ComputerHunter.org |
|
|
|||
|
 |
How to Compare Fixed Rate Mortgages and Adjustable Rate Mortgages
There are many types of mortgages, and the more you know about them before you start, the better. To compare one Adjustable Rate Mortgage with another or with a fixed-rate mortgage, you need to know about indexes, margins, discounts, caps, negative amortization, and convertibility. You need to consider the maximum amount your monthly payment could increase. Most important, you need to compare what might happen to your mortgage costs with your future ability to pay. FIXED RATE MORTGAGES In a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage. The main advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it. Benefits and Advantages: - Low rates for the full term of your mortgage - Security of a fixed monthly payment for the life of you loan, regardless of fluctuations in interest rates - More stability may give you peace-of-mind Disadvantages - Higher initial monthly payments compared to those of adjustable rate mortgages - Less flexibility ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE (ARM). With this kind of mortgage, your interest rate and monthly payments usually start lower than a fixed-rate mortgage. But your rate and payment can change either up or down, as often as once or twice a year. The adjustment is tied to a financial index. Throughout the life of that loan, the principal and interest payment will adjust periodically based on fluctuations in the interest rate. Benefits and advantages: - Lower Initial payments due to lower beginning interest rate - Ability to qualify for a higher loan amount due to lower initial interest rates - Lower interest payments if the interest rate drops over time - Interest rate caps limit the maximum interest payment allowed for the loan Disadvantages - Your future monthly payment is uncertain. - Initial lower interest rate and monthly payments are temporary and apply to the first adjustment period. Usually, the interest rate will rise after the initial adjustment period. - Higher interest payments if the interest rate rises over time SUMMARY A Fixed Rate mortgage will offer you the security of knowing that your mortgage interest rate will not change during the term of your fixed rate. The advantage of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is that you may be able to afford a more expensive home because your initial interest rate will be lower. A Fixed-Rate Mortgage applies the same interest rate toward monthly loan payments for the life of the loan. Fixed-rate mortgages are more straightforward and easier to understand than ARMs. They are more secure for the buyer and they are very popular with first-time home buyers. Since the risk to the lender is higher, fixed-rate mortgages generally have higher interest rates than ARMs. A fixed rate mortgage is ideal for anyone who likes to budget monthly expenses and plans to keep their home for several years. A more detailed version of this article including a glossary of terms is available at: http://www.us-banks.org/archives/1970 [Disclaimer: This article is provided for information purposes only. No warranty is either expressed or implied. Under no circumstance will the author be liable for any loss or damage caused by a user's reliance on this information.] Copyright © 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for The US Banks Guide: http://www.us-banks.org/. Find informative articles and news stories about banking and finance. This article may be reprinted as long as all the above links are active and clickable.
Google News - Top Stories
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Is the Inverse Mortgage a Scam? New Program Promises Mortgage Payoff inside of 5 Years If a mortgage could be paid off in five years or less, without it costing homeowners an extra cent, why wouldn't every homeowner in America be doing it? Because they don't know, or because they're too wise? Although the former may be the case for many, I certainly hope the latter is the answer for most. Interest-only Equity Loans Create Amazing Power and are Quite Easy to Get The power of home equity and interest-only payments, provided from most home equity loans is amazing. You can get a home equity loan, with no closing costs and pay as little as $30.00 to $40.00 per month for up to $10,000 in equity cash. These loans are surprisingly easy to get for both residential and investment real estate. Seniors Can Use a Reverse Mortgage to Fund Annuities, Investments, and Insurance Policies For many seniors in or entering retirement, the prospect of purchasing long-term care, investments or annuities can be cut short by a lack of retirement income. Statistics show that 3 out 4 seniors will have to lower their current standard of living during retirement. Social Security, IRA's, 401k's, and other methods of retirement income usually provide enough income for living expenses and recreational activities, but do not leave much room to improve your financial future. A Reverse Mortgage is an increasingly popular solution for increasing income, and large amount of tax-free funds to safely move into investments and securities. Getting the Best Homeowner Loan for Your Money With so many lenders out there, it can be hard to tell if you're getting the best homeowner loan for your money. Banks, finance companies, and online lending services all offer competing loans, but determining which offers you the best homeowner loan can be tricky. Doing a California Refinance Online Californians are passionate people. I know. I have lived in California my whole life: From the smoggy basins of Los Angeles, to, well, the smoggy basins of Sacramento. I've traveled highway 101, I've smelled the glory of the Redwoods, and I've experienced the confusion of the Terminator becoming governor. Without turning into a pop-song, I've done it all California-style, and that even includes, moving through the exciting process of doing a California Refinance Online! Foreclosure