Bannière article blog
06.02.2024

Years go by, but the topic of interest rates remains topical. What about in 2024?

We take a look at the issue of rates for consumer credit and your mortgage.

 

Need a personal loan in 2024? What's changing?

The Ordinance on the Federal Act on Consumer Credit aims to set a course for the interest rates charged by banks and credit brokers.

What for?

Simply to protect the interests of the consumer.

As it is a quick and easy financing solution that also represents a greater risk for lenders, the interest rates charged are generally higher.

In order to avoid cases of over-indebtedness and to limit the emergence of unscrupulous players in the sector, a maximum interest rate is applied, a "cap".

Funding platforms are required to meet this milestone.

The mechanisms used to set the maximum rate are often linked to upward or downward trends in interest rates as well as the policy rate determined by the country's financial and political authorities.

It is for this reason that an increase in the maximum rate was decided and implemented from 1 January 2024. It will now be a maximum of 12%.

Is my credit impacted?

The potential application of this maximum rate is only relevant for contracts concluded after 1 January 2024. A contract signed before is therefore not impacted.

 

Need a mortgage? Are rates falling?

This is the question asked by many homeowners or future homeowners. Especially after the recent rise in mortgage rates after a period of historically low rates.

Inflation over the past two years has had a significant impact on interest rates. Depending on the duration of the contract, rates have been close to 4-5%, generating widespread concern about the ability of homeowners to repay if this were to last or even worsen in the long term.

The key interest rates decided by central banks in the United States and Europe were the triggers for this increase. These decisions were taken to counter a risk to the world economy caused by uncontrolled price increases.

Fortunately, the latest trends and figures show that inflation is stabilising or even falling. The consequence is a relative calm in the markets and a return to lower levels of applied interest rates.

 

And what about the Saron?

The Saron, the successor to Libor, bases its interest rate on the actual daily transactions on the Swiss money market.

This implies a certain degree of volatility that can work to the disadvantage of buyers opting to incorporate the Saron into their mortgage structure.

More advantageous than a fixed rate in 2023, the Saron rate has gradually caught up with the heights reached by these fixed rates.

It is more imperative than ever to get good advice on the advisability or risk of including a share of Saron in your loan.

 

What are the forecasts for 2024?

The current trend is rather downward and most financial institutions agree that rates will stabilize in 2024.

However, no one is able to guarantee this. What for?

First, inflation, although currently under control, is not fully stabilized.

Central banks will avoid cutting policy rates too hastily unless recessions are on the horizon.

This is the main indicator influencing borrowing interest rates in the countries concerned.

Unfortunately, the geopolitical reality remains extremely volatile.

The economic conflict between the United States and China continues to rage. The world's two major players are constantly fighting over access to cutting-edge technologies. The effects are devastating for Europe's growth recovery.

This has an impact on the climate of confidence in the financial sector.

To make matters worse, the recent elections in Taiwan have generated even more protests and provocations from the Chinese authorities. As Taiwan is a technological and industrial powerhouse in Asia, any impairment of its ability to produce and export would have significant consequences for global trade.

The conflict in the Middle East, the end of which does not seem to be in sight, as well as the risk of spreading to other territories in the region, do nothing to stabilize the markets. Added to this is the risk posed to maritime transport near Yemen; This prevents the passage of goods and could impact the entire supply chain.

Of course, the ongoing war in Ukraine continues to cause terrible loss of life but also economic damage throughout the region. As Russia is an important economic player but also a considerable military force, its collaboration with neighbouring countries such as China and even North Korea is a vector of uncertainty and fears about a potential way out of the crisis.

So yes, geopolitical events have an immediate influence on your mortgage rate and how it will evolve in the months and years to come.

 

Another alternative?

Despite this geopolitical reality, life must go on. Your projects don't wait and to make them a reality, funding is often necessary.

The route of a mortgage loan for a real estate project remains the first option.

Taking into account the current context, the choice of the contract term, the proposed rates and the formula with or without Saron, must be made judiciously.

However, if it is a project that requires little financing due to a large down payment or if we are talking about renovation or a reduced purchase amount, credit can be an alternative solution.

Of course, the rate is higher, but it is very likely that you will not reach the maximum rate imposed as described above. In addition, the rate granted remains fixed.

Other significant advantages are the absence of the obligation to justify the use of the loaned funds, less administrative management, the absence of a notarial deed and the simplicity and speed of execution of the payment of your money.

In addition, you have the right to change your loan formula or intermediary at any time, as well as free application and advice.

