Each week, we also round-up the best comments, emails and letters to the site and pick one reader contribution as our Star Letter. This week’s award goes to:

The legend of the 30-year fix returns – Marketwatch

Long-term fixed rates will never take off unless the rates are very low, the exit penalties are reasonable and full portability is a feature. I recall many years ago in 1990 a 25-year fixed rate being offered by Bear Stearns at a rate of 11.95%.

Although at that time the rate was competitive, even then it was viewed as a poor option, but imagine where anyone who took up the offer would be now? Exit penalties were high, rates since then have been consistently lower and the only winner on that deal was the lender.

10 years ago the then Chancellor Gordon Brown espoused long term fixed rates as being good for the consumer and ‘good for Britain’ bringing stability and protection against sharp changes in interest rates.

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Sponsored by Suffolk Building Society Intermediaries

Borrowers and advisers alike disagreed and they have never had a decent run since. for most borrowers planning 10-30 years ahead is impossible. i know the foreign mortgage market borrowers manage it but we are pretty much stuck on the shorter term fixed rates in the UK.

Andy Wilson

You can read more of this week’s best reader comments in our Star Letter Extra column HERE.