Isn't a 100 year mortgage better than an interest only mortgage?
An interest-only mortgage is an infinite term mortgage - the ultimate in inter-generational mortgage lending (even worse than Japan).
Intergenerational mostgages of 99 years are available in Germany. I had suggested to a German friend that we had exhausted every line of credit available in Ireland -
100% plus mortgages,
40 year terms,
interest only mortgages,
6,7,8,9 times earnings,
propective 2008 earnings used instead of actual salary,
personal loans from credit unions to provide deposits,
HP on furniture and white goods incl. essential 52" plasma TV,
parental assistance etc.
and so the boom would end when he pointed this option out. According to the guardian
http://money.guardian.co.uk/news_/story/0,,1856648,00.html
"These types of products are quite popular in Switzerland, Japan and Ireland"
so maybe we have found some more rope to hang ourselves with yet. If I was feeding my dog and he kept eating everything I gave him I don't think I would continue providing more and more until ....
The new tanaiste obviously thinks that when consumption is out of control the best solution is to keep supplying. The trend in most countries is for no mortgage interest tax relief, a cap on LMV % and other sensible measures such as rent control and investor penalties. As the majority of the Irish voting public have already joined the BTL club we are all too compromised in by subjective views to admit the truth.
Shanahans Stamp Auctions all over again.
Apologies if this link has been referenced already but I think it makes a good summary of the situation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_property_bubble