Homeowners taking advantage of low rates

A financial services provider has claimed some homeowners are benefiting from the state of the property and mortgage market by paying off their house loans ahead of time.

Research from First Direct found more than one in ten (11 per cent) are in a position to be payment free within ten years.

It said the low rate of interest has allowed some people to make smart moves with their deals that could help pay them off early.

"By making sound financial decisions and choosing a flexible mortgage such as an offset, freedom can be closer than ever before," explained First Direct spokesman Jimmy Kelly.

He added the average homeowner has five mortgages in their lifetime and said each one is a big commitment, meaning it was important to make the right decision.

Paying off the loan early could free up cash to invest in a home improvement such as a conservatory, which a recent Halifax survey found to have the highest perceived potential for increasing the value of a property.