Mortgage Rate Rises

We're just about to exchange and have held off a little just to get the best rate we could - which currently is 4.36% for 5 years. Works out fine with our budgeting - and we'd originally agreed the mortgage at 4.62%.

Wild to think that 4.36% now isn't bad - but ultimately it meant the house we are buying was dropped in value by almost 100k and we're not being risky with our approach / costs. Ideally exchanging this side of the year and completing in early next.

And then avoiding any sort of news about mortgage rates for another 4/5 years and burying my head in the sand...
Was a tracker too risky?
 
4.4% was the expected and it came in at 3.9%. Markets are pricing in 1.4% base rate decrease over next year supposedly. BOE will need to be careful not to overshoot the 2% too much.
 
4.4% was the expected and it came in at 3.9%. Markets are pricing in 1.4% base rate decrease over next year supposedly. BOE will need to be careful not to overshoot the 2% too much.

No doubt the lemons at the helm will take to long to lower it causing more pain.
 
4.4% was the expected and it came in at 3.9%. Markets are pricing in 1.4% base rate decrease over next year supposedly. BOE will need to be careful not to overshoot the 2% too much.

Don't think inflation will drop quickly. Several councils already going bust or about to go bust, will push up council tax by 10% plus for emergency measures. Car insurance up 60-100%. Whilst that will squeeze spending too, it should also contribute to the inflation figures?
 
Don't think inflation will drop quickly. Several councils already going bust or about to go bust, will push up council tax by 10% plus for emergency measures. Car insurance up 60-100%. Whilst that will squeeze spending too, it should also contribute to the inflation figures?
Is council tax or taxes included in CPI? I thought it was just goods and services. Increases in taxes should have deflationary pressure.
 
At this stage, yeah. The consistency of fixed gives us what we need right now to just get a level of 'regular' outgoings for a few years.

Don't blame you really.

I think if I was remortgaging now I'd want to go for variable.. But the security of a fix is hard to pass on when you are in the moment
 
Not for a while. Longer than mortgage holders hope.

I have my fix until 2027 at 1.93 but at this rate not choosing the 10 doesn't look too bad

Unfortunately, I dont see them ever going that low for a long, long while, if ever.
 
Is council tax or taxes included in CPI? I thought it was just goods and services. Increases in taxes should have deflationary pressure.
CPI doesnt but CPIH does. Council tax is not showing the massive rise that he claimed.

As for car insurance, it has far outstripped CPI for a while now, not sure if its included in any way, dont think so.
 
Unfortunately, I dont see them ever going that low for a long, long while, if ever.

I don't think they'll go that low either.
But I don't think it'll be 4+ then.
Hopefully around 3..bar no unexpected vig wars/epidemics/other

Truth be told I hope to be out of the UK in 2 years. It's been discussed with the gf.
 
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Awesome, where you thinking?

Obviously i bang on about it as much as possible, but even in 3 months i wouldn't look back.

New Zealand.
Its the dream.

The isolation, the countryside, it's like Wales. But on steroids.

Also. The south island appeals more than the north. Less people, cheaper and more scenery. I believe the Pacific side is very dry too. I think they're might even be an easier time to emigrate there vs north (more points?) as they want people to go there vs north


I now (after Xmas) need to look at what I need to exactly do to get there. More qualifications? Directly applying for jobs? Etc etc.

Christchurch is same population as Cardiff. It's as big as I want. Probably too big!


I've amassed plenty of savings now too which should help. My job is in demand (hopefully over there too) and the salary over there is similar in this job.
I think selling house + 40k of cash savings i have should give me plenty of leway too with moving costs etc.

My 5 year mortgage hits 2 years in next year so erc is dropping all the time.

I'm targeting 2025 as a move year.
 
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I don't think they'll go that low either.
But I don't think it'll be 4+ then.
Hopefully around 3..bar no unexpected vig wars/epidemics/other

Truth be told I hope to be out of the UK in 2 years. It's been discussed with the gf.
We’re out in S. Korea at the moment and we have discussed it a few times about making it permanent. Sub tropical climate, great food and low cost of living is really attractive. Plus I’ll get to spend more time in Japan and exploring Asia. We decided we will make a decision on a possible move within the next couple of years.
 
