Insights, Mortgages & Renting

Why Did My Mortgage Go Up?

flik eco finance personal why did my mortgage go up

If you've been keeping up with the news, you may have heard that mortgage rates are on the rise. That's why a lot of homeowners are wondering why did my mortgage go up? In this blog post, we'll provide a complete guide to why your mortgage payment might have increased. We'll also offer some tips on how to deal with a higher mortgage payment. So if you're feeling stressed about your current situation, don't worry - we're here to help!

Why Did My Mortgage Go Up Table of Contents

How Does Interest Work On Mortgages?

What is the Base Rate & How Does It Affect Mortgages?

Why Did My Mortgage Payment Go Up?

What is An Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)?

How Can I Lower My Mortgage Payments?

Why Did My Fixed Mortgage Go Up?

What Happens If I Do Not Make My Mortgage Payment?

Is There a Limit to How Much My Mortgage Can Go Up?

How Does Interest Work On Mortgages?

Your mortgage is a loan, and like all loans, you have to pay interest on the money you borrowed. The amount of interest you pay is determined by your interest rate. Your interest rate is affected by the market, but also by your credit score and other factors.

You can think of your mortgage payments like this: every month, a little bit of your payment goes towards paying off the principal (the original amount you borrowed), and the rest goes towards paying the interest.

Over time, as you keep making payments, more and more of each payment will go towards paying off the principal, until eventually the loan is paid off entirely. That’s why it’s important to make sure you choose a loan with a term that’s long enough for you to comfortably make payments – if you try to pay off your loan too quickly, you could end up paying more in interest than you need to.

The APR (Annual Percentage Rate) on your mortgage is the cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage. It includes your interest rate plus any other fees or charges, such as points, that you may have to pay.

The APR is important because it’s how you can compare different loans to see which one will end up costing you more money in the long run. For example, two loans might have the same interest rate, but if one has a higher APR then it will end up costing you more money over time.

What is the Base Rate & How Does It Affect Mortgages?

The base rate is the interest rate that banks use when lending to each other. This affects the cost of borrowing for consumers and can have an impact on mortgage rates. The Bank of England sets the base rate and it can go up or down depending on economic conditions.

If the base rate goes up, this usually means that mortgage rates will also increase. This is because lenders will pass on the higher costs of borrowing to their customers. However, there may be a lag between when the base rate changes and when mortgage rates are increased. This is because lenders may not immediately change their rates, or they may only partially pass on the higher costs to their customers.

It's important to remember that even if the base rate does go up, this doesn't mean that your mortgage payments will automatically increase. This will only happen if you have a variable rate mortgage and your lender decides to increase their rates in line with the base rate. If you have a fixed rate mortgage, then your payments will stay the same for the duration of your deal, regardless of any changes in the base rate.

Why Did My Mortgage Payment Go Up?

If you're like most homeowners, you probably have a lot of questions when your mortgage payment goes up. After all, your mortgage is one of the biggest expenses you have each month. So why did it go up?

There are a few reasons why your mortgage payment might go up. One reason could be that your interest rate changed. If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your interest rate can change from year to year. This means that your monthly payments will also change.

Another reason why your mortgage payment might go up is because you didn't escrow for taxes or insurance. Most mortgages require that you escrow for these items each month along with your regular payment. If you don't do this, you could end up owing a lot of money at the end of the year.

If you're not sure why your mortgage payment went up, the best thing to do is to contact your lender. They should be able to give you an explanation.

What is An Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)?

An adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, is a home loan with an interest rate that can change periodically. This means that the monthly payments can go up or down. The advantage of an ARM is that it often starts at a lower interest rate than a fixed-rate mortgage. However, as time goes on and rates adjust, your payments could increase.

How Can I Lower My Mortgage Payments?

There are a few ways to lower your mortgage payments. One way is to refinance your loan. This essentially means taking out a new loan with a lower interest rate and using the money to pay off your old loan. Another way is to make a larger down payment.

By doing this, you'll have less money that you need to finance and therefore, your monthly payments will be lower. You can also choose to shorten the term of your loan which will also lower your monthly payments but increase the amount of interest you pay in the long run.

If you're struggling to make your mortgage payments each month, there are options available to help you get back on track.

Many lenders offer forbearance or modification programs that can temporarily lower or even suspend your payments.

These programs are typically reserved for those who have experienced a financial hardship, such as a job loss or medical emergency. If you think you may qualify for one of these programs, reach out to your lender to see what options are available.

Making late mortgage payments can have serious consequences. Not only will it damage your credit score, but it could also lead to foreclosure.

If you're having trouble making ends meet, contact your lender immediately to discuss your options. There's no shame in admitting that you need help and taking action to protect your home is always the best course of action.

Why Did My Fixed Mortgage Go Up?

There are a few reasons why your monthly mortgage payment may have gone up, even if you have a fixed-rate mortgage. Let's take a look at some of the most common reasons:

  • Your property taxes may have increased.
  • You may be required to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI) if you didn't before.
  • The balance of your home equity line of credit (HELOC) may have grown, and your monthly payments could reflect this change.
  • If you're making biweekly payments, more payments were applied to interest than principal in the beginning years of your loan term, so your amortization schedule has flipped and now more of each payment is going towards principal.

What Happens If I Do Not Make My Mortgage Payment?

If you do not make your mortgage payment and default, the lender can start foreclosure proceedings. This process can take several months, during which time you will be unable to sell or refinance your home.

If the foreclosure is completed, you will lose your home and any equity you have in it. The lender may also pursue a deficiency judgment against you for the unpaid balance of the loan.

Is There a Limit to How Much My Mortgage Can Go Up?

Your mortgage is likely to go up if interest rates rise, you switch to a variable rate mortgage, or you renew your term. If you have a fixed rate mortgage, your payments will stay the same for the duration of your term, no matter what happens to interest rates. If you have a variable rate mortgage, your payments will go up or down depending on how interest rates change.

And if you renew your term, you may be able to negotiate a lower interest rate, but your payments could still go up if the terms of your new mortgage are different from your old one.

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About Jermaine Hagan (The Plantsman)

Jermaine Hagan, also known as The Plantsman is the Founder of Flik Eco. Jermaine is the perfect hybrid of personal finance expert and nemophilist. On a mission to make personal finance simple and accessible, Jermaine uses his inside knowledge to help the average Joe, Kwame or Sarah to improve their lives. Before founding Flik Eco, Jermaine managed teams across several large financial companies, including Equifax, Admiral Plc, New Wave Capital & HSBC. He has been featured in several large publications including BBC, The Guardian & The Times.

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