Fixed Rate Refinance
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Fixed Rate Refinance - Why should you consider a fixed rate refinance for your current ARM Adjustable Rate Mortgage? If you arent concerned with rising adjustable mortgage rates, theres a good chance you should be. Adjustable rates have increased more over the past 18 months than in the preceding 5 years combined. Rising payments on ARM mortgages are projected to account for 50% of all defaults over the next 3 years. Even if your loan is not scheduled to enter its "adjustable" period for some time, please be advised that changes in the lending industry are making it more difficult for borrowers with all types of credit to convert their adjustable rate mortgages to a fixed rate, a trend which industry experts expect to continue for the near future. It may be a long time before the fixed rate refinance option is available as broadly as it is today. The time to act is now. Take advantage of your good credit history and current market conditions to secure a fixed rate mortgage with a low monthly payment today.
For those of you experiencing "sticker shock" when shopping for fixed rate mortgages to refinance out of your current adjutable rate, it is you may wish to examine 30 year fixed loans with the following options which allow you to lock in a low rate but make a lower payment for the first 2 to 10 years of the loan:
- Deferred Interest / Cash Flow Option
- Interest Only Payment Option
- 1/1 Buydown Refinance
- 2/1 Buydown Refinance
- 3/1 Buydown Refinance
- Graduated Payment Mortgage
Many people believe they cannot afford the payments when considering refinancing their ARM mortgage into a fixed rate. While it is true that fixed rate mortgages generally have higher rates than the adjustable mortgages they are replacing, they are secure, never increasing for the life of the loan. This is in sharp contrast to most ARM loans, which can increase as much as 6% or more at the FIRST adjustment date. In many adjustable rate mortgages, your payment can even double, or worse. Don't risk your home, start looking at a fixed rate mortgage today. Even if you can't or don't need to lock in a fixed rate for 30 years, fixed rates can be locked in for 3, 5, 7, 10 or more years.
There are now 30 Year Fixed Rate mortgages which offer a "Cash Flow" minimum payment option, which allows you to defer interest up to a maximum of 125% of the loan amount. This is one of the most popular options for borrowers converting from ARM loans, because it allows them to use their fixed rate mortgage like a line of credit (except one with no closing costs and usually much lower rates), trading additional cash flow for equity in their property as needed. As many borrowers benefit more from free cash flow than from non-performing home equity, this is a very popular option and is generally safer for the average homeowner than similarly advertised products such as the so called Option ARM loans.
Should I refinance my ARM to a fixed rate - There are benefits and negatives to both a fixed rate and an ARM mortgage, but for the borrower who is thinking about refinancing their ARM into a fixed rate, there are many things to consider. By Refinancing your ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage you will avoid the payment increase when your ARM interest rate begins to adjust. You will also lock into a more stable payment for the term of your mortgage.
Rates are rising rapidly for short term, adjustable rate mortgages. If your loan is adjusting, the payments could increase by up to 50% or more. You may be able to substantially reduce your adjusted payment by locking in a fixed rate today. Some Fixed Rate mortgages even have payment options as low as 1.95%
If you are currently in a sub-prime 2/28 ARM you may want to consider refinancing to a fixed rate. If property values are starting to drop in your area It is even more critical that you refinance out of your ARM in the near future.
Many people take adjustable rate mortgages because credit challenges prevented them from having a low fixed rate. If you have made all of your mortgage payments on time and your credit score has increased you may be able to refinance into a Fixed Rate Mortgage without increasing your payments.
If affordability is a determining factor in deciding your mortgage structure, ask your loan officer or mortgage broker if structuring your loan as an Adjustable Rate will give you more flexibility.
When deciding to refinance your adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) into a fixed rate mortgage, you first need to decide how long you think you will be in your home. If you are in the second year of a 5 year ARM, and only see yourself in the house for another 2-3 years, then you may want to wait until it is absolutely necessary to make the change. Your mortgage broker can advise you as to what the market may do, but they will not know what is in store for years to come. Concurrently they will also not know the number of years you will be in the home, along with any changes in your life that may require you to move.
