are still viable options for customers who are looking to put aside a portion of disposable income.

They’re also really handy if you believe at some point you are going to come into a lump sum of money.

How Do Offset Mortgages Work?

In order for a mortgage lender or any kind of loan provider to be able to lend money to clients, they need to have a source of funds to draw from.

That is the point of savings, and is why you gather interest on what you pay in. In exchange for having an account with them, you are rewarded.

The way that an offset mortgage works, is that you will be given a savings account by a mortgage lender (typically one who is a bank or building society), alongside your mortgage balance.

When you pay into your savings, your mortgage balance decreases by how much you paid in. If you take out of your savings, that mortgage balance increases by how much you took out.

You still pay a monthly mortgage payments towards reducing your balance, as you would on a standard mortgage, but you only pay interest on what is remaining on your balance, not your savings.

For example, if your mortgage is worth £100,000 and you have £50,000 in savings, then you pay interest on the remaining £50,000.

If, hypothetically, after a while you were able to pay off some of your mortgage, bringing that amount down to £45,000, but then draw £15,000 out of your savings, your balance increases to £65,000 and you receive a new set of mortgage payments per month.

This also means you’ll be paying more on interest, as there is a higher amount remaining in your mortgage balance. In addition to this, the general interest on the mortgage side of things, will typically be higher than a standard mortgage anyway.

Is an offset mortgage a good idea?

Offset mortgages don’t tend to be that popular anymore, but they are still really handy to have in certain situations. Perhaps you are due a lump sum at some point in the future, such as a future inheritance from a family member.

Because this account allows you to freely deposit and withdraw your money as you see fit and is interest-free, it’s a handy place to store any additional savings until you know what you want to do with them.

Another circumstance where these can be very beneficial, is if you have a well-paying career and are due monthly, quarterly or annual sizeable bonuses from your job, that don’t factor into day-to-day living expenses.

You can place this disposable income into your savings account, lower your monthly payments, meaning you are paying interest on a lower amount.

Overpaying Your Mortgage

An offset is also an excellent opportunity for first time buyers in Doncaster who want to overpay on their mortgage.

Overpaying allows you to reduce your mortgage payments for your next mortgage term, leading to a reduction on your interest rates too, with any additional mortgages you take out.

The difference with regular overpayments, is that you won’t have a savings account, you’ll just be paying off your balance. This means you can’t dip into it as an emergency fund if you need to, or if you change your mind on that overpayment.

Offsets are great for people who want to do this as you do have a savings account. This means if you want to overpay and reduce your balance, you can just pay into that savings account. If you want to take out some of what you paid in for any reason, you have the freedom to do so.

So, if you’re looking to make regular additional payments on your mortgage over time, we would absolutely recommend taking advantage of an offset savings account as you go.

Help From an Expert Mortgage Broker in Doncaster

Speaking to a trusted and experienced mortgage broker in Doncaster like us, is a good way to understand what options are available to you ahead of time.

Offset mortgages are great, but they might not be right for you, which is something a mortgage advisor in Doncaster will check before you proceed.

Generally speaking, we find that customers who have offset mortgages, won’t remortgage in Doncaster, as they will just keep their current mortgage going.

If you have any questions or need any help regarding offset mortgages, book your free mortgage appointment today using our online booking feature, and we’ll see how we can help you out. We are here from early until late every day, subject to appointment availability.

Date Last Edited: December 6, 2023