If the media and banks are shouting about increased interest rates you make feel pressed to go and rush into fixing your housing loan rates. Your bank or financial consultant may even suggest this.

Now ideally as it should be, we take for granted that once you select fixed rate plan for yourself the rate of interest will continue unaltered for the entire period you have fixed the interest rate for irrespective of any subsequent increase in the same. But in reality this is not necessarily the case.

Here we demystify the nature of fixed interest rate housing loan transaction for you so that you can make an knowledgeable decision over the subject.

* Check the small print of a loan. The bank has the right to serve you 30 or 60-days notice that it intends to increase its rates.

* The bank’s first-year rates are binding on the bank only for that short period of 1 or 2 months. The 2nd-year home loan rates are not binding at all. Neither are the bank’s 3rd-year loan rates.

* Force Majeure Clause

So, while you read your mortgage agreement papers, you can spot clauses like this:

“Provided further that from time to time, the bank may in its sole discretion alter the rate of interest suitably and prospectively on account of change in the internal policies or if unforeseen or extraordinary changes in the money market conditions take place during the period of the agreement.”

This is called Force Majeure Clause that enables the lender to undertake appropriate changes in the interest rates on home loans they approve to their borrowers.

So remember to look at refinancing every couple of years so that you do not pay too much. If you select a good mortgage broker company you can save a lot of money over the life of your mortgage and in almost all cases the consulting cost is free.

Find out more about a premier Housing Loan advisory firm, providing Housing Loans with free mortgage broking.

Current Interest Rate

When your current interest rate is higher than available housing loan packages on the market, it is time for you to consider reinvesting. Ask your bank or financial institution to reprice your loan package. Most likely, your lender will give you an offer, which is better than your current one. Make a comparison between this offer and with offers from other lenders to see whether you should switch or stay put.

Lock-in and Clawback Time Periods

When you get a housing loan, there may be a lock-in period wherein your mortgage lender will charge you a penalty fee, maybe a percentage of your outstanding loan amount, if you were to fully repay your loan. Many housing loans have drawback period. This is when the lender will take back what they gave you when you get your housing loan. Lock-in period and clawback period are different from each other. Thus, it is not advisable for you to reinvest due to these extra costs.

Loan Quantum

The higher the amount of your loan, the greater your savings for the same decrease in interest rates will be. However, fixed cost to reinvesting, which comprises mainly of legal fees, does not vary much with loan quantum. The difference between your latest and reinvesting interest rates has to be larger for a relatively lower loan as fixed cost takes into a more considerable part of your interest rate savings.

Distinguish Interest Rate Movements

Your analysis on how interest rates are moving can be a factor when considering whether you should reinvest. If you are currently on a fixed rate package and believe interest rates are dropping, you may want to reinvest to a floating rate package. Conversely, if you are on floating rates and believe interest rates are increasing, switching to fixed rates may be a good choice.

Personal Financial Evaluation

If your financial state changed, consider reinvesting. Give some thought to take fixed rate package. Think of increasing your loan quantum. When your monthly income increased and you want to decrease interest payments, try to reduce your loan tenure.

Learn more about a premier Housing Loan advisory firm, providing Housing Loans with free mortgage broking.