If you are in a situation in which you MUST refinance, pay close attention to what is going on in the market. Make sure you are dealing with a savvy and honest loan officer or Mortgage Broker. Sometimes the yield curve becomes inverted, and you can actually refinance into a 30 year fixed mortgage, at a lower or equal rate than a 3 or 5 year ARM!
You need to find what your break even point is for your current loan. Have you already broken even? If not how much more will it cost you to continue in your current loan? Have an honest discussion with a broker to decide what the best course of action is.
In an economic climate where short term rates and long term rates are about the same, it may be better to refinance adjustable rate mortgages into fixed rate loans. Home buyers are willing to share the risks of an adjustable rate mortgage when the adjustable rate is significantly lower than fixed rate mortgages. If such advantage no longer exists, fixed rate mortgage is often a preferred choice.
Fixed Rate Option Payment Mortgages - The newest twist to the option payment mortgage are loan products that offer fixed rates of interest in addition to the low payment options that are also fixed for various periods. This eliminates some of the risk of the more traditional option payment ARM loan, especially in rising interest rate environments.
This program is often referred to as a Hybrid or Secure Option Arm. This does provide the flexability of the different payment options as well as some stability knowing that your rate will be locked for a period of time.
With a Fixed Rate Option Payment Mortgage, you would have an option to choose 1 of 3 different payment amounts during the initial period. One, you could make a fully amortized payment, paying both principal and interest. Two, you could pay the interest only and pay no principal. Or three, you could make a minimum payment based upon a lower interest rate. If you choose the third option, the difference between an interest only payment and your minimum payment would be added onto your loan.
One feature of a fixed rate option payment loan is that the borrower can calculate exactly how much interest will be deferred during the intial option payment period. Because of this, in a sense this type of loan becomes really no different than a second mortgage or cash out refinance where the borrower knows precisely how much their principal balance is being increased.
A fixed rate option loan can be a tool to manage your finances. There are times when a person's cash flow may have it's highs and lows. A fixed rate option loan will allow you to determine how to plan for those times.
Financially savvy home buyers often prefer Fixed Rate Option Payment mortgage over conventional financing. They use it to maximize leverage, increase purchasing power, and lower monthly mortgage payments.
There are even 30 year fixed rate mortgages with rates in the 6% to 7% range with minimum payment options as low as 1.95%.
Fixed Rate Hybrid Mortgages - A fixed rate hybrid mortgage is a mortgage that starts with an initial period where the interest rate and monthly payment are fixed, followed by the remainder of the loan which the rate and payment may fluctuate with the market.
The types and initial fixed period vary depending on which program you choose.
Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM) - "What is a fixed rate mortgage(FRM)? Should I get one?"
The most common type of mortgage program where your monthly payments for interest and principal never change. Property taxes and homeowners insurance may increase, but generally your monthly payments will be very stable.
Fixed rate mortgages are available for 30 years, 20 years, 15 years and even 10 years. There are also "biweekly" mortgages, which shorten the loan by calling for half the monthly payment every two weeks. (Since there are 52 weeks in a year, you make 26 payments, or 13 "months" worth, every year.)
Fixed rate fully amortizing loans have two distinct features. First, the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan. Secondly, the payments remain level for the life of the loan and are structured to repay the loan at the end of the loan term. The most common fixed rate loans are 15 year and 30 year mortgages.
During the early amortization period, a large percentage of the monthly payment is used for paying the interest . As the loan is paid down, more of the monthly payment is applied to principal . A typical 30 year fixed rate mortgage takes 22.5 years of level payments to pay half of the original loan amount.
If a fixed rate mortgage isn't right for you, there are several adjustable rate mortgages available that can work better for some customers in the short term.
One reason that you may choose an adjustable rate mortgage as opposed to a fixed rate mortgage is the length of time you plan on residing in your home. If you know you are planning on staying for a short period of time, it may be wise to take advantage of the lower initial rate.
