With markets in turmoil following last Friday's widely panned mini-budget, an Enniskillen-based mortgage and insurance broker has offered some advice for those who are concerned about mortgages and interest rates.

Vincent Donegan, of Vincent Donegan and Co., spoke to this newspaper yesterday morning amid a “a lot of movement” in the markets, as national and international monetary systems and mechanisms continued to react negatively to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's mini-budget last Friday.

Lending giants have been hiking mortgage rates and withdrawing products amid the market turmoil prompted by Mr. Kwarteng's mini-budget and tax cut plans, with the pound plummeting in value.

Vincent said: “The lenders are spooked – some of them are pricing on a daily basis. They will bring out a rate at 9am, and by 5pm all the funds have been secured, and they are re-pricing them the next day. It is a very active market at the moment.”

However, he maintains that Fermanagh is still home to a healthy property market, due to local demand, with people enquiring to get on the property ladder, and many properties selling above asking price.

However, the cost of living crisis has had a huge impact on local affordability.

Vincent said: “For example, if 'John and Mary' came in to me in January, they could have been cleared for a £150,000 mortgage based on their incomes. Now at the end of September, they could come with the same circumstances, and the same income, but their maximum affordability could be £130,000."

He continued: “With rising interest rates and a squeeze on incomes, there is a potential for a slowdown in the [property] market.”

With the rise in interest rates, many are finding they are paying more than they would have previously on their mortgage payments.

Giving another example, Vincent said: “Take a £150,000 mortgage with a 25-year term. If that person is now coming to the end of their deal and looking for a deal, a 2 per cent increase in their interest rates on a £150,000 mortgage over 25 years could mean an additional £180 per month on their mortgage.”

He emphasised that for some, this additional money could put pressures on families, especially as the cost of living increases.

Anticipating spending trends we are likely to see in the future as people battle rising interest rates, Vincent said: “Some people might put off buying ‘big ticket’ items, such as cars, foreign holidays, etc.

“People will pull back on eating out, or getting take-away coffees. We would always advise people to sit down, write everything down and work out a budget, as well as keeping on top of their credit file.”

Noting he has had a busy week in his office with clients following the mini-budget, Vincent said: “The vast majority of the clients are on fixed rates. The people who may be panicking now are the people coming to the end of their current deals, such as coming off a five-year fixed rate, or those who are on tracker mortgages [as the interest rate has increased substantially]."

Since December, 2021, the Bank of England base rate has increased in increments from 0.2 per cent to 2.25 per cent.

Advising on how people can best keep track of finances in the coming months, Vincent said: “Keep an eye on when your mortgage is up for renewal, and don’t leave it to the last minute – speak to your broker or lender. Each application is taking longer.

"If your deal is up for renewal, contact them three to four months beforehand.

“People may get into a situation where they are unable to pay their mortgage payments – if this happens, contact your broker or lender immediately to discuss the options.

"Lenders are obliged to work with borrowers. A minor situation can snowball into something much bigger. We need to be proactive, not reactive.”