Fixed Rate Loan: This is the loan product that most people are familiar with. It has a fixed rate, meaning the interest rate never changes and your
principal and interest payment stay the same for the life of the loan. It is possible for your taxes and insurance to go up over time and if they are included your payment, this can make your payment increase. This loan is for the person who is staying in their house, wants the security of a fixed payment, and doesn't want to refinance in the future. It is also a good loan for areas of flat or little appreciation of home values. This loan is available is 10-50 year terms. Some Fixed Rate Loans also offer an interest only option.
Adjustable/Variable Rate Loan: There are many different types of variable rate loans. There are several features for you to discuss with your loan officer. Is there a fixed portion to this loan? Some variable rate loans have a fixed portion for 2, 3, 5, 7, and even 10 years before they turn into an adjustable or variable rate loan. How often does my rate adjust? Typical loans will adjust every 6 months or every year but there are some that adjust every month. How high can my rate go? There are adjustment cap and lifetime caps on variable rate loans. Find out what your rate can do if you are in a raising rate environment. The benefits to a variable or adjusting rate loan is that they usually offer a lower interest rate than a fixed rate loan does. This means a lower payment which can mean more house when you are purchasing or more savings when you are refinancing. If you are only planning to stay in your home 5 years, a 5, 7 or 10 year fixed mortgage that becomes
adjustable would be a loan that would work for you. Why take the higher interest rate of a 30 year fixed rate? |