To Refinance or Not to Refinance?

Richard

As a homeowner, it may be worthwhile refinancing a mortgage for a lower rate. Refinancing is the process by which an existing mortgage is exchanged for a mortgage with a lower interest rate. Of course, there are pros and cons to refinancing. Consider a mortgage repayment of £185,000 over a long-term loan (30 years) with an initial fixed rate for 2 years and a variable rate for the remaining 28 years of the loan. The fixed-rate is locked in. This rate cannot be changed regardless of the current interest rate.

 

The variable rate is a little more complicated. With a variable rate, the initial mortgage rate no longer applies. Homeowners will be subject to their specific bank’s buy to let variable rate, or the standard variable rate. These figures are published and updated by banks. At the end of the fixed-rate mortgage, the standard variable rate kicks in. For the most part, UK homeowners tend to prefer fixed-rate mortgages.

 

The interest rate cannot change for the duration of the ‘fixed’ period. This means that mortgage repayments are set, regardless of what the market is doing. If a low-interest rate is locked in at inception, this can prove especially beneficial when interest rates start rising considerably over time.

 

Unbeknownst to many first-time homeowners, substantial costs are involved with homeownership. The majority of the payments for the first 10 – 15 years of a typical 30-year mortgage is actually interest repayment. Minimal principle is paid down in the beginning, with the bulk of the principal being paid towards the end of the mortgage. For homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages, a good time to do this is the conclusion of the fixed-rate period. With a variable-rate mortgage, the actual number depends upon the national interest rate. The only time a variable rate mortgage works in a homeowner’s favour is when interest rates are dropping.

 

Is it ever a Good Idea to Refinance a Mortgage?

 

Mortgages can be refinanced, provided the property owner qualifies for refinancing. This complex process is especially difficult for self-employed individuals, since profit and loss statements, audits, tax returns, bank statements, debt to income ratios and other important documents are required. Besides the paper trail, there are many fees to consider. These include the following:

 

  • Loan origination fees
  • Property appraisal charges
  • The mortgage application fee
  • Survey fees/inspection fees/closing fee

 

The percentages are small, but given the value of a mortgage these figures quickly add up. Often, refinancing rolls the costs of the mortgage into the new fees. It’s entirely possible that a significant chunk of the principal that has been paid off may be lost in a refinanced mortgage.

 

Put differently, homeowners may find themselves back at square one, albeit with a lower interest rate. This predicament decreases the monthly burden, but it also decreases the equity in the property. There are many aspects of mortgage refinancing to consider, and a lower interest rate isn’t always the best way to go.

 

As a rule of thumb, financial experts advise anyone wanting to refinance to consider how long it will take to pay off the costs of the refinance. An interest-rate reduction of at least 2% is worth pursuing. Mortgage calculators are useful tools in this regard. Unfortunately, refinancing costs can be substantial, and amount to 3% – 6% of the principal amount of the loan.

 

Savings that are enjoyed through lower interest repayments will still take many years to recover the costs of the refinanced mortgage. From a different perspective, refinancing can reduce the debt to income ratio, helping to improve credit scores and grow financial portfolios through additional homeownership.

 

What to do with More Disposable Income?

 

Mortgage refinancing increases disposable income. That’s because the raison d’etre for refinancing is lower monthly payments. Real money can be leveraged through different assets, investments and opportunities. Some folks invest in stocks, bonds, commodities, indices, and currency pairs. Others opt for an affordable entertainment budget and try their luck at an online casino platform, or the National Lottery. Regardless, it’s all about decreasing the debt burden and improving the quality of one’s lifestyle.

 

To make a long story short, refinancing is beneficial when there are substantial cost savings in terms of monthly mortgage repayments. The money can be put into retirement savings, home renovations, or a much-needed rainy day fund. The value of disposable income cannot be understated, especially in today’s tumultuous global economy.

Why Suburban Boroughs are ideal for your first home

Richard

There’s a lot to consider when buying your first home and from the carpet to the curtains you may have your hands full when it comes to pleasing everyone. But there’s a good reason many suburbs are seeing steep rises in house sales and you may want to keep these areas in mind for your first move. Whether you’re a single young professional looking to get on the property ladder on your own or you’re a growing family looking for a place to settle down, a home in a suburban borough may be the perfect spot for you.

