Interest Rates … Interest Rates … Interest Rates.

These phrases have almost hypnotised us for two years come Summer 2009. We’ve heard them so often and seen interest rates come down so far, we automatically think a mortgage product with a lower rate of interest is better than any other with a higher rate. For the most part, this is true – mortgage interest rates are “WYSIWYG” i.e. “What You See Is What You Get”). But not always.

Since the Bank of England Base Rate has plummeted and mortgage interest rates have tumbled, we have been exposed to advertisements in both the online and offline media with the most captivating headlines:

“2% above base – nothing lower around”

“Fantastic Fixed Rate of 3.93%”

“Try this Tracker of 2.2% Before It Goes”

Although the mortgage rates shown above are just examples that have been adapted from real world advertisements, they are most definitely headline grabbers. Whether they be shown online or offline, at least one of these mortgage interest rates is likely to catch our attention.

These advertisements are, actually, a sobering reminder that mortgages are products that still require salesmanship and marketing skills. Like other products for other industries they must still be sold. But as attractive as these low interest rates are and as keen as we might be to secure such a mortgage rate, a lender’s criteria can keep the door closed on us.

For example, did you see the real mortgage interest rate of 2.29% that was being offered during March 2009? It was everywhere you looked and virtually unmissable. A number of mortgage advisers reported an increase in enquiries during March because of the product’s attractiveness.

Yet this same 2.29% interest rate from a High Street lender was one hell of a demanding mortgage product i.e. you had to be someone with a massive deposit of 40%, spotless credit history and above all ? a willingness to accept 2.29% for just 12 months whilst being locked-in to the mortgage for a further 2 years.

That’s why the interest rate being charged on the mortgage could afford to be set that low, which is fine if you urgently need to maximise your monthly income or minimise your monthly expenditure over the very short term. For example, you may want to kick-start some savings or quickly pay off some other debt hanging over your head that is being charged at a higher rate of interest than your mortgage.

Nevertheless, if someone is able to look slightly ahead i.e. just 13 months – which comes soon enough – they will see for themselves a good deal of interest rate risk. After all, where do you believe rates can go now given the Bank of England base rate is almost at zero? Hence, the attractiveness of fixed rates in the current climate.

Yet the mortgages attracting the lowest fixed rates right now also have the shortest timeframes too, such as 2 years or less (similar to the one mentioned above). This gives us some insight into how lenders currently view the short to medium term – they too see interest rate risks for the next 2 – 3 years as the mortgages with the lowest rates AND the lowest fees are based on a variable rate (e.g. Variable Capped, Variable Tracker and Standard Variable Rate itself).

The ultimate goal for anyone borrowing money is to get the most they need or require at the lowest possible rate of interest. This is true of all loans whether it be mortgages or any other loan for that matter. If there is a difference when it comes to mortgage interest rates and the “cheap” interest rates being advertised, it’s because a mortgage concerns our homes – the very roof over our head. That’s why it’s absolutely vital to look past the headline-grabbing mortgage rate and see if the product itself delivers what you need. Whether you do this on your own or with a mortgage adviser is a matter of personal choice for you. Just be sure to check the product very carefully, not just the mortgage interest rate on immediate display.