As a potential homeowner, or if you're keeping up with the recent news surrounding mortgages, you've probably come across terms like "swap rates" and "base rates".
While they may sound complex, they play a crucial role in determining the interest rate on your mortgage.
In this blog, we'll unravel the mystery behind swap rates and base rates and explore how they influence your mortgage costs.
What are Swap Rates?
Let's start by demystifying the concept of swap rates. In simple terms, swap rates refer to the interest rates that financial institutions, like banks, charge each other for borrowing money. These rates are typically applied to loans with longer terms, usually spanning several years.
The "swap" in the name comes from the fact that financial institutions often swap interest rates to mitigate risks and manage their cash flows effectively. Swap rates play a critical role in the financial markets, as they serve as a benchmark for various borrowing and lending activities.
What are Base Rates?
On the other hand, base rates are the interest rates set by the central banks of a country. In the UK, the base rate is determined by the Bank of England. The base rate serves as the foundation for all other interest rates in the economy, including savings accounts, loans, and mortgages.
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meets regularly to review the economic conditions and decide whether to increase, decrease, or maintain the base rate. These decisions are made with the aim of achieving the government's inflation target and stabilising the economy.
How do Swap Rates and Base Rates Affect Mortgage Rates?
Now that we have a clear understanding of swap rates and base rates, let's explore how they influence your mortgage rates. Mortgage lenders use these rates as a basis to calculate the interest rate they offer to borrowers.
Variable Mortgages
For variable or floating-rate mortgages, the interest rate is directly linked to the base rate. When the base rate set by the Bank of England changes, your mortgage rate will follow suit.
An increase in the base rate will result in higher mortgage payments, while a decrease will lead to lower monthly repayments.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages
Fixed-rate mortgages, as the name suggests, offer a set interest rate for a specific period, regardless of fluctuations in the base rate. However, the cost of funding fixed-rate mortgages for lenders is influenced by swap rates.
If the swap rates increase, lenders may adjust fixed-rate mortgage rates to maintain their profit margins so, at the end of your fixed-rate period, your mortgage rate could increase. Consequently, when swap rates rise, fixed-rate mortgages may become more expensive for borrowers.
In the world of mortgage rates, the interplay between swap rates and base rates is like a finely choreographed dance. While base rates set the overall direction for interest rates in the economy, swap rates influence longer-term borrowing costs for financial institutions.
For borrowers, it's essential to keep an eye on these rates, especially if you have a variable or fixed-rate mortgage, as they can directly impact your monthly repayments.
Q&A
What is the current UK base mortgage rate?
The current Bank of England base rate is 5.25%. It was increased by 0.25% on 3rd August 2023.
Why does the Bank of England base rate change?
The Bank of England uses the base rate to influence other UK interest rates in a bid to control inflation.
Will mortgage rates go down in 2023 UK?
It's hard to confirm whether or not mortgage rates in the UK will decrease by the end of 2023. However, a recent article in The Times reported that they expect the Bank of England base rate to remain above 5% in 2023.
If you would like further support in understanding mortgage rates and how they can affect you, contact our sales team.
Whilst you're here, why not check out "Is it better to buy or rent in London?" and our latest "Sales market update"
