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Mortgage product innovation in advanced economies: more choice, more risk

Author

Listed:
  • Scanlon, Kathleen
  • Lunde, Jens
  • Whitehead, Christine M. E.

Abstract

In many developed countries, house prices have been rising rapidly, mortgage debt has been increasing and affordability has worsened. It is in this context that the standard annuity mortgage is increasingly being supplanted by mortgages with non-standard features, such as longer terms or interest-only payments. Many of these new features aim to reduce the borrower's monthly debt service in the initial period of the loan. While these new mortgage types help households to enter owner-occupation and to vary their expenditure patterns, the long-term cost to the borrower cannot normally be less than for a standard product. Moreover, such mortgages can also be more risky: the interest-only borrower does not accumulate equity as an annuity borrower does, and loans with longer terms expose the borrower to greater risk of interest-rate or other economic shocks. As a result both borrowers pay more and the housing finance system may be more fragile. This paper brings together evidence from 13 developed countries about house prices, debt and affordability, and particularly the availability and market share of mortgages with these new features. It analyses trends over the last ten years and discusses the risks of these mortgages compared to standard annuity products.

Suggested Citation

  • Scanlon, Kathleen & Lunde, Jens & Whitehead, Christine M. E., 2008. "Mortgage product innovation in advanced economies: more choice, more risk," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 29889, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
  • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:29889
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/29889/
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Karin Haldrup, 2017. "On security of collateral in Danish mortgage finance: a formula of property rights, incentives and market mechanisms," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 1-29, February.
    2. T. van der Valk, 2019. "Quid pro quo: the institutional environment and the allocation of household wealth," Working Papers 19-25, Utrecht School of Economics.
    3. Emilia Lorenzo & Gabriella Piscopo & Marilena Sibillo & Roberto Tizzano, 2021. "Reverse mortgages through artificial intelligence: new opportunities for the actuaries," Decisions in Economics and Finance, Springer;Associazione per la Matematica, vol. 44(1), pages 23-35, June.
    4. V. D’Amato & E. Lorenzo & S. Haberman & M. Sibillo & R. Tizzano, 2021. "Pension schemes versus real estate," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 299(1), pages 797-809, April.
    5. Caroline Dewilde, 2018. "Explaining the declined affordability of housing for low-income private renters across Western Europe," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(12), pages 2618-2639, September.
    6. Philipp M Lersch & Wilfred Uunk, 2017. "The shadow of future homeownership: the association of wanting to move into homeownership with labour supply," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 31(3), pages 522-541, June.
    7. John Y. Campbell, 2013. "Mortgage Market Design," Review of Finance, European Finance Association, vol. 17(1), pages 1-33.
    8. Susan J Smith & Melek Cigdem & Rachel Ong & Gavin Wood, 2017. "Wellbeing at the edges of ownership," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(5), pages 1080-1098, May.
    9. Irfan Ahmed & Shahid Mahmood & Umar Farooq, 2012. "Determinant Attributes of Customer Choice of Banks, Supplying Mortgage Products," Journal of Economics and Behavioral Studies, AMH International, vol. 4(5), pages 287-296.
    10. Ebner, André, 2013. "A micro view on home equity withdrawal and its determinants: Evidence from Dutch households," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(4), pages 321-337.
    11. N. Kundan Kishor & Hardik A. Marfatia, 2017. "The Dynamic Relationship Between Housing Prices and the Macroeconomy: Evidence from OECD Countries," The Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 237-268, February.
    12. Richard Waldron & Declan Redmond, 2016. "Stress in Suburbia: Counting the Costs of Ireland's Property Crash and Mortgage Arrears Crisis," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 107(4), pages 484-501, September.
    13. Karpestam, Peter & Johansson, Sebastian, 2019. "Interest-only-mortgages and housing market fluctuations in Denmark," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 46(C).
    14. Giulia M Dotti Sani & Claudia Acciai, 2018. "Two hearts and a loan? Mortgages, employment insecurity and earnings among young couples in six European countries," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 55(11), pages 2451-2469, August.
    15. Shi, Xinyan & Riley, Sarah F., 2014. "Mortgage choice, house price externalities, and the default rate," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 139-150.
    16. Gill, Balbinder Singh, 2023. "Health uninsurance premium and mortgage interest rates," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    17. Damen, Sven & Vastmans, Frank & Buyst, Erik, 2016. "The effect of mortgage interest deduction and mortgage characteristics on house prices," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 15-29.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    housing finance; mortgages; interest-only;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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