Fixed rate mortgages is a mortgage loan that has a permanent interest rate that will not change for the life of the loan. This is only one type of mortgage and your mortgage professional can help you decide if they mortgage will fit your financial status.
Fixed Rate Pay Option Mortgage - This is a relatively new program available in the realm of Pay Option Mortgages. Traditionally Pay Option Mortgages have a monthly adjustable interest. This new program has a fixed rate for the life of the loan. This means that the only payment to adjust is your minimum payment. This rate will adjust annually. The remaining payments: Interest Only, 30 year and 15 year, will not adjust monthly based on interest rate changes.
Fixed Rate vs. ARM - There are many different options available when shopping for a mortgage, but one of the most basic choices potential borrowers face is the choice between a fixed rate or an adjustable rate mortgage.
There are benefits and drawbacks to each, and you should consider these when shopping for a mortgage.
A fixed rate mortgage has the advantage that the interest rate is fixed for the life of the loan. Your payments will remain stable, regardless of changes in the real estate or interest rate markets. Over the life of your loan, the interest rate market will fluctuate, and at some point, your interest rate will probably be below the current market. The lender assumes the risk of such market fluctuations in making the fixed rate mortgage for you, and in exchange, the fixed rate mortgage typically carries a higher rate than a comparable adjustable rate mortgage.
An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) offers a lower initial interest rate than its fixed rate counterpart. The reason for this is that making a mortgage involves a large sum of money being lent over a long period of time, and therefore carries some level of risk for the lender. If you take on an adjustable rate mortgage, you are assuming some of that risk by allowing your interest rate to change with the market. The lenders profit margin is protected over the life of the loan, and therefore they can offer you a more attractive interest rate.
Most homeowner sell or refinance their homes within 5 years, therefore obtaining a fixed rate may not always be the best option. When you are looking to buy a new home or refinance your existing mortgage sit down with your mortgage professional to find out all of the advantages and disadvantages to both a fixed rate home loan and an adjustable rate home loan for your individual situation. Adjustable rate mortgages, also referred to as ARM's, can be highly advantageous when used in the right situations. Remember to, that with an adjustable rate mortgage your rate can also go down depending on the market conditions at the time of the adjustment periods.
Both fixed rate and ARM loans can be "interest only". Typically, the interest-only period on a 30-year fixed rate loan lasts 5 years. On adjustable-rate mortgages, the interest-only period typically coincides with the fixed-rate period (if the loan is a 2-year ARM, the interest-only period is usually 2 years as well).
Mortgage loans with long fixed rate periods usually have higher interest rates. However, in certain interest climates, the short term rate is at the same level as long term rates. In such economic conditions, there is little to no difference in interest rates between an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) and a Fixed Rate Mortgage )FRM).
Fixed Rate Mortgage Or Adustable Rate Mortgage? - Borrowers have there choice of many different loan programs today. The most common choice is between a fixed rate mortgage and an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). Choosing between the two mortgages depends on many factors.
One of the biggest factors is how long you plan to live in the home. If you know there is a strong liklihood that you will be in the house for 10 or more years then you should definately go with a fixed rate loan. If however you only plan on being in the new home for 3-5 years then there are a few options to consider. You may be able to get a better rate on a 5,7, or 10 year ARM than on a 30 year fixed mortgage. Then it is up to you to determine whether the monthly savings is worth the risk of adjustment if you end up living in the home longer than you anticipated.
Another factor to think about when deciding whether to go with a fixed interest rate or an adjustable rate mortgage is to look at the market, the current market trend and the forecast on what interest rates are expected to do in the future. If interest rates are expected to climb for the next 3 years then getting into an adjustable rate mortgage that will be less than 3 years would probably not make a lot of sense in most situations. Of course there is no way to be sure of what interest rates are going to do next month let alone in 3 or more years, but we can make some very educated guesses after analyzing the current market conditions and the current economy while looking over the past trends and the economic forecasts. Talk with your mortgage professional to find out whether a fixed rate mortgage or an adjustable rate mortgage is the best for your situation.
