Home Mortgage Loans - Fixed Rate, Adjustable or Balloon, Which One Is Right For You?
When you're shopping for a new home—especially for the first time—all the
terms and expressions may be confusing and difficult to understand. Adjustable
rate, fixed rate, balloon payment - how do you decide which is the right
type of home mortgage for you if you're not even sure what each of them
are?
Top Recommended Companies To Refinance With:
(updated ):
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- Quick Application with worthwhile results
If you are looking for a mortgage loan but have "less than perfect credit" this company has options for people with credit problems. Complete a short form and get one dedicated mortgage banker from first call to closing with a simple, straightforward process.
Mortgage rates are still low. Refinance & Lower Your Payment!
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- America's #1 Online Lender
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- No Obligation and Free Expert Advice Another Great "bad-credit" Mortgage Company! QuickenLoans is also a competitive mortgage company for people with all types of credit including poor credit. Refinance or get new mortgage offers from this reputable Web based mortgage lender.
The name of the mortgage type
usually has to do with how you'll pay for your loan - how
the interest on the loan is being determined by the bank.
The three major types of mortgages are fixed rate, adjustable
rate and balloon payment. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Fixed Rate Mortgage
With a fixed rate mortgage,
you have a set interest rate for the entire life of the
loan. The interest rate that you pay for your loan won't
change - which means that you'll pay the same monthly payment
for the entire length of the loan. This protects you from
unexpected rises in interest rates that would increase
your monthly payment. At the same time, should the interest
rates drop, you will have the option of refinancing at
a lower interest rate. Because the protections are largely
on the side of the buyer with a fixed rate mortgage, interest
rates on them are generally slightly higher than they would
be on other types of mortgages.
A fixed rate mortgage is the
safest type. Because the payments are predictable, it's
usually considered the most desirable type of mortgage.
Always choose a fixed rate mortgage if interest rates are
rising.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage
When you choose an adjustable
rate mortgage, your monthly payment and interest rate will
fluctuate with the current market interest rate. If the
interest rate goes up, so will your monthly payment. If
it drops, your monthly loan payment will as well. The adjustable
rate is tied to an index, which is determined by the lender.
Other terms of the mortgage are also determined by the
lender. These include how often the interest rate is adjusted
- anywhere from every 3-6 months to once a year, how much
the interest rate can increase or decrease on any adjustment
date, and whether there is a 'cap' on how high the interest
rate can rise.
Often, adjustable rate mortgages
are advertised with extremely low interest rates, which
will be in effect for a short period of time. When the
introductory period is over, the mortgage rate will rise
to its normal amount.
Choose an adjustable rate
mortgage when you have secure income that is likely to
increase along with the economy. It's a good mortgage when
interest rates are stable, or if the signs suggest that
they're about to fall.
Balloon Mortgages
A balloon mortgage is often
a last resort for home buyers who can't qualify for more
traditional loans. The balloon mortgage has a fixed interest
rate and monthly payments for a specific amount of time.
At the end of that time, the entire loan comes due - hence
the name 'balloon'. In practical terms, a balloon rate
will give you a fixed monthly payment for several months.
After that, you'll essentially have an adjustable rate
mortgage.
Choose a balloon mortgage
loan for substantially lower initial rates, or if your
credit limits the other types of mortgage that you can
apply of qualify for.
Now that you understand your
options for mortgage loans, don't forget to shop around!
The interest rates and fees can vary wildly from lender
to lender, so make sure that you get the best deal that
you can!
Here are our recommended sources for good mortgage lenders online:
These are the Best of the Best:
(updated )
Mortgage rates are still low. Refinance & Lower Your Payment!
- Get Started on a Lower Payment Now!
- America's #1 Online Lender
- Save More and Spend Less!
- No Obligation and Free Expert Advice Another Great "bad-credit" Mortgage Company! QuickenLoans is also a competitive mortgage company for people with all types of credit including poor credit. Refinance or get new mortgage offers from this reputable Web based mortgage lender.
Act Now! Lower your monthly mortgage payment!
- Competitive rates and no hidden fees
- Bad Credit OK
- New Purchases, Home Equity & Refinance
- One dedicated mortgage banker from first call to closing
- Quick Application with worthwhile results
If you are looking for a mortgage loan but have "less than perfect credit" this company has options for people with credit problems. Complete a short form and get one dedicated mortgage banker from first call to closing with a simple, straightforward process.
The average rate of interest on mortgage loans continues to fall and has been under 5 percent for almost all of this past year, with this recent round of rate cuts seen as the lowest for borrowers in years. The reason, many borrowers today have bad or at least less than perfect credit scores. Still a borrower with less then perfect credit an jump through a few hoops and get a fairly decen rate on a loan.
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