End of fixed term on my first mortgage

GhostWKD

Hi All,

Took out a mortgage in Feb/March 2007 and as such am coming to the end of my fixed rate now.

Put off asking for advice as expected to hear from my mortgage company (BOI) but nothing has been forthcoming as yet...

You'll have to excuse my ignorance here but what should i be doing in regards to my fixed term coming to an end? Am completely out of my depth to be honest, and whilst the first time round i had help from my parents shopping around for the best deal etc. I have found remortgaging seems twice as complicated and unfortunately I don't have the help of my parents at this time either. To be honest i've been completely swept over by all of the resources and seemingly options out there...

Should I be contacting my current mortgage company to see what they can offer me now? Leaving it to go to the Variable Rate? Shopping around? (though shopping around in itself leaves me lost as surely i dont want to incur more charges for arranging new mortgages etc?)

Originally had a 18% or so deposit but obviously with the recession etc i may well have lost a large chunk of that in depreciation - how does this affect my remortgaging options?

Also if looking at remortgaging options etc where does this leave me in regards to possibilities of looking at moving etc? I work 55 miles from home and whilst i have pretty much made up in my mind renting out my flat and renting somewhere closer to work would be the best solution i cant help but think i should be looking at all the options...

Apologies for the very basic questions however really cant find my footing in what seems to be a very fast paced field of knowledge...

Many thanks in advance for any steer or any resources you can point me in the direction of. (I have checked the remortgaging leaflet but even then this leaves me lost and confused)

Regards,
Alex