The rate is not the whole answer
A mortgage that looks cheaper on paper can still be the wrong fit if it creates the wrong level of risk, leaves cash flow too tight, or ignores what the wider plan needs over the next few years.
Borrowing and retirement timing interact
Mortgage term, repayment structure and planned retirement age all affect each other. That is why mortgage decisions often need to be reviewed alongside pensions and future income, not in a separate lane.
Protection matters here too
Borrowing creates exposure. That means the mortgage conversation should also check what happens if income stops, whether cover is already in place, and whether the household plan can actually absorb the risk.