Friday, August 19, 2011
posted by PabloPabla at 11:20 am


The vast majority of people will find that the one greatest investment and financial decision that they make will be in taking out a mortgage, and specifically which mortgage that they will need to take out. This is one of the things that make mortgage rates, and the amount of interest that will be repaid on the mortgage such an important thing for every homeowner to check, but there is more than just the rate itself to consider when looking at the cost of a mortgage.

One of the first things that need to be looked at when considering applying for a mortgage with a specific lender is to see what booking fee will actually be charged for the mortgage. For many products which offer exceptionally competitive mortgage rates, once the booking fee is taken into the equation the overall cost can increase significantly, with the fee all being taken upfront, rather than spread across the cost of the mortgage.

Another thing to look at for those who will be remortgaging rather than taking out an entirely new loan is to see what the transfer fees to move an existing mortgage from another bank into the new bank will be. Again, with this proposition the mortgage rates may appear to be very attractive, but factoring in the fees it may become a lot more expensive, especially when considering that some banks are willing to transfer mortgages with no additional fees at all.

Looking at the mortgage rates that are immediately available when the deal is taken out is one thing, but it is also important for people to look at what they might be getting in two, three or five years time in terms of the rate. A discounted rate now might appear like an excellent deal, but it will usually revert back onto another rate, which may be less competitive, and end up costing more in the long run.

Ultimately, it is important to shop around to find the best mortgage deal as a whole, and although the mortgage rates may be an important part of the overall package, the headline rate may not necessarily prove to deliver the least expensive mortgage.



 

posted by PabloPabla at 11:18 am


When shopping for the right car insurance policy, you need to be aware of several things. You need to be awahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifre of auto insurance companies' policy for repairs. Some companies will let you have your pick of any legitimate repair shop to do repairs on your vehicle and then send them the bill. Some will pay these bills in full or only partially. Other companies will require you to get a quote of the price of repairs and have it approved before going ahead with repairs. Still others will only allow you to choose from a list of pre-approved repair shops to have your work done. You need to know what a company's policy is before you decide to do business with them, so you are not taken by surprise when the time comes to have work done.

You should also find out what your potential car insurance company's policy is regarding no claims discounts. These are applied after you go for a certain amount of time without filing a claim; you get a discount in your premium. You need to figure out if there is a cutoff date for when these discounts stoop. Also, find out what will happen if you do file a claim. Some companies will let you keep previously acquired discounts and continue to get them if other claims are not filed; other companies will not.

Something else to find out is whether or not your method of payment will affect your premium. Companies may give a discount for paying with cash or debit card. Check to see if your insurer will let you use your no-claims history from a previous insurer with them. Also, find out if there is a limit to how many years you are allowed to transfer. Find out well before you choose an insurer what their policy is on changes to, or cancellation of, your policy. There can often be fees and charges for such events. Finally, ask about any other potential discounts you may qualify for. You want to know about how much money you can save on your insurance. Choosing a car insurer is important and you should find out how you can save money and how much money you can save before choosing.