As always, a wise choice requires a good deal of thought and any decision must be made with respect to your budget reality and your ability to repay. Whether it's a mortgage or a personal loan, surround yourself with good advisors.

At Milenia, we will be able to guide you in the realization of your project. Free of charge and without obligation. Contact us to find out more!



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09.01.2024
Telecommuting: flop or not?

Since the Covid pandemic, companies have multiplied remote working methods. The most widely used is telecommuting. Two years later, has this method been successful?

 

Let's take a step back

During the lockdown, the world of work experienced a real shift.

Companies had to adapt and various means were put in place to ensure the continuity of services, sales, and the very functioning of the organization.

Do you remember?

The famous cardboard box filled with a computer, a mouse and a screen that the employees took home...

We somehow settled down somewhere in our apartment or our house.

The less fortunate had to sit on an old table at the back of their bedroom.

Children screamed in the background and parents had to juggle their work responsibilities with those of being a mother or father.

Ah... What wonderful memories!

In addition, the schedules became confused. There was no beginning and no end. We were already connected before, but now the workplace had invited itself into our home, into the family, into our home.

However, not everything had to be thrown away.

The doctor's appointment, the receipt of the Zalando package, the visit of the plumber... What required us to take time off or organize ourselves differently simply fit into his work schedule, on site.

Above all, no more time wasted on the road or on the train. We earned two hours of our living every day. That's no small feat...

We weren't the only ones. Hundreds of millions of people around the world, by obligation or freely, switched to this new way of working.

It was necessary to put in place state-of-the-art technological and IT infrastructures to enable more secure virtual exchanges of information via videoconferencing or e-mail.

It was necessary to set up a teleworking policy to give directives on working hours, the availability of employees and managers so as not to be too intrusive in private life.

Finally, regular reviews were required to assess the effectiveness of telework policies and gather feedback from employees.

The big winners? Zoom, Teams, Skype, Webex... It was a good time and the number of users exploded

 

Video conferencing platforms

In order to establish clear and effective communication channels, it is necessary to have instant messaging and video conferencing tools to maintain smooth communication between team members. This transition is being made by different players who bring specificities specific to each sector.

You may have seen that.

Some companies will use the Zoom platform, which allows simple video conferences with a discussion thread, which is easy to use and not very connected to other services.

Others will use Microsoft Teams or Webex, which offer more integrated and secure business solutions.

Skype and Google Meet round out the market leaders, at least in Europe.

 

And what about employers?

The main fear of some employers during this pandemic?

Decreased productivity.

The prevailing thought was that employees, less supervised than before, would work less given this new organizational freedom.

The endless breaks, the last-minute shopping, the Netflix binging...

We're not going to lie, the majority of teleworkers have taken advantage of this to better combine professional and personal needs.

There have been many productivity studies, too many to mention here.

In the end, productivity dropped slightly on average, but this varied enormously depending on the functions and responsibilities.

Profiles whose tasks were recurrent completed their work more quickly and, not needing to do more, to take advantage of the time available to go about their personal business.

Others worked even harder, especially early in the morning, late at night, or on weekends.

Where some managers suffered from a lack of supervision (monitoring?) of their teams; Some employees did not take well to the distance, the lack of clarity on the establishment of rules... All of them missed interpersonal relationships and this may have impacted the corporate culture and sense of well-being.

In conclusion, there is neither one statistic valid for everyone nor a representative feeling of all employers and employees. However, there is no doubt that the world of work has changed and the effects continue today.

 

Exactly. And today?

Companies are adapting to the demands of employees, especially young people entering the workforce.

They demand flexibility, adapted schedules and, yes, telecommuting.

In Switzerland, the job market is in favour of job applicants. Companies must therefore remain attractive and take these demands into account.

Companies are implementing hybrid work modes that allow the employee more time to work from home but require them to be present for a certain number of days in the office. Again, there is no single rule.

Some organizations simply refuse the principle of remote work.

Others impose a fixed day of attendance.

Some leave the choice to their teams.

One thing is for sure, remote work is here to stay, in one form or another.

More than controlling productivity, more than managing teams and workloads, the real challenge is to keep the links between employees, to ensure proximity between managers and their teams.

Finding a balance between the attractiveness of the employer brand, individual well-being and the needs of the company; This is where the effort must be directed for the future.

 

At work and at home, Milenia is always available

Accessing credit through our financing platform has never been easier.

Everything is within your reach, with customization according to your projects, we accompany you from start to finish so that your projects can see the light of day.

For your personal loan, we offer the best market conditions with 0 application fees. Everything is designed to make your life easier.

Your loan application can be done entirely remotely, with support from your personal advisor or both at the same time.

