You might have heard that the average mortgage switcher in Ireland saves over €20,000, but that sounds too good to be true, right?
I mean if that was true everybody would be doing it surely and you’d be straight on google to get switched yourself, so there must be a catch?
Spoiler alert: There’s no catch.
That’s why record numbers are switching right now with more joining in everyday.
So we thought in this article we would share some real life examples of 3 of our recent mortgage switchers. That way you can see for yourself what people are actually saving and what’s actually involved in being a switcher.
Read on to see what switchers just like you have saved in the last few months and how much you could save by switching.
If you want to see how different providers compare on your mortgage right now you can click here.
moneysherpa switchers Graham & Daire were with Ulster Bank and saved €63,000 by switching according to the Irish Examiner
- Over 25% of all mortgage holders will save over €10,000 by switching
- It only takes 15 minutes for a mortgage quote
- Couple Switching from PTSB to ICS – Example
- Couple Switching from AIB to Avant Money – Example
- Single Switcher from PTSB to Avant Money – Example
- What you should do next – Example
Noel & Naeiri, Switch from PTSB to ICS – Example
Noel & Naeiri Gavin have a home in Navan and switched their mortgage using online broker moneysherpa.ie. Noel works in engineering and Naeiri is a stay at home mum.
Due to a combination of the strong property market in Navan and a number of home improvements they made to the house, the value of their home increased to over €500,000.
This reduced their loan to value to less than 60%, which is the size of the mortgage compared to the value of the property, allowing them to access better mortgage rates.
They originally took out their mortgage with Permanent TSB which has one of the highest rates in the market.
The fixed rate they were on was expiring in a few months so they contacted Moneysherpa for guidance on their next step.
If they did not take action the mortgage would revert to the general variable rate from PTSB, which was 3.7%.
Follow on/Variable Mortgage Rates | up to 50% LTV Follow on Rate | up to 60% LTV Follow on Rate | up to 70% LTV Follow on Rate | up to 80% LTV Follow on Rate | up to 90% LTV Follow on Rate |
| Avant Mortgage | 2.95% | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3.30% | 3.30% |
| ICS Mortgages | 4.70% | 4.70% | 4.70% | 4.95% | 4.95% |
| Finance Ireland | 5.75% | 5.95% | 5.95% | 5.95% | 6.15% |
| Haven Mortgages | 2.75% | 2.95% | 2.95% | 2.95% | 3.15% |
| AIB Mortgage | 3.10% | 3.30% | 3.30% | 3.30% | 3.50% |
| KBC | 3.20% | 3.20% | 3.25% | 3.25% | 3.50% |
| Ulster Bank | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.70% | 3.70% | 3.90% |
| EBS Mortgage | 3.30% | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.50% | 3.70% |
| Permanent TSB | 3.70% | 3.70% | 3.70% | 3.70% | 3.90% |
| Bank of Ireland | 3.90% | 3.90% | 4.20% | 4.20% | 4.50% |
moneysherpa advised them that they could save even more by switching provider to ICS mortgages, who’s fixed rate packages at 2.29% APRC recognise and reward the reduced risk from a low Loan to Value ratio when your property is worth more than your loan value.
Noel & Naeiri were able to reduce their mortgage payments and take 4 years off their mortgage saving over €38,000 in the process by completing the switch.
Murray and Jennifer, switched from AIB to Avant Money – Example
Murray and Jennifer living in Drogheda switched their mortgage from AIB to Avant Money with moneysherpa. They saved over €10,000 with Avant Money’s 7 year Fixed rate and were able to use the savings they made to pay off their mortgage earlier.
Avant Money have some of the lowest rates on the market, their 7 year fixed is one of our favourites starting from 1.95% and locking in your savings for 7 years.
| Short/Medium | 60% LTV | 70% LTV | 80% LTV | 90% LTV | ||||
| Fixed Term | Rate | APRC | Rate | APRC | Rate | APRC | Rate | APRC |
| 3 Years | 1.95% | 2.03% | 2.05% | 2.06% | 2.15% | 2.23% | 2.2% | 2.25% |
| 4 Years | 1.95% | 2.02% | 2.05% | 2.23% | 2.15% | 2.23% | 2.2% | 2.23% |
| 5 Years | 1.95% | 2.02% | 2.05% | 2.06% | 2.15% | 2.22% | 2.2% | 2.25% |
| 7 Years | 1.95% | 2.01% | 2.05% | 2.07% | 2.15% | 2.21% | 2.25% | 2.28% |
| 10 Years | 2.10% | 2.12% | 2.20% | 2.20% | 2.30% | 2.32% | 2.40% | 2.40% |
ICS Mortgages pip Avant at the post for the shorter fixed term products due to their more flexible credit policy. However if you have a sparkling credit history the Avant Money 3 year and 4 year fixed at 2.39% & 2.43% respectively are so close it makes no difference.
Sandra, Switching from PTSB to Avant Money – Example
Sandra Chubb from Ballyfermot switched her €110,000 mortgage from PTSB to Avant Money in January.
She saved over €10,000 by lowering her interest rate from 3.4% to 2.01% APRC with Avant Money’s 7 year fixed product.
By reducing her interest rate by over 40% she was able to afford to reduce her mortgage term from 21 years to just 12 saving thousands in interest payments.
Sandra switched with online broker moneysherpa.ie
“They were really friendly, gave me independent advice and helped me pull together the paperwork. Most people don’t realise they are in a position to save so much by switching”
That’s why we would recommend using a broker to help you switch to a fixed rate product with a low on-going rate from either Avant Money or ICS.
The lenders with the lowest rates can usually only be accessed by brokers, many brokers are free to use and they can take the pain out of the paperwork.
moneysherpa switchers Graham & Daire were with Ulster Bank and saved €63,000 by switching according to the Irish Examiner
- Over 25% of all mortgage holders will save over €10,000 by switching
- It only takes 15 minutes for a mortgage quote
What’s Next?
It makes more sense than ever to compare mortgage rates with massive savings available. There probably isn’t another financial decision that has as big an impact on your wallet.
A big thanks to Noel, Naeiri, Murray, Jennifer and Sandra for letting us share their stories.
The non bank lenders ICS, Avant Money and Finance Ireland have really leapt ahead of the pack this year with a 0.5% discount across all mortgage types. This has left the banks, who are weighed down with legacy costs, trailing in their dust.
These non bank lenders are only available via a mortgage broker or via one of our own mortgage sherpas, click for a mortgage check up with one of our sherpas here.
- Rates from 2.44% APRC
- Fixed for 3-30 Years
- Tighter approval policy
- Rates from 3.83% APRC
- Fixed for 3-5 Years
- Flexible approval policy
- Rates from 4.45% APRC
- Fixed for 3-25 Years
- Flexible approval policy
If you want to see what you could save by calculating your repayments you can click here.
If you want to know more about switching you can click here.
If you want to get your savings started right now, set up a free no obligation video call with a mortgage sherpa here.
Annual Percentage Rate Charge (APRC) calculated on a €100,000 loan over 20 years. APRC represents the average rate across the lifetime of a typical mortgage and is recommended as the best rate to use for comparisons by the CCPC. [1]
