Your monthly repayments consist of repaying the capital amount borrowed together with accrued interest. On your mortgage statement, normally received annually, you will see that the amount borrowed decreases throughout the term.

 Advantages
At the end of the term, you are safe in the knowledge that the total amount of the debt has been repaid. Overpayments and lump sum payments into your mortgage account can be made reducing both the interest and capital amounts repayable. Life assurance cover is not always necessary in taking out this type of mortgage.

 Disadvantages
There may be financial penalties for making lump sum/overpayments into your mortgage account. In the early years of a repayment mortgage the majority of the monthly repayment is interest rather than capital. For borrowers moving house regularly, this can result in little of the capital being paid off. If you have no life assurance cover in place and die before the loan is repaid, the mortgage will still need to be repaid. This may result in the property having to be sold to repay the debt owed.

With this type of mortgage, only the interest is paid off with each mortgage payment. The borrower also takes out at the same time, an alternative 'repayment vehicle' (method of paying off the mortgage) such as an ISA, pension plan or endowment policy. More information about endowments (which in the 1980's and 1990's were extremely popular), ISAs and Pension plans are below. The most important fact about an interest only mortgage is that the monthly repayments do not repay any of the outstanding capital balance. As a consequence it is important that the payments are maintained into the repayment vehicle otherwise it will not be possible to pay off the mortgage at the end of the term. Taking out a repayment vehicle is not in itself a guarantee that there will be sufficient funds to repay a mortgage.

Endowment
The most common type of interest only mortgage which also provides life assurance cover and a fixed payment for investment. The fixed payments are based on the amount of the loan together with the mortgage term and are designed so that, at maturity, the amount invested and earnings are sufficient to pay off the mortgage. Much maligned in the press because of the poorer investment growth rates achieved in a low inflationary environment this form of investment is less popular these days. Note there is no guarantee that, when the endowment matures and 'pays out', the balance will be sufficient to repay the mortgage.

Nonetheless millions of borrowers have one or more endowment policies and before taking any action on cashing-in a policy they should seek advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser. Customers cashing-in an endowment policy in the first few years after inception can receive less than the amount invested. Existing endowments can be used to support a new mortgage with any 'additional lending' over the value of the projected maturity balance being covered on a repayment basis or with an alternative repayment vehicle e.g. an ISA. It is also worth pointing out that historically the returns on endowment policies have been pretty good (provided they go full term).

Endowments provide life assurance so that in the event of death the mortgage is paid off.

ISA
The Individual Savings Account (ISA) is a tax-free method of saving. Using an ISA as a repayment vehicle is complex and is only for the financially sophisticated or borrowers taking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser.

Pension Plan
Life assurance cover is provided and monthly payments are made into a pension fund. When the benefits are eventually taken, the mortgage is repaid using tax-free cash from the remainder of the fund. The plan holder can then draw a pension from the balance of the fund. This product, which tends to be used by the self-employed, is only for those taking advice from a suitably qualified financial adviser.

 Advantages
If the proceeds of the plans exceed the amount required to repay the mortgage, then this is received as a cash lump sum by the borrower. Some plans are tax-efficient.

 Disadvantages
If the proceeds of the repayment vehicle do not achieve the amount expected, then there will be a shortfall. The borrower remains liable for any shortfall on the mortgage hence the outstanding balance will need to be paid off from other resources. Regular checking of the policy fund itself by the borrower and the lender should minimise any risk. If the plan is not reaching its expected target, the borrower can increase payments into the policy or invest in another product to cover any anticipated shortfall. Cashing in the plans early may result in financial penalties. These will be provided for in the initial agreement. In addition the lender has no way of tracking some of the more modern repayment vehicles, such as an ISA, which will result in some instances where a borrower lets an investment lapse forgetting or not realising it is to be used to pay off the mortgage. This will result in situations where there is no method of paying off the mortgage and the lender will only become aware at the end of the mortgage term.