The flexibility, adaptability, personalization of your offer... All of this is embedded in our approach and services.

As the leading credit player in Switzerland, place your trust in us so that your personal dreams and projects come true.

 

 

 

 

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17.01.2022
ompare credit offers. It has to be prepared, it has to be done calmly and it has to make sense.

When it comes to your money and a contractual commitment, there's no need to rush. Here are some tips to help you make the right choice.

 

What exactly are we talking about?

When you want to finance a project, there are various solutions available to you. Credit is a relatively simple financing tool, quick to execute and with a light administrative burden.

For further clarification, a credit is also called consumer credit, personal loan, loan, private loan, etc. This is a loan of a sum of money by a creditor to you, the debtor. The amount in question must be reimbursed within a time limit agreed between the parties. An interest rate is calculated in addition to the principal to be repaid in order to remunerate the services of the creditor, a bank in most cases.

As this is a form of financing that does not require a down payment or guarantee, the rate applied varies according to the amount borrowed, the quality of your file and the repayment period.

Financing platforms such as Milenia are used to offer the best rates on the market and to support you in your efforts. You don't pay anything for this service; The remuneration of these platforms is ensured within the framework of the agreements with the partner banks.

 

Before you compare, ask yourself two questions.

Is credit the right solution for my project?

Am I eligible?

The first question has the merit of judging the relevance and usefulness of your approach. As a responsible service provider, we put your interests at the heart of our attention. Over-indebtedness must be avoided at all costs and your loan must bring real added value and not represent a debt that is difficult to overcome.

Can your project be scaled back? Does your cash flow simply allow you to avoid taking out a loan? Is it the right time?

These are all useful questions that allow you to judge whether or not you need to move forward.

The second question is also important.

Your advisor will be able to support you in this reflection, but you can already eliminate some doubts:

Am I domiciled in Switzerland? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I of legal age? If not, you will not be eligible.

Am I involved in an action filed in the debt collection? If this is the case, you will not be eligible.

 

One egg, one basket.

If you want to continue with a credit application, don't rush!

Above all, do not file multiple applications with different providers or banks.

Each request is logged and will block your access to a favorable response.

Compare, choose your financial partner wisely and, if the conditions are met, draw up your file with them.

To make a fair choice, take advantage of the service offered by a financing platform. It's online and it's easy.

 

Compare what, exactly?

The quality, the network, the accessibility and, of course, the conditions.

By quality, we mean the clarity of the information provided and the transparency of the platform. 

Are there testimonials from satisfied customers? Is there an independent quality body involved, such as Proven Expert? Is the team running the company clearly displayed? Is the company based in Switzerland?

As far as  the network is concerned, the quality and scope of the network will determine the quality of the offers offered to you. Check the partners page or search for published articles or the platform's blog if it exists. 

It is preferable to do business with a major player in the market that has serious, even exclusive, partnerships with recognized banks.

Accessibility. An online solution is often less time-consuming and just as relevant as if you went to an agency. However, it will be necessary to speak with an expert, go through your file in person and have live advice. 

Be sure that you will be able to access this service.

Lately, the conditions. The rates displayed on the various platforms are often similar. There are criteria to be met, however, and these often make the difference.

First of all, the process until you sign the loan agreement must be completely free of charge! Whether you visit a credit comparison platform or a financing platform, run away if you are asked for a single franc for so-called administrative or processing costs.

Secondly, do not sign anything when you are in a comparative or information-seeking process. Your file must first be well completed and analysed and it is only when you make a credit proposal following the acceptance of your application that you will have the opportunity to sign or not.

Finally, a 0.10% lower rate does not necessarily mean a good deal. All of this must be considered. The quality of your relationship with your advisor, the seriousness shown when drawing up your request, the choice of partners... Confidence and peace of mind knowing that you are in good hands is far more important than a tiny spread in the rate offered.

 

Do you have any questions?

We invite you to inquire via Milenia. You will have the opportunity to simulate your credit, learn about our solutions, get to know our team, ask your questions, browse through our customer testimonials and discover our articles on our blog.

Take your time, compare and when your choice is made, we will be at your side to carry out your project. Under the right conditions, with confidence and transparency.

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Loan illustration: loan of CHF 10'000. Effective annual interests rates between 4.9% and 11.95% over a 12 month period lead to total interests of between CHF 261.80 and CHF 624.80. Duration: 6-120 months; Maximum annual interest rate (including all loan handling costs) 11.95%. Loans approval are prohibited if they lead to excess debt for the consumer. (Art. 3 LCD)

 

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