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Secured Loans

A secured loan or 2nd charge mortgage is when you secure additional borrowing over and above your main mortgage with an alternative lender.

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How does a Secured Loan / Second Charge Mortgage work?

As with other types of loans, you’ll make set monthly repayments to pay back what you owe, plus any interest. The interest rate is calculated as a percentage of the amount you owe – it may be fixed or variable depending on the loan you’ve chosen. As long as you make the monthly repayments on time and in full, you won’t lose your home.

What’s the difference between a Secured and Unsecured Loan?

An unsecured loan (or a personal loan) isn’t attached to your home or any other asset. Because there’s no collateral for lenders to claim if you can’t repay them, unsecured loans are typically considered higher risk for lenders. So you generally need to have a good credit score to be approved for one, as this reassures lenders that you’re likely to pay them back.

Just as with a secured loan, when you take out an unsecured loan you’ll agree to certain terms for repayment, including an interest rate and how long you’ll have to pay back the debt. Credit Cards are another type of unsecured credit – they’re also known as revolving credit, meaning you borrow and repay money each month.

What are the advantages of Secured Loans / Second Charge Mortgages?

  • You may be able to take out larger amounts. It can be difficult to borrow more than £25,000 with a personal loan, but secured loans often go up to £100,000 or higher. For example, this may be useful for big home improvement projects or extensive education costs.
  • You can stretch the loan out for a longer period, making your monthly payments more affordable. Personal loans usually last for a maximum of six years, making it more difficult to afford the monthly payments on large loan.
  • Secured loans are usually easier to get approved for if you have poor credit or no credit history. This is because using your property as collateral lowers risk for the lender.
  • If you don’t want to effect your existing low mortgage rate – or extend your current mortgage term.
  • If your have had issues with your credit since taking out your first charge mortgage – remortgaging could mean you end up paying more interest on your entire mortgage, rather than just on the extra amount you want to borrow.
  • If your mortgage has a high early repayment charge – it may be cheaper for you to take out a second charge mortgage rather than to remortgage.
  • If you’re struggling to get a personal loan – or other form of unsecured borrowing.
  • If your current lender will not consider the loan – for example if you are self employed and need to raise funds to pay your tax bill.
  • If you need to move fast – secured loans are often a faster option than a traditional remortgage application.

What should I consider before applying for a secured loan?

Secured loans / Second Charge Mortgages come with considerable risk, so they’re not to be taken out lightly. Here are some of the things you should think about before applying for a secured loan.

Your financial ability

Think carefully about what you can afford to repay, and whether you really need whatever it is you’re taking out a loan for. Take a good look at your finances and think about future expenses too, such as starting a family or buying a home. You need to be confident that you can make every monthly repayment on time and in full, throughout the entire loan term, even if your financial or lifestyle situation changes.

Your loan-to-value ratio

When you apply for a secured loan, the lender will look at how much equity you have in your property. This is essentially the difference between how much your home is worth and how much you still owe on the mortgage. This information gives the lender an idea of how much money they could recover from selling your home if you can’t repay them. Typically, the more equity you have, the more you’ll be able to borrow.

Interest rates

Most secured loans have a variable rate, and you should factor in the possibility of rate rises when you’re working out what you can afford. It’s also useful to use APRC to compare secured loans – this is the interest rate plus any mandatory fees, so it can give you a better idea of the full cost of the loan. But remember that the advertised rate isn’t necessarily what you’ll get. The rate you’re offered may depend on how much you want to borrow, how long for, your credit score, and the value of your collateral.

How can I find a Secured Loan / Second Charge Mortgage?

If you’re planning to apply for a secured loan, it’s important to shop around and find the best deal possible for you.

 

Secured Loan / Second Charge Mortgage Advice

Before contacting us, it is worth considering the following information:

  • As a second charge mortgage works very much like your first mortgage, your home is at risk from repossession if you do not keep up the repayments
  • If you sell your home, the first charge mortgage gets cleared in full before any money goes towards paying off the second charge, although the second charge lender would still be likely to pursue you for any shortfall
  • If you need to borrow less than £10,000 it may be more cost-effective to apply for an unsecured product such as a personal loa

 

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Mint Specialist Services

Bridging Loans

A bridging loan or bridge loan is a short term loan given to ‘bridge the gap’ between you buying a new house and selling your previous house.

Secured Loans

Secured loans – also known as homeowner loans, home loans or second-charge mortgages – allow you to borrow money while using your home as ‘security’ (also called ‘collateral’). This means the lender can sell your property if you aren’t keeping up with repayments, as a way of getting their money back.

Expat Mortgage

An expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person either temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship

Portfolio Mortgages

There are now 2.5 million landlords in the UK and successful investors have been able to establish a Buy to Let portfolio of a number of properties. But changes by the Prudential Regulation Authority have introduced new checks for Buy to Let portfolio mortgages.

Offset Mortgages

The idea behind an offset mortgage is simple and straightforward. By linking your mortgage and your savings, you can bring down the cost of your loan. This is because rather than earning interest, your savings reduce the amount of interest you pay on your mortgage.

Self Employed Mortgages

ne of the misconceptions about the mortgage market is that it is now very difficult for self employed people to get a self employed mortgage loan in order to buy a home. It’s certainly true that one type of mortgage used by the self employed in the past (self certification mortgage) is no longer available – but for many self-employed people, their chances of being able to borrow are still just as good as anyone else’s.

Contractor Mortgages

Being a contractor can offer you flexibility and independence, but also uncertainty – especially when buying a home. But as the number of freelancers and independent contractors in the UK climbs, don’t despair – many mortgage lenders could be willing to lend to you, even if your income jumps around.

Self Build Mortgages

Building your own home is not for the faint hearted. And on top of everything else, you’ll need to take out a special self build mortgage to finance it. We can walk you through the self-build process step-by-step, from finding land to hiring professionals to help you.

Private Bank Mortgages

Many borrowers needing a larger loan are unaware of the bespoke offerings that private banks have. With a product specifically tailored for you and your income, you may be surprised what our relationships in this area can achieve.

Commercial Mortgages

Are you looking to expand your business? Have you realised that the cost of renting has become too great? If so, you might find that a commercial mortgage can offer business finance options you weren’t aware of. Here’s everything you need to know.

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The legal bit...

Your home is at risk if you fail to keep up payments on your mortgage or any other loans secured against it. Buy to Let mortgages and Commercial Lending are not usually regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage which is secured against your property or a home reversion plan which requires the sale of property for a discounted price. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. You only continue to own your own home with a lifetime mortgage. Equity release may impact the size of your estate and it could affect your entitlement to current and future means-tested benefits. Mint FS Limited , trading as Mint FS , Mint Financial Services and Puzzle Mortgages is an Appointed Representative of New Leaf Distribution Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority: FCA Number 460421 Mint FS Limited is registered in England and Wales with company number 11993128. Registered Office: Unit 6 The Centurion Centre, Castlegate Business Park, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 6QX. The information contained in this website is subject to UK regulatory regime and is therefore intended for consumers based in the UK.