 

Plenty of green space

 

One of the best parts about moving to a London borough or a suburban area is the plethora of green space you have access to. Spending time in nature is key for mental health, physical health and general well being so ensuring you have an abundance of it is pretty important. With shared ownership homes in Kent providing plenty of natural landscape and blissful countryside to enjoy you can get on the property ladder here with those boxes being ticked. Perfect for kids and plenty of picnics and run arounds in the park to be had, a home surrounded by nature is always a winner.

 

Good schools

 

Another reason to get on the property ladder in a suburb is the great schools and educational opportunities they offer. If you have little ones to think about, shared ownership homes in Berkshire could be ideal, with plenty of schools to choose from in the area as well as having great connections to the capital. With plenty of parks, golf courses, sports facilities and historical places to visit, this suburb is one to keep in mind if you have kids.

 

Safety and community

 

Living in a suburb will always feel different from living in the centre of a city and one of these reasons could be safety. With a close community and a friendly neighbourhood, suburbs are welcoming and supportive and can have you embracing a little more peace of mind when it comes to letting the kids play out or go out with their friends. Shared ownership homes in Surrey are greatly popular and with a great reputation, very high performing schools and plenty of Kent countryside, this suburban home is pretty ideal.

 

Housing schemes

 

One of the best reasons to move to a suburb may be the number of opportunities you have when it comes to buying a home there. New developments are always cropping up in these areas from shared ownership homes to help to buy properties, so you can find something that fits your future plans and your budget. Housing schemes are growing in popularity for the access they provide to the housing market for first time buyers and whether you’re browsing shared ownership homes in Hampshire or help to buy properties in Brighton, these schemes are a great place to start if you’re a first time buyer.

Why going rural is great for your health

Richard

If you’re looking to move to somewhere a little greener, then 2022 could be your year. With many people moving to somewhere a little more rural in light of the pandemic, setting your sights on somewhere with a bit more open space could have lots of benefits for your mental and physical health. Rural areas are seeing sharp rises in house sales so if you’ve got your eye on one you may want to act fast and snap up your dream home.

 

Calmer with Less Stress

 

One of the best bits about moving to somewhere with a little more space is the sense that the pace of life is a lot slower. This can seem like an alien concept if you’re used to living in the thick of it amid London’s metropolis or you’re a creative young professional in your city apartment. But in an area that’s a little less populated and has less busy streets, roads and trains, the atmosphere can really make a difference. Not only will it allow you to stress less and embrace a more calming pace that won’t have you waiting for trains that are never on time or rushing through crowds of people on the underground or having to sit in traffic to go around the corner, you can also appreciate things more that you may not have noticed while rushing around. Shared ownership homes in Derbyshire are a great move for this slower pace of life and towns and villages home to family owned businesses and local boutiques, you can enjoy friendly conversation with cashiers rather than rushing in and out of everywhere and grabbing fast food on the go.

 

Better work/life balance

 

One of the best parts about moving somewhere rural is the difference in work life balance. Many people who live in the city spend a lot of time in the office or working late, doing extra work and not having a lot of time for family. In more rural areas you can separate yourself from the work life you may have in the city and come home to a calmer more countryside location to forget about the busy working day. Not constantly being surrounded by the noise of the city and the gleaming lights will have a better impact on your sleep and routine so you can focus on things you enjoy rather than always feeling on edge with the constant stimulation of the city at your window. With less distractions you can learn to truly relax and be present with your family. Shared ownership in Surrey is a great way to get on the property ladder where the city is well within reach but you are safely surrounded by the serenity of the Kent countryside.

 

Exercise and Physical Health

 

While there are plenty of benefits to having a more laid back attitude to life that comes with moving to the countryside, your physical health can also be improved. With much cleaner air than that of busy city centres and better quality food from local farmer’s markets and real produce, your insides will thank you for a move to something like shared ownership homes in Cheshire. It also means you are more likely to go for walks and enjoy the outdoors if it’s a place of natural beauty rather than something more concrete based. Moving your body more and spending time together as a family is always going to have health benefits and with a move somewhere rural you know that’ll be on offer.

 

So whether you’re looking for shared ownership homes in Bedfordshire or an apartment in Maidstone, the move to the countryside could be just what you need in 2022.

The Latest Housing Trends for First Time Buyers

Richard

As 2022 edges ever closer, a view of the past year and the latest home buyer trends is becoming ever more clearer. Bearing in mind what the latest housing trends are can be helpful in terms of deciding what’s best for you when it comes to buying your first home. From the type of homes being purchased to the way people are buying their first home, a lot has changed over the last year and with plenty of schemes out there to help first time buyers find just what they need, getting to know your options could save you a lot of money.

