Mortgage & Refinancing Information

40-Year Mortgages: An Alternative to Interest-only Loans?


Interest-only loans are quickly becoming a mainstream loan product. Borrowers who were initially turned-off by the perceived risk associated with an "interest-only" loan are now starting to see the benefits: Lower payments, less money tied up in equity, more flexibility, etc.

For the savvy borrower, an "interest-only" loan can be an important component to an overall financial plan -- allowing them to divert principal payments to other financial goals.

"Interest-only" is typically an option only available on adjustable rate mortgages (although some lenders are now offering this option on 30-Year Fixed Loans). Borrowers who plan on keeping the loan for a long period of time and are uncomfortable with a loan product that has an adjustable rate component, may be interested in the 40-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage.

(Note: Some lenders do offer a 40-Year term on their adjustable rate mortgages)

The more flexible underwriting guidelines of a 40-Year mortgage may also attract some borrowers who are interested but do not qualify for an interest-only loan.

A 40-Year Mortgage is exactly as it sounds - a mortgage that is re-paid over a 40-year term. Due to a longer repayment period, 10 years more than the standard 30-Year Mortgage, the monthly payments are lower.

Until recently, these loans were difficult to find. Fannie Mae has now announced they will begin purchasing these loans from lenders which should increase their availability.

Let's look at the numbers:

For a $250,000 loan with a fixed interest rate of 5.75% and a term of 30 years, the monthly payments would be $1,458.93; but a borrower could save $83.40 a month by taking out a Fixed 40-year mortgage. Even at a higher interest rate of 6.00%, the monthly payments would be just $1,375.53.

The monthly savings comes with an increase in overall interest:

If a borrower were to keep the Fixed 40-Year Mortgage for the entire term and make the minimum monthly payments, they would pay approximately $135,000 more in interest.

40-Year Mortgages may be attractive to those borrowers uncomfortable with adjustable rate periods or who have difficulty qualifying under the stricter guidelines of an interest-only loan, however, it is important to understand the impact a 40-Year term will have on the overall cost of your loan.

As always, it's best to consult with your trusted loan professional. They can help you understand your options and determine which loan product is best for you.

Chris Rocks is a successful Mortgage Consultant and writer based out of Chicago, IL.

Website URL: http://www.loansbyrocks.com

Contact Email Address: chris@loansbyrocks.com


MORE RESOURCES:

UPDATE 1-US mortgage refinance applications plunge -MBA
Reuters - Jun 18, 2008
NEW YORK, June 18 (Reuters) - Applications for US home mortgages dropped for the fourth week in the last five as soaring interest rates choked off ...


Best Syndication

Bad Credit Mortgage Refinance
Best Syndication, CA - Jun 19, 2008
Here are a few tips that you can follow in getting excellent terms with your mortgage refinance venture. First, you should save up about three percent of ...


Recover From Bankruptcy With A Mