As the Central Bank’s retail interest rates for August reveal a continuing wide gap between Irish and euro area mortgage holders, with Irish consumers paying 2.83 percent compared with 1.35 percent on average across the euro area, a differential of 1.48 percent, Brokers Ireland said there is not enough competition in the Irish mortgage market and Irish consumers may have to wait until they can access mortgages across EU borders before we’re likely to see strong competition.
“In this regard it is to be welcomed that Mairead McGuinness, ratified today as the new EU Commissioner for Financial Services, Financial Stability and Capital Markets Union has committed to prioritising Banking and Capital Markets Union during her term. It will be no easy task but we wish her well,” Rachel McGovern, Director of Financial Services at the organisation, which represents 1,225 Broker firms, said
She noted the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic is evident in today’s figures with new mortgage agreements in August being down 38 percent on the same month in 2019.
“The pandemic has impacted many areas of the market, including the fact that lenders have become more risk averse, however, demand for mortgages remains strong and will continue since there is huge pent-up demand,” Ms McGovern stated.
The differential whereby Irish mortgage holders are paying 1.48 percent more than the euro area average is costing Irish consumers €80,481.60 on a €300k mortgage over 30 years.
“In the short-term the best advice we can offer consumers is to shop around and not be afraid to switch lenders. Since your mortgage is likely to be your steepest outlay financially there are substantial savings to be achieved with some lenders even offering incentives to switch. And it is easier now than it was some years ago. If in doubt contact a Broker,” Ms McGovern continued.
Ms McGovern said interest rates for SMEs were even worse than those for mortgage holders.
“The SME situation is far worse, with Irish SMEs borrowing amounts up to €250k having to pay an excess of over 3pc on their counterparts in the euro area,” she added.
In today’s Central Bank figures Irish SMEs are paying 5.03 percent on new loans with SMEs in the euro area in general paying a substantially lower 1.90 percent.
“That is a ginormous difference for which it is difficult to see any rationale. We need a vibrant SME sector now more than ever,” she concluded.
