As house prices rise at the moment, consumers are seeing their confidence plummet as a result. The Bank Of England has predicted that more and more homeowners will struggle to pay their mortgage each month in the aftermath of the price hike.
The bank revealed that between January and March, lenders claim that there had been a huge growth in the number of people unable to find the money to cover their repayments on their properties and had been forced to default on their monthly payments. They have seen a huge rise compared to 2010 figures and they expect that the problem will continue to escalate throughout 2011.
Interest rates have rested at the low base rate of 0.5% for the last 2 years but banking officials say that it won’t last long and we can expect to see a significant rise in interest rates within the next few months.
Banking giants Nationwide concluded that the average homeowner has a mortgage of £78,000 and repays £455 per month at an interest rate of 2.71%, significantly higher than the current base rate of 0.5%. This in the long run, equates to thousands of pounds of expenditure for the average borrower.
Potentially, if the interest rates go back to pre-recession levels, a monthly fee of £455 would become a staggering £621 per month, meaning a colossal decrease in disposable income for millions of people.
Together with the increase in VAT and rising bills, the financial crisis has seen Britons’ disposable income drop for the first time in 30 years, as people’s wages stay the same, yet the cost of living has skyrocketed. This has resulted in people being unable to cover the cost of inflation and soaring bills.
Nationwide has warned that the housing market is showing no signs of recovery yet, a devastating blow to mortgage holders.
If you are struggling to meet your mortgage payments, Sterling Green can help.
We offer a bespoke remortgaging service where our experienced professionals will find the best deal out there that suits your circumstances. We negotiate on your behalf to secure you the best financial future so you can have peace of mind.
For more information contact us for a free evaluation on 0800 083 2827.
Written by Katie Simpson

