29 Sep, 2023/ by Homeward Legal /Remortgage
With the often turbulent state of the housing market, with conflicting reports on how well it is doing overall, it is sometimes very difficult to understand what your options might be to reduce your payments.
The recent monthly increases in the Bank of England base rate has not helped the state of the mortgage market, as lenders increase the rates of their products in tandem.
But now many experts believe that the interest rate rises have halted, at least for the time being, as the pressure on the economy has eased with the inflation rate coming down to slightly more manageable if still quite high levels.
It therefore comes as no surprise that people wanting to get a better rate on their current mortgage are looking at the variety of remortgage options on the market.
To this end, Uswitch have asked their remortgage deals expert, Kellie Steed, to look at the most common questions that are asked on the subject.
Key points from the study:
- Conveyancing solicitors and the remortgaging process length are the most questioned topics by UK homeowners, with over 49,000 related searches annually
- There are over 14,700 searches around how to release equity every year
- Questions about remortgaging requirements are searched over 18,000 times annually, the third most searched topic analysed
- How to remortgage and release equity was searched 7,320 times in the last 12 months
As interest rates are expected to drop for the first time in almost two years, many homeowners will see an opportunity to remortgage their homes at a better rate. To help borrowers tackle the often confusing remortgage landscape, the experts at Uswitch remortgaging have answered the market's most search questions.
The top five searched remortgage legal topics:
| Rank | Topic | Yearly searches (UK) |
| 1 | Conveyancing solicitors | 26,400 |
| 2 | Remortgaging process lenght | 22,920 |
| 3 | Remortgaging requirements | 18,725 |
| 4 | Equity and remortgaging | 14,760 |
| 5 | Remortgaging taxes | 7,800 |
Source: Uswitch
As can be seen from the data, conveyancing solicitors, the remortgaging process length and remortgaging requirements are the most questioned remortgage legal topics, with over 68,000 searches across all three subjects.
The experts at Uswitch.com remortgage deals analysed questions across these topics and answered the most frequently asked for each one respectively.
The most frequently-asked remortgage legal questions for each topic:
Conveyancing solicitors
Conveyancing solicitors are the most asked remortgaging topic nationwide, with 26,400 searches in the last year.
UK homeowners made 9,960 searches in the past 12 months related to whether a solicitor is required to remortgage, the most asked question in this topic. Questions regarding the cost of a conveyancing solicitor received 30% less, at 6,960 searches annually.
Uswitch.com remortgage deals expert, Kellie steed, comments on the laws in place regarding solicitors:
“With the price of solicitors increasing by 8% in the last year, and higher expenses in all corners of life, it's understandable that Brits are looking to cut costs where they can..
“Not every remortgage will require a solicitor: if you're moving onto a new deal or rate with your current lender, this is just considered a “product transfer”, and will not require any legal help.
“However, if you're changing lenders to secure a better deal in the current market, you will have to use a solicitor.
“This is also the case if you are bringing a new person onto your current mortgage plan, or removing someone, as this will change the legal ownership of the deal.
“It is quite likely that your new lender will supply a solicitor themselves for no extra cost, and if so, they will probably not give you the choice of other solicitors.
“If your lender does not supply one, you can research solicitors yourself to find the most cost-effective deal that's right for you.”
The remortgaging process
The remortgaging process length is the second most searched topic, with 22,920 searches based on the subject in the last 12 months, all asking how much time remortgaging can take.
That's a fifth more than all the questions asked about remortgaging requirements (18,725), the third most searched topic overall.
Uswitch.com remortgage deals expert, Kellie steed, comments on how long it may take homeowners to remortgage:
“Typically, the remortgaging process takes around six weeks to complete.
“This is because, if you are changing lenders and taking up a new mortgage deal, the process will be the same as when you took out your initial deal.
“If your broker, bank, and solicitor are all aware of - and agree on - a more pressing completion date, there is a chance to make the process last as little as a week.
“If you urgently need to change mortgage deals to avoid paying a standard variable rate, then consider applying for a product transfer with your current lender.
“This will be much quicker as you will not need to go through any legal processes, and can sometimes be done within 24 hours.
“However, you are less likely to get the strongest deal if you don't consider deals with other providers.”
Remortgage requirements
Remortgage requirements comes in third place as the most searched topic, with 18,725 related questions asked every year.
Whether a deposit is required to change deals is the most commonly asked question on the topic of remortgaging requirements, with 5,760 searches in the last 12 months: 58% of the searches for whether a solicitor is necessary (9,960).
Uswitch.com remortgage deals expert, Kellie steed, comments:
“While the costs that applied when you took out your original deal, like arrangement fees, may still be applicable during the remortgage process, you won't have to worry about paying another deposit, as lenders use the equity you've built up in your home in place of this.
“However, if you do have the money to spare, an additional cash deposit may be worth considering to give you a chance of securing a better deal.
“Arrangement fees won't always apply when you remortgage - some lenders offer fee-free remortgages as an incentive.
“Where they do apply, you won't necessarily have to pay them in one lump sum.
“Some lenders allow you to add your arrangement fees, usually £1,000 - £2,000, to your mortgage.
“This does mean that you will also pay interest on it, however.”
You can find out more about remortgaging affordably at Uswitch.com's remortgage deals page.
This article was kindly provided to Homeward Legal by Uswitch
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