Many investors prefer shorter term adjustable rate mortgages because the reduced initial interest rate means more monthly cash flow. Investors often have a specific time frame by which they plan to have resold the property. The higher rate of a 30 year fixed mortgage is useless if you know for sure that you will have sold the property in 12-24 months.
If you prefer to have an adjustable rate mortgage, be sure to understand the terms of the prepayment penalty. The prepayment penalty (PPP) can be as high as the amount of the interest for 6 months. Borrowers will enjoy the lower interest rate, but be sure to understand what you are agreeing to.
30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage - A mortgage in which the interest rate remains the same for the life of the loan. Payments are amortized for 30 years. In other words, payment is calculated in such a way that the borrower makes equal monthly payments and pays off the home loan in 30 years.
With rising interest rates looming in the horizon, many home buyers are now seeking the payment stability the 30 Years Fixed Rate Mortgages (FRM) offer. The 30-Year Fixed has again become a popularly demanded loan.
While most borrowers feel that a thirty year fixed mortgage is the best option, it is not always the case. The average homeowner lives in their home for 5-7 years and may be better off with a mortgage that is fixed for 5 to 7 years and adjustable afterward. This gives the stability of a fixed rate mortgage with the lower rates that are available with an ARM.
In the investment world, the longer the capital is committed for, the higher the return. This is true with corporate bonds, T-bills, bank certificates of deposit, etc. This is also true with mortgage loans. Although the 30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage has payments lower than that of the 15 Year Fixed, the 30 Years Fixed interest rates are often one half percent higher than that of 15-Year Fixed Rate Mortgages.
There are rare occasions that the 30 year fixed rate mortgage will have a better rate than a 5 or 7 year ARM.
The 30 year fixed rate mortgage is probably still the most popular mortgage option. When deciding between mortgage programs, you need to consider different variables such as the length of time you will be in the home. Sometimes you may be better off with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), if you only see yourself being in the home for a few years.
A 30 year mortgage is the most common because many people can not afford to go to a lower term. Also, a 30 year mortgage comes highly recommended for the tax benefits it provides along with a low monthly payment. Remember, it is always better to have the cheaper monthly payment that you can afford that gives you a little flexibility each month, and then you can always pay extra when it is convenient so you can pay your loan off quicker.
While the most popular mortgage, before going with a 30 year fixed, consider how long you plan to be in the home. If not more than 5 years or so, take a look at what rates you can get on a 5/1 ARM and compare the two.
A hybrid of sorts to the standard thirty year fixed, is the thirty year fixed, with an Interest Only payment option. For the first ten years of this loan, the borrower has the option to make an interest only option, which offers a lower monthly payment. The interest rate on this loan does not change for the entire thirty years term.
If you plan on staying in your home for the rest of your life, a 30 year mortgage may be your best option. While the monthly payment may not be as low as with an ARM, you have the security of knowing you will never have to refinance and worry about being stuck with a higher monthly payment down the road.
Fixed Rate Mortgage versus an Interest only Mortga - With a fixed rate mortgage (FRM), your monthly payments will be steady
In contrast, with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) , your payments will vary over time.
Adjustable rate mortgages typically have an initial fixed rate lower than the rate of a comparable fixed rate mortgage. The initial fixed rate period is followed by adjustment intervals. For example, a "3/1 ARM" is fixed at an initial low rate for the first 3 years, and then adjusts every year based on an index. Common ARMs are: 1/1, 3/1, 5/1, 7/1, and 10/1. (Don't confuse ARMs and balloons )
The average homeowner in America sells or refinances roughly every 5 years. Keeping this in mind, it may not always be in your best interest to go with a fixed rate mortgage for 30 years. An ARM loan may be more appropriate for you, especially if you know you plan on moving or refinancing within the first few years. A 5/1 ARM will generally provide a lower interest rate than a 30 year fixed rate mortgage will and the lower rate will equate to a lower mortgage payment. So think about not just the now when obtaining a mortgage but the near future as well.