 

Shared Ownership

 

A key way in which young people and families are now buying their home is through shared ownership. Allowing you to part buy, part rent a property, shared ownership involves buying a share in a property rather than purchasing the entire value of the home. Cutting down the deposits and minimising the mortgage, shared ownership is a great option if you want to get on the property ladder quickly without worrying about those hefty initial costs. With many of these homes being new builds and in some top areas across the country from shared ownership homes in Surrey to Tunbridge Wells, shared ownership is a real winner.

 

Outdoor space

 

One of the most important features that first time buyers have been prioritising is the amount of outdoor space available to them. From gardens to countryside views, the outdoors has become a key factor in deciding whether to buy and making that move on the property market. And with shared ownership homes available in Derbyshire and plenty of other areas rich in natural landscape, first time buyers are jumping at the opportunity to buy a home with plenty of space while saving money. Shared ownership homes in East Sussex are also proving popular with everything from the Kent countryside to beaches nearby.

 

Great Connections

 

Ensuring you live just within reach of the city is a big priority for first time buyers this year. While many of us have switched to working remotely, being able to easily get into the office or out for lunch is a top priority on the list. With shared ownership homes in Cheshire putting you well within reach of Manchester while being surrounded in countryside is a real winner for first time buyers. And should London be your city of choice there are plenty of London boroughs now transformed into young professionals haven. With shared ownership homes in Bedfordshire promising plenty of space with trains to London by the hour, getting the balance right is something everyone has taken into consideration this year after a significant time spent within their own four walls.

 

Help to Buy

 

Another option first time buyers are opting for is Help to Buy. With a 5% deposit and 20% equity loan that carries 0% interest for the first 5 years, buying a home with help to buy takes the pressure off your finances in those first initial stages. And if you’re looking to buy a home in London you can get a 40% equity loan, reducing your mortgage to just 55%.

 

With plenty of new priorities, opportunities and considerations for the new year, it may just be the time to start thinking about what you want from your first home. So have a think and really consider what’s important to you when imagining your dream home.

Using a Stochastic Indicator Successfully

Richard

In the financial world, there is a lot of pressure on performance. With markets being highly volatile in recent times, fortunes have been made and lost overnight. Against this backdrop, retail traders have to be either very good or very lucky to make consistent gains from market trading.

 

A stochastic indicator measures the momentum of the price action. It shows whether an asset’s price is currently overbought or oversold, representing high momentum and, therefore, high risk.

 

One of the most popular techniques used by forex traders worldwide is ‘stochastic trading’, which is derived from the momentum strategy for stock trading. This approach has been introduced to forex trading with variable success rates.

 

Locate the Stochastic Indicator

 

When you open up your trading platform, look for the stochastic indicator. It may be under “indicators” or named differently depending on the platform.

 

Determine Your Timeframe

 

The default setting of the stochastic indicator is usually %K and %D with a specific time frame (for example, 5/15). First, make sure you are using the timeframe that is right for you. For example, if you are day trading, perhaps use a 1-hour timeframe instead of a 15 minute one. Next, check whether it’s set to %K or %D (sometimes both will be there) – they both measure similar things but in different ways.

 

Determine Your Trading Setup

 

Now that you have located the indicator and set your timeframe, it’s time to see what it is showing. Usually, the default setting of %K and %D for 15 minutes will be a good starting point. The lines on the chart should go up and down, getting higher as %D rises and lower as %K rises.

 

Draw Your Signals

 

You are not limited to selling at 76.8%; there are many other ways to draw signals for yourself, depending on your strategy. A good indicator that some traders use is drawing multiple SMAs of K and their values, which allows them to make more complex decisions on when they should buy/sell.

 

Make Your Decision

 

Now that you know what exactly your stochastic indicator is showing, it’s time to make a decision based on it. So, for example, if you see that it has just given a buy signal, this might be an excellent opportunity to place an order as there seems to be upward momentum in price. However, if your stochastic shows a sell signal, this would mean selling as there seems to be downward price pressure.

 

Place Your Order

 

Once you’ve decided on whether to buy or sell, it’s time to place your order. Set up a chart for the same timeframe as before and wait for the price to hit the entry point you have identified (based on your trading setup). For example, if your indicator is giving a buy signal and you use a 15 minute time frame, then set up a 15-minute candle chart and wait until the price hits the area of resistance which seems indicated by the indicator. Placing limit orders can be used so that you automatically get in at a price shown by the stochastic indicator. Usually, your broker will execute your trade once this happens, and you can sit back and let your money grow.

