Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Getting the Best Remortgage Deals - The Power of Negotiation


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When interest rates are low, everyone becomes remortgage advice experts. The message comes from everywhere: colleagues, neighbours, advertisements. And the message is clear: "There has never been a better time to remortgage than right now". But why is it so important to shop for remortgage deals when rates are low? What if you're perfectly happy with the mortgage you have?

The truth is that you can save a lot of money if you can find a good remortgage deal. If you can lower your rate by 2%, you can save more than 100,000 pounds over the course of your loan (200,000 pound, 30-year loan). You can save hundreds of pounds a month and thousands of pounds a year. You may very well be throwing away a fortune on your current mortgage.

However, to get a truly good deal, you need to know how to negotiate. I'm not talking about bidding and bickering here. I'm talking about polite, professional negotiation. If you can negotiate well, you can be sure to get the best remortgage deal possible.

Before you start negotiating, you have to do some homework. Knowledge is power, and you will need facts to use as leverage during the negotiations. You cannot go in and ask a remortgage provider to give you a great deal if you cannot prove why you deserve a great deal. Gather all of the facts. Learn about the market. Know what rates are popular right now. And memorise your credit report.

After you have done the necessary homework, apply to many lenders. This will also give you more leverage during the negotiations, but most importantly it will give you an idea of what kind of offers to expect. Remember; not all offers are final. You may be able to negotiate a ½% interest reduction or more favorable loan terms. You may even be able to convince your favorite provider to honour another deal that a competitor offered to you. It's all about leverage.

Many people accept the first remortgage deal that is offered to them because they are afraid of negotiation. Having all of the facts in hand reduces this fear. It may also help you to write down the arguments that you want to present to the lender. Some example arguments follow:

o Company A offered me a much lower interest rate, but I would prefer to work with your company because you have superior customer service. Are you willing to meet their offer?
o This interest rate is not really what I was expecting. It is much higher than the average rate with Company A. My credit rating is also higher than the national average.

Do not be afraid to tell a provider that they deal offered is not the deal for you. Remain polite, but firm. If the lender is unprofessional and allows the negotiations to become rude or condescending don't sink to their level. Remain calm and confident to have the very best chance of securing a good remortgage deal.

See Also : Insurance, Auto Insurance Compare auto insurance prices

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