Interest Only is an option that can be chosen for most types of mortgages, Fixed or ARMs. The interest only option allows the borrower to make only interest payments. This is usually only allowed for the first 5-10 yrs. Choosing an interest only option can also affect your interest rate. There is usually an add on of 0.25% - 0.5% to the interest rate for interest only payments.
Interest only loans are available with both fixed rates and adjustable rate mortgages. Paying the interest only allows borrowers to lower their monthly mortgage payment.
With an Interest Only loan, you make no payments to principle. They only way to gain equity is to make additional higher payments or choose a home in a high appreciation area.
Fixed Rate - This standard form of a mortgage has two basic characteristics that do not change throughout the liof the loan: the interest rate and the repayment term. In addition to the principal and interest the lender often collects monthly on the amount needed to pay annual taxes and insurance. This amount can sometimes be known as impound fees or escrow funds, this amount can be determined by taking the cost over the year dived by 12. Although, the principal plus interest payment remains constant over the life of the loan, the amount needed to pay taxes and insurance may vary, resulting in the change in the total monthly payment. The accured interest due on the loan is always paid first, with the balance of the payment allocated to principal, taxes and insurance accordingly. The result of this standard payment format is that the borrower begins to build equity with the first monthly payment.
This being the most common type of mortgage, consists of one fixed interest rate for the complete term of the mortgage, so you always pay the same monthly payments for the life of the loan. This offers consistency, an advantage for borrowers on fixed or limited incomes.
A 30 Year Loan may be an Adjustable Rate Mortgage or a Fixed Rate Mortgage since both mortgage types can be amortized over 30 years. To ensure you truly are in a fixed rate mortgage, review the Truth In Lending, this document should show no adjustment in payment.
A Fixed rate does offer the most in safety and lack of risk of any loan program. That safety comes with a price, however. The payment on a 30 year fixed mortgage will be the highest payment of any program that you select.
In addition to a 30 year fixed loan, you can get a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. Most people believe that, since the mortgage is paid off twice as fast, the payment must be twice as much. This is simply not the case.
15 year fixed mortgages usually have a lower interest rate than 30 year fixed. Since most of your monthly payment is interest, it only takes a small increase in your principle payment to pay off your loan in 15 years. Your total monthly payment can be as low as 15% more than on a 30 year fixed mortgage.
For example, if you had a 30 year mortgage where you are paying $1,000 per month, a 15 year mortgage may cost only $1,150 per month. The exact difference in payment will depend on your own situation. Contact a trusted mortgage professional if you are interested in seeing what the payment difference is for you.
Considering the fact that the average American homeowner sells or refinances their home every 5 years, that is a major reason why a fixed rate mrotgage is not always the best program for everyone. An adjustable rate mortgage will usually offer a lower rate and a lower payment.
Although your monthly mortgage payment will always remain the same, the principal payment will go up, and the interest payment will go down with time. The longer you remain in the mortgage, the faster you build equity.
The reason your principal and interest change each month is that you are paying interest on the current amount of the loan. Therefore, since the amount of the loan goes down with each payment, the amount of the interest payment also goes down. Since your total principal and interest payment stays the same, your principal payment goes up.
Also, if you pay more on your mortgage each month than you are required, you will build equity faster, in two ways. First, the added payment goes directly to your equity. Second, you decrease your loan amount, which means you pay less in interest, and more in principal for every month, for the rest of the life of your mortgage.
Fixed Rate Mortgages (FRM) are suitable for homeowners who intent to keep the property for a long time, preferably for the life of the loan. FRM are also good for homeowners who are uneasy about the uncertainty in interest rate trends and the potential increase in future payments that are associated with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM). To accommadate homeowners who do not intent to keep the home for more than 10 years and are uncomfortable with the potential risk of an ARM, most banks offer Hybrid Loans. Hybrid Loans offer a Fixed Rate period for the initial one, three, five, seven, or ten years, followed by an Adjustable Rate for the remainder of the loan term.
One of the misconceptions about mortgage programs the average borrower has is they truly believe fixed rate mortgages are always best. When you understand the mortgage business you begin to see why this is not always the case. When you plan on refinancing your house in just a few years or selling the home in this time frame you may want to consider one of the Hybrids to keep your payments lower. This can save you money over time. Ask your mortgage broker to show you the difference and compare.
