We all know that money is important, and that over the years there’ll be big things we’ll need to pay for. We’re conscious, too, that people are living longer, and that we have to ensure we don’t run out of money in retirement.
Whether you are starting out on your mortgage journey or currently hold a valid Approval in Principle from a lender you will have heard the buzz word “repayment capacity” being mentioned.
Mortgage interest rates in Ireland soared to a 3 year high in January. The latest data from the Central Bank shows the weighted average interest rate on new Irish mortgage agreements at end of January was 2.93%, up from 2.69% in December.
The financial markets are inherently uncertain. Markets react to random, unexpected events so, by their very nature, they are unpredictable — at least they are in the short term. Equity markets in particular can fluctuate wildly.
You can’t get away from the fact that all investing involves a degree of risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get less back than you invested. In some cases, you could even lose your entire stake.
There are several different types of assets, or asset classes. But, for individual investors, the most important are equities and bonds, which in turn are divided into government bonds and corporate bonds.