Lifetime mortgages grow in importance
Nearly 25 per cent of mortgage advisers anticipate that lifetime and equity release mortgages will continue to grow in importance in the next five years, according to a new survey. The report by Prudential also shows that while managing inheritance tax and making plans for retirement loom largest in people's list of worries, the ease with which an equity release product can be understood is just behind them. Of the lifetime mortgages advisers surveyed, 16 per cent identified the ease with which the products can be understood as the most important consideration for clients, while a further 18 per cent considered that flexibility is what consumers most want. However, while last year the survey showed that 29 per cent thought that a low interest rate was the most important factor influencing taking out equity release, this year only 12 per cent identified it as such. The findings come after the Council of Mortgage Lenders survey showing that 23,786 lifetime mortgages were taken out over 2006 â€" up from 23,215 the year before.
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