Awesome, New Zealand definitely looks amazing and i'd love to visit someday.

I think from speaking to various people when we were in the deciding phase, is that if it interests you then you just have to go for it. If it turns out to be a wrong choice then so be it, just move back to the UK, but too many of my friends talked about Australia but then had kids and decided they'd missed the chance as it was too disrupting, then again they keep looking back saying things like "if only we'd done it x years ago before kids were y age". I know you don't intend on kids so not a factor, but there'll always be something holding you back if you let it.
 
We’re out in S. Korea at the moment and we have discussed it a few times about making it permanent. Sub tropical climate, great food and low cost of living is really attractive. Plus I’ll get to spend more time in Japan and exploring Asia. We decided we will make a decision on a possible move within the next couple of years.

I fully intent to go with the intention of permanent.

I hear of people coming back due to lack Of stuff to do/biredem.

But I know this won't be me. Living in Wales and what I do is mostly solo. I was absolutely fine in covid isolation. I work at home and I love it.

I just need to stop being so "go with the flow" and chase it hard. I'm getting older all the time!
 
Awesome, New Zealand definitely looks amazing and i'd love to visit someday.

I think from speaking to various people when we were in the deciding phase, is that if it interests you then you just have to go for it. If it turns out to be a wrong choice then so be it, just move back to the UK, but too many of my friends talked about Australia but then had kids and decided they'd missed the chance as it was too disrupting, then again they keep looking back saying things like "if only we'd done it x years ago before kids were y age". I know you don't intend on kids so not a factor, but there'll always be something holding you back if you let it.

Its the old cliche.

After seeing my partners mum go from being fine to passed away in 5 months and the regrets they have, it's been a real Kick up the *** to not waste time.

I do believe there's not much left in the UK. Regardless of that, it's also not really ideal for me. I'm an explorer at heart. Tied down by being sensible. Time to take a risk. I have no kids. I have no ties.

And, you can always come back.
 
I fully intent to go with the intention of permanent.

I hear of people coming back due to lack Of stuff to do/biredem.

But I know this won't be me. Living in Wales and what I do is mostly solo. I was absolutely fine in covid isolation. I work at home and I love it.

I just need to stop being so "go with the flow" and chase it hard. I'm getting older all the time!
You’ll need to look into QROPS for your pension. Probably get a bit of financial advice on the best things to do to transfer yourself fully over there.

For me in S. Korea it would likely be an early retirement or just very light work. The stress of work has been huge over the last few years and I’m not going the way of my previous boss who had a heart attack a few years ago. I’m now in his role.

In the past we had discussed the possibility but not committing to anything. We were fairly content with our careers. This time it felt a lot different. We were very content with the idea of taking a step back and making that move. Let’s see what actually plays out. We have some time to keep thinking about it.
 
I do believe there's not much left in the UK. Regardless of that, it's also not really ideal for me. I'm an explorer at heart. Tied down by being sensible. Time to take a risk. I have no kids. I have no ties.

And, you can always come back.
The problem is, and I mean this respectfully, if you are a "bystander" outside of the thick of things - life in the UK does seem this way. By that I mean, keep yourself to yourself, introvert type hobbies, away from the hustle and bustle - it doesn't matter where you live, the novelty will wear off.

I'm introvert by heart so moved myself somewhere where at least I could see constant change, business, the arts come to me etc...
 
You’ll need to look into QROPS for your pension. Probably get a bit of financial advice on the best things to do to transfer yourself fully over there.

For me in S. Korea it would likely be an early retirement or just very light work. The stress of work has been huge over the last few years and I’m not going the way of my previous boss who had a heart attack a few years ago. I’m now in his role.

In the past we had discussed the possibility but not committing to anything. We were fairly content with our careers. This time it felt a lot different. We were very content with the idea of taking a step back and making that move. Let’s see what actually plays out. We have some time to keep thinking about it.

Yeah I will take. Professional advice on this as its not really run of the mill stuff. Especially as there's so much to do.

Sounds rough. At some point a stressful job (especially that stressful) isn't worth it. Sounds like you you have a plan out of it. I sure couldn't cope. But then I'm pathetic in those type of environments!
 
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