Scams To Be Aware Of Homeowners facing foreclosure should be aware of unscrupulous lenders and scammers. Don't get me wrong, most lenders and agencies are reputable and legit. However some lenders, commonly second mortgage issuers will use unethical practices that increase the risk of nonpayment by the borrower. These tactics may include lending a large amount in hopes that the borrower will not be able to keep up with the payments, charging outrageous interest, points or fees. They may also repeatedly refinance the loan without any real beneficial reason to the borrower. Homeowners facing foreclosure are often targets of these scammers because they are seeking any solution possible at the time. Jumbo Home Mortgage Loans - What They Are and Where To Get Jumbo Loan Financing A jumbo mortgage is different than a conforming loan. A jumbo loan amount exceeds that limit set by FNMA. That limit can change every year, but is around $300,000. With a jumbo mortgage, the interest rate is a little higher than other similar mortgage loans that are for smaller amounts. The reason the rate is higher is because the loan has a perceived higher risk by lenders. Where To Find The Best Rates For Your Mortgage? As with all of my articles this will be based on a scenario in my home town. (Which may be similar to yours). Shopping for a Mortgage, Avoid Three Common Mistakes Buying a home or refinancing one is perhaps the largest financial transaction you will ever make in your life, so you want to be sure to avoid any mistakes that may cost you in the long run. Financial Rebirth Through Remortgage Seldom in ones life do we get a chance to alter the mistakes we made in the past. Remortgage offers a once in a life time opportunity to change from a mortgage to another that is more desirable. Home Loans Buying a home remains the great American dream. Home ownership rates have been exploding in recent years, spurred on by the historically low interest rates in the home mortgage market. Home prices have been rising at far faster than inflation, especially in major urban areas such as San Francisco, San Diego and Chicago. This means that not only can that home you've always wanted put a roof over your head, but it can provide you with a great investment as well. For people new to the mortgage market, buying their first home starts with finding the best home loans. Mortgage Sales Hit Problems The housing market has been buoyant over the past few years, but mortgage providers and first-time buyers are both now facing a tough time. Following announcements from the Bank of England that there has been an overall decline in the total number of UK home-buyers, and a declaration from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) that the number of disputes concerning mis-sold mortgage endowments has now hit record levels, it seems that mortgage lenders are facing a bleak time. Add to this the results of a new survey, by the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre, which shows potential first-time buyers fear that they may never get onto the property market, and you start to see a worrying picture of the housing market emerge. Fixed Rate Mortgage Loans - Understand the Pros and Cons of the Fixed Rate Mortgage There are many benefits and drawbacks to consider when deciding if a fixed rate mortgage is right for you. It is important to look at all options when it comes to something as important as getting a mortgage for your new home. Finding the Best Home Improvement Loan Rate If you're looking for a good home improvement loan rate, you might have to take your time and shop around a little bit. Sell Your Home and Invest at the Same Time I continue to see the same For Sale signs in my neighborhood. The houses just aren't selling. If you are considering selling or have a home on the market that is not moving, it's time to think about financing the sale yourself. A good friend of mine bought a new home three months ago, and he has watched his old house sit unsold, while he's struggled paying two mortgages. I finally convinced him to get past his fears and finance the sale of his old home. Mortgage Free In 15 Years! Imagine paying your mortgage off in 15 years! Think of all the great things you could do with that extra money. What would you do? Retire early? Buy an R.V.? Travel around the world? If you could eliminate your mortgage in half the time, then your options would be wide open. What is a Remortgage? A remortgage is changing your mortgage without moving your home. Remortgaging is the process of switching your mortgage to another lender that is offering a better deal than your current lender thereby saving money. A remortgage can also be used to raise additional finances by releasing equity in your property. Financing a Home With Bad Credit Financing a home with bad credit is a common problem for people. Over 25% of homes in the US are financed through sub prime lenders, who offer financing to high-risk borrowers. While sub prime lenders charge higher rates and fees, through comparison shopping you can find a competitive financing offer. Escrow Accounts, Do You Absolutely Need One? With escrow accounts the money for your home insurance and property tax is added to your monthly mortgage payment and is paid out each year. With that said, you may think that having an escrow account takes the responsibility off your shoulders because the bank will make the payment for you each year from your escrow savings account. But beware, because many people have found that their property tax and home insurance have not been paid on time or at all! Free Home Equity Loan Information Home equity loan information can sometimes be confusing and misleading. I have written this article to properly explain home equity loans. Basically equity is the difference between your home's appraised -- or fair market value and the outstanding mortgage balance you owe on your home. Borrowing against the equity built up in a home has become extremely popular.
|
|
|
|
|
