{"id":1594,"date":"2023-12-11T10:26:27","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T10:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rockstonefa.co.uk\/?p=1594"},"modified":"2023-12-11T12:10:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T12:10:15","slug":"guide-on-interest-only-mortgages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rockstonefa.co.uk\/news\/guide-on-interest-only-mortgages\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide on Interest-Only Mortgages"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Interest only Mortgages \u2013 A Complete Guide <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some borrowers may seek out alternative mortgage repayment methods that allow them to repay the principal amount later. One such option available to every eligible borrower is the interest-only mortgage.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Do Interest-Only Mortgages Work? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Interest-only mortgages are loans that require you to pay just the interest for an agreed time frame. Once that period elapses, the loan will either revert to the conventional amortisation plan, requiring you to pay both the principal payment and interest, or you will need to repay the debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may decide to pay the principal during the interest-only period, but this is not a condition for applying for interest-only mortgages. Usually, lenders offering interest-only mortgages have stricter requirements and will most likely need you to prove you can repay the entire loan amount in future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retirement Interest-Only Mortgage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgage is very similar to an interest-only mortgage. The main difference is that RIOs are available to older borrowers over 50 and can only be secured against your primary residence. Also, you don\u2019t have to repay the principal amount until you die, move into long-term care, or sell the house.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, retirement interest-only mortgages are loans secured against your main residence that require you to pay only the monthly interest throughout the loan term. You only repay the principal when you sell the property or when the last borrower dies or moves into permanent long-term care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike standard residential mortgages, you don\u2019t have to prove that your income can repay the loan with RIOs. You only need to prove that you can pay the monthly interest. Hence, RIOs are the best interest-only mortgages for older borrowers. It\u2019s always best to speak with a broker to get the best retirement interest-only mortgage rates. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Retirement interest-only mortgage is similar to an interest-only lifetime mortgage. The primary difference is that you can revert to the standard lifetime mortgage and accrue the interest rather than paying monthly. But for RIOs, you cannot do so. You must pay interest monthly on your mortgage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the Differences between Interest Only and Repayment Mortgages?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The difference between interest-only and repayment mortgages is how you pay for your loan. For interest-only mortgages, you only pay the monthly interest for a specified number of years before repaying the loan. On the flip side, repayment mortgages require paying part of the loan and the interest monthly till the mortgage term ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since you are paying both the principal and interest for repayment mortgages, monthly repayment will be higher than interest-only mortgages. However, your equity will increase monthly because you also pay part of the loan. But for the interest-only mortgage, you won\u2019t pay off the loan for some years, and you may be unable to pay it off at the end of the loan term. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, the criteria for interest-only mortgages are usually stricter than repayment mortgages. Typically, you may need a lower loan-to-value ratio, so you may have to provide a higher deposit on the house. Interest-only mortgages also require a higher income bracket than repayment mortgages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages & Disadvantages of Interest-Only Mortgages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Advantages of Interest-Only Mortgages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The benefits of an interest-only mortgage include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n