 

In Closing

 

Like many other time and price-based indicators, stochastic indicators can help you understand how the forex market is likely to move in the future. When using a stochastic indicator on its own, it is essential to remember that they provide only an indication of how likely different price levels are.

 

You can use stochastic indicators both over longer and shorter duration charts. Still, traders tend to find them particularly useful on intraday charts where small movements in price can occur rather than more significant trends that last for days or weeks at a time.

Get TRUSTED ABERDEEN GRANITE CITY LOCKSMITHS

Richard

It is natural to panic or become distressed on misplacing your house, car or safe’s keys because of your busy schedules. But need not to worry as missing your personal keys is not the end of the life! An experienced Aberdeen based locksmith can really do the wonders in your life by regaining access to your house, car or safe. Aberdeen Granite City Locksmiths are professional and qualified locksmiths who proffer distinguished services when it comes to regaining your access to vehicle or house. Aberdeen based locksmiths boast tremendous knowledge on security solutions tailored to distinct types of properties in the city. Moreover, it is vital to hire an experienced and reputed team of Aberdeen Granite City locksmiths who understand the needs and usage of the property and offer an expert opinion on the security issues.

Let’s explore the major reasons that a locksmith might need to be called in the Aberdeen Granite City:

When you lost your keys

Whether it is your house keys, car keys or just might be the work keys, calling an experienced locksmith is quite essential. No matter the car, property or workplace, if there is involvement of keys, probability of missing the same increases simultaneously. Aberdeen locksmith 24 hour services provide optimal solutions regarding security measures without delaying too much. When your personal keys have been lost, Aberdeen Granite City Locksmith is able to visit for not only opening the lock but also providing a new set of keys for your new lock.

On getting your-self locked

When you have your kids at home, they usually get themselves locked inside when you are out of the house. The entire situation gets unpleasant when the keys are in sight but cling on the other side. In that scenario, calling an experienced Aberdeen Granite City Locksmith is a great solution as he can come to your rescue while offering you an access, letting your kids or elderly person back without breaking any window or glass.

When you lost your Car keys

Every one of us must have experienced the situation of getting the cars locked while keys stuck inside. The situation worsens when it is the time to attend some party, function or business meeting. Again, Aberdeen based locksmith can provide an ultimate solution to your problem.

Due to distinct varieties of car make and model along with revolution in key designing of automobile, the technique of regaining access to the car varies. But at the same time, an experienced locksmith can make the whole process trouble-free with his expertise.

Shifting into new house or building

When you think of getting moved into a new building or house, giving a call to Aberdeen based locksmith is necessary. Keeping an update about the locks involving residential lock installation, and knowing the exact number of keys is essential for security purpose. From keying the locks, to getting the set-up of restricted master key systems, UPVC Door repair and multipoint locking services, variety of locksmiths with numerous services are available to help with new security services of the building.

Empowering Electronic Security

Locksmiths, nowadays are in high demand due to modern electronic security solutions for the house and workplace. Aberdeen Granite City Locksmiths always suggest solutions tailored to electronic security at your first call. Using security cameras to monitor control, there are number of integrated systems locksmiths can assist with. Technological advancements have empowered key-less entry systems involving smart locks for residential properties which can be installed hassle-free with the help of professional Aberdeen based locksmiths.

Professional Aberdeen Granite City Locksmiths

There are variety of locksmiths based on the area of concern involving Commercial locksmiths, residential locksmiths, automotive locksmiths and industrial locksmiths. Commercial locksmiths manage multiple staff access while assuring safety to the employees and clients by implementing alarm systems, cameras, and restricted master key et al. Residential Locksmiths cater to the solutions regarding fixing the locks around the house. They offer innovative modern technology including smart locks for key-less entry. Automotive locksmith deals with car keys whether it is mechanical keys, transponder keys, key-less remote system et al. They constantly keep themselves updated about the modern key technology. Industrial locksmiths are specialized in industrial keying system involving security edge for the industries searching for electronic or digital security.

Request the Professional and qualified Locksmiths for ultimate security solutions

If you too are experiencing a home lockout or car lockout or misplace your house keys, just give a call to experienced Aberdeen based locksmiths to regain the access without any hassle. A reputed Aberdeen locksmith work 24 hours for your needs and assistance. Aberdeen Granite City Locksmiths proffers prompt, cost-effective and reliable solutions to the security issues. For rapid and authentic key replacement, UPVC door repair and Multi point Locking service, request a call for an experienced and professional Aberdeen based locksmith.