• More on Mortgage interest rates

The main selling point of a fixed rate mortgage is peace of mind because if interest rates rise the monthly payments will always stay the same. This in turn means they have a downside - if interest rates fall the monthly repayments won't shrink.

But my take on this is simple - when it comes to money it's far more important to protect your downside especially with such a large loan as a mortgage.

Sadly many people have got into serious financial trouble in the past by -

2 years is the average for most fixed rate mortgages but plenty of 5 year deals are always available. Sadly not many lenders offer 10+ years which is a shame as 15 year and 20 year fixed deals are common in both America and in continental Europe.

So how long to fix?

This is obviously a personal decision as everyone's financial situation is different but if you agree with my argument that fixed rate deals are great for personal budgeting then try to fix for as long as possible.

Do note however the longer you fix for the higher the interest rate will be, for example if a lender offers a 2 year, 5 year and 10 year fix expect to see the rates look something like this -

The 2 year deal with a fix at 3.5% looks the best rate and this is true in the short term. But think what might happen if interest rates were to climb to 5% or more over that period. Having the 2 year fix would be an advantage but only for 2 years and when the fix expired you'll be paying the lender's SVR which is likely to be 6% or higher - more information on SVRs on the interest rate page.

My point is don't just think about the short term savings when fixing a mortgage rate, think long and hard about what happens after the fix expires. And for many this means trying to balance the best long term fix over the costs involved (higher interest rates payable and possibly higher arrangements costs).

Clearly the interest rate and the arrangement fees on the 15 year fix are outrageous but this is how the lenders often price 11+ fixed rate deals.

Ultimately this means the best fix is probably in the 5 year range and this balances a decent number of years with competitive prices.

• Peace of mind - No matter how high interest rates go your interest rate will stay the same
  
  
• Simple to understand - the best financial products including mortgages are normally the simplest. See Secret 3 - Buy simple and flexible - you can't read the future - which is one of this site's 10 Secrets to Good Personal Finance
  
  
• Great news when rates are rising - if interest rates rise significantly there's no better mortgage to have than a fixed rate one
  
  
• Plenty of competition - All the lenders offer fixed rate deals meaning plenty of competition which always leads to good deals
  
  

• Higher interest rates - fixed rate deals will always charge more interest but think of the extra cost as an insurance policy. Remember, if you own a car you'll pay insurance whether it's needed or not. More on Mortgage interest rates
  
  
• Repayments won't fall if interest rates are cut - When interest rates fall your mortgage rate will stay the same, ie you won't benefit from cheaper monthly repayments
  
  
• Possible jump in monthly repayments when the fix expires - say a 25 year mortgage is taken out with the rate fixed at 5% for the first 5 years. When the 5 year fix expires official interest rates are 7%. If so your monthly repayments will jump significantly
  
  
• High early repayment chances - If you want to get out of the deal during the fixed rate period there will normally be costly early redemption fees to pay. See Mortgage Fees & Charges
  
  
• Higher costs for longer term fixes - if you want to fix for more than 5 years the lenders normally charge higher costs than other mortgage styles
  
  

Want the right mortgage at the best price? Then start by downloading our free mortgage guide and follow the 4 easy steps.

• Shop around - Fixed rate deals are common, all the lenders will promote them so shop around for the best deal - see how to compare mortgages
  
  
• Watch the early redemption charges - Costly early repayment/redemption fees are sort of fair when the fix is in place but still, there is expensive and very expensive, so make sure you fully research how a number of different mortgages charge these fees
  
  
• Be quick - Interest rates, or at least the expectations of the future direction of rates can change quickly, so a fixed rate deal is sometimes marketed for only 1-2 weeks. So if you see the right one it's best to act quickly
  
  
• Watch the arrangement fees - many lenders charge far more than they should for longer term fixed rate deals (5+ years) so be on the lookout

However, their downside is although 10+ year fixes are offered the costs and interest rates are normally too high. Still, keep your eyes open as the lenders do sometimes offer some good deals.

To summarise - fixed rate deals offer security, yes you have to pay extra by way of a higher interest rate but think of this as an insurance policy.

• Download our FREE guide: How to buy the right mortgage at the best price in 4 easy steps