ARM loans generally have a lower interest rate than fixed rate loans, and you therefore have a lower payment. However, there are some cases where the interest rate may be the same or even slightly lower on a fixed rate loan that on an ARM. In these cases, it is always better to choose the fixed rate mortgage.
You are probably familiar with a fixed rate mortgage. Your parents more than likely had one, as did their parents before them. The major advantage of fixed rate mortgages is that they present predictable housing costs for the life of the loan
Fixed Rate Second Mortgages - A fixed rate second mortgage is a second lien on your property that is obtained by utilizing the equity available in your home. With a fixed rate 2nd mortgage you will receive the entire loan amount up front and make payments for the specific term of the loan (such as 10 years, 15 years, etc...). The rate on these loan types is fixed.
A fixed rate second mortgage is different from a home equity line of credit because with a home equity line of credit you have a revolving credit limit and with the fixed 2nd you don't. A revolving credit limit is basically the same as a credit card: you have a maximum credit limit and as you pay it down the money becomes available again. With a fixed rate 2nd mortgage you do not have the money available to you again after you pay the loan down or pay the loan off.
The mortgage interest is generally deductible on a fixed rate second mortgage just as it is on a 1st mortgage and also a home equity line of credit. A fixed rate second mortgage is a good idea for people trying to consolidate debt and for people who are looking to do a home improvement loan.
A fixed rate second mortgage is utilized very often when someone buys a house with little or no down payment. A borrower may do an 80/20 loan or an 80/15 loan. The 80/20 is a 80% first mortgage and a 20% 2nd mortgage and an 80/15 loan is a 80% first mortgage and a 15% second motgage with the other 5% coming in the form of a down payment from the borrower. The second mortgage in these 2 transactions listed above can also be an equity line of credit but most equity lines are adjustable rates and many borrowers like to have the luxury of a fixed rate and knowing that their payment will not increase and they will have the loan paid off in x amount of years.
You may be entitled to a lower rate if you choose a fixed rate second mortgage with a balloon feature. The loan may be a fixed rate and amortized over 30 years but the note will be due in 5, 10 or 15 years.
Although borrowers always enjoy the comfort and security of a fixed rate it is important to remember than second mortgages are usually not kept for the long term. Because they are normally at a substantially higher rate than a first mortgage, most homeowners end up refinancing them into their first mortgage.
Where the short term rate is in a rising environment, some people prefer the security Fixed Rate Seconds offer over the risky nature of adjustable rates of Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). Take for example in late 2005 and early 2006, when the Prime Rate (a short term rate index which most HELOC’s are based on) was only about 0.5% lower than the interest rates of Fixed Rate Seconds. With such a small difference between the Fixed and the Prime, most homeowners opt for the peace of mind that Fixed Seconds offer.
7 Year Fixed Rate Hybrid Mortgage - Sometimes referred to as the "7/1", the 7-Year Fixed Rate Loan is a mortgage where the interest rate is fixed for 7 years. After the 7-year fixed period, the interest rate adjusts, usually once a year, for the rest of the loan term. Most 7 Years Fixed Hybrids are amortized for 30 years. That is, payments are calculated so the home loan is paid off in 30 years.
Statistics have shown that Americans keep their home loans on average for less than 7 years. For younger homeowners who plan to "trade up" their homes. A Hybrid mortgage with a 7-year Fixed Rate period, which usually have a lower initial interest rate than the 15-year Fixed and the 30-year Fixed, may be a better loan option.
The interest rate offered for this type of ARM is usually lower with a shorter fixed term. So a 7/1 ARM will have a higher interest rate than a 3/1 ARM.
Sometimes the rate differences between these hybrid type mortgages and fixed rate mortgage are so minimal that it may make more sense to obtain a fixed rate mortgage. So make sure that you ask about what all of your rate and program options are up front.
Under normal interest rate climate, the interest rate of a 7-year fixed rate hybrid is usually lower than that of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. The "7/1 ARM" is designed for homeowners who do not intend to keep their mortgages for more than seven years to take advantage of the lower interest rates during the initial seven years.
In additon to 7/1 ARMS, there are also hybrid ARMS with different fixed terms, including 3/1 and 5/1.
15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage - A type of mortgage where the interest rate never changes for the duration of the loan. Unless the mortgage has an interest only or other payment option features, payments are amortized over 15 years, that is, the homeowner makes equal monthly payments and the entire loan would be paid off in 15 years.
When an investor purchases bonds or invest in bank CD's, the longer he commits his money for, the higher his interest rate, or yield, will be. The same is true in the mortgage industry, loans with longer terms have higher interest rates. The 15 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage usually carry interest rates that are 0.5% lower than the 30-Year Fixed.
Interest rates are typically lower on a 15 year fixed rate mortgage, depending on the lender and the loan program. You will build equity faster with a 15 year loan, than what you will with a 30 year loan. The reason is that more of your payments are being applied to the principal, at an earlier point than that of the 30 year fixed rate mortgage.
People are amazed at how much money they save on a 15 year mortgage versus a 30 year mortgage. Anytime you are over 80% LTV and you are required to pay PMI and you obtain a 15 year fixed rate mortgage, the percentage of coverage required for PMI is significantly lower than the percentage required for a 30 year mortgage. An example would be on a 100,000, 30 year loan at 90% LTV you might be required to have 25% coverage for your PMI (which would basically equal a PMI monthly payment of around $43.33). Now on a 100,000 loan on a 15 year term at 90% LTV you might be required to have 12% coverage for your PMI (which would equal a PMI payment of $19.17 per month). Therefore, by using a 15 year term vs. a 30 year term you may be able to cut your PMI by less than half.
Amidst all the various newly introduced home financing options, Fixed Rate mortgages remain a popular loan program, mostly due to the fact the some homeowners are uncomfortable with the thought that their mortgage payments can fluctuate.
Since a 15 year fixed rate mortgage comes with a considerably higher monthly payment than its 30 year counterpart, this loan would be best suited for borrowers who have good monthly cash flow. Also borrowers who have high balances on other consumer type debt would be advised to avoid this loan at least until the other debt is paid down. It usually would not make sense to accelerate the payment of low interest, tax deductable mortgage debt while slowly servicing high interest, non-tax deductable consumer debt.
It is also possible to pay the equivalent of what would be a 15 year amortized payment, even on an actual 30 year amortized loan. Doing this will give the borrower a huge interest savings by paying the loan off earlier, and at the same time, give them the option to make a lower monthly payment, or revert back to their 30 year payments all together, should they need to.
If you are unsure whether you will be able to continue making payments on a 15 year mortgage at some point down the road, consider a longer-term mortgage, where you pay less each month. Your mortgage professional should be able to tell you how much extra to pay each month if you still want to pay off the loan in 15 years.
5 Year Fixed Rate Hybrid Mortgage - A mortgage program in which the interest rate remains the same for the initial 5 years. At the end of the fifth year, the mortgage turns into an Adjustable Rate Mortgage for the remainder of the loan term. Payments of most 5-Year Fixed Rate Hybrids are amortized for 30 years.
This loan program is named "5/1 Hybrid" because it starts out as a Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM), then changes to an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM). For this reason, it is also commonly refered to as the "5/1 ARM".
For the past ten to fifteen years, this has been one of the most popular loan programs on the market. The reason for this is simple. The average mortgage loan in the United States is kept less than five years. In these days of frequent refinancing and frequent moving from one home to another this loan will make much more sense than a long term fixed program such as a thirty year fixed. With this program borrowers can save thousands of dollars in interest over the five year period when compared to the traditional thirty year fixed.
If you think you may need a ARM with a longer fixed term ask your mortgage broker about a 7 or 10 year ARM. The rates may not be as good as a 5 year ARM but they are still lower then a fixed rate loan.
This is also called a 5/1 ARM meaning that the rat is fixed for the first 5 years and adjusts 1 a year every year after that.
When the adjustment period begins there is a cap for how much the rate can adjust in the first year, and each year after that. These loans also have a cap for the life of the loan as well as a floor rate, which is the lowest rate the loan could ever have.
The hybrid or ARM loans are a great option to save money on your monthly payment especially when used in the right situations. If you plan on moving within the next 5 years, there is no reason to obtain a higher rate mortgage that is fixed for the life of the loan instead of a 5 year fixed rate loan.
In most cases, mortgage rates are higher when the "fixed" period is longer. In other words, a 30-Year Fixed Rate mortgage usually carries an interest rate higher than a 5-Year Fixed Hybrid (5/1 ARM). For home buyers who do not intend to keep their mortgages for more than 5 years, a 5/1 ARM is usually a smarter choice because of its lower initial interest rate.
3 Year Fixed Rate Hybrid Mortgage - A type of home loan where the interest rate stays the same for the first 3 years of the loan term, thereafter the interest rate is adjusted periodically. Depending on the indices used, after the initial fixed rate period, the interest rates of most 3-Year Fixed Rate Hybrids adjust annually. The 3 Years Hybrid is sometimes referred to as the "3/1".
Under normal economic climate in the interest market, the longer the fixed period is, the higher the interest rate. In other words, a Hybrid with a 5-year fixed rate period has a higher interest rate than a Hybrid with only a 3-year fixed period. This rule also holds true with almost all interest bearing financial products, such as Certificates of Deposits. For instance, a 12-month CD almost always offers a higher Annual Percentage Yield (APY) than a 6-month CD.
A 3 year ARM may be a good solution if you only plan to live in your house for a few years. The lower rate offered by a 3/1 Adjustable Rate Mortgage also makes this loan popular for first time home buyers because it can be used to build higher credit scores during the initial fixed interest period.
With this type of loan there are caps for adjustments each year and for the life of the loan. When the adjustment period begins the rate could adjust up or down depending on the market conditions and the index the rate is based on.
This loan is also known as a 3/1 ARM Loan
On a 3 year arm your first adjustment will happen after you make your 35th payment. Usually the caps are set at 2/2/6, which limit the increases and decreases in your rate.
50 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Programs - Recently some lenders started to offer 50 year fixed rate mortgages. This type of loan programs is for the borrowers who are not comfortable with the concept of the interest-only loan programs. There are pros and cons for this type of loan programs.
50 year fixed rate mortgage programs are for borrowers who are looking to have a low monthly payment. This program is great for people with low monthly income that are unable to afford the home of their dreams if they were in a conventional thirty year mortgage.
50 year mortgage loans drop the mortgage payments down comparable to what interest only loan payments would be. Some borrowers and lenders are more favorable to this loan because principle payments are made to the loan.
The longer the mortgage term, the slower the rate at which you are paying down the principal on the home. For that reason it is important to note that while you are still paying down the principal, you are paying it down much slower on a 50 year mortgage than on a 30 year mortgage.
Interest only loans can be risky because of the payment adjustment following the initial interest only period. A 50 year mortgage provides a very similar payment without the risk of huge payment increases at the end of 2, 3, or 5 years. If you require a low payment but don't want to risk payments to interest only, ask your mortgage broker if a 50 year term is right for you.
A 50 year term mortgage will prove to be very popular in high priced areas such as California. People will always want to buy their own home but will need to use inovative mortgage products like this in order to get their monthly payments affordable. In many cases it all comes down to monthly cash flow and these kinds of loans provide cash flow help.
There are many different forms of 50 year mortgages. These could be 50 year fixed mortgages, to 50 year amortorized ARM mortgages to 50 year interest only. Talk with your mortgage professional to find out which one is right for you.
50 year loans are great for areas of high housing costs, thus bring the payment in a more suitable reach by extending the term of your loan.
With the lower payment of the 50 year loan you have more purchasing power, which means you can qualify for a bigger home.
This post has been filed under : interest-only, fixed-rate, low-payment
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