In the UK over 99% of borrowers raise the mortgage they need to buy their home in sterling and pay the prevailing UK interest rate. But there are alternatives.

Despite increases in 2005, the UK's domestic interest rates are low by its' own historical standards. However, they remain significantly higher than in Eurozone, America, Switzerland and indeed, Japan. Therefore, currently you can take out a mortgage in Euros, $ dollars, Swiss Francs or Yen, convert the money you've borrowed into sterling, secure the debt against your house in the UK and end up paying a much lower rate of interest.

You may think that UK interest rates are low, but if you look at the 3 month money market interest rates you'll see that they remain significantly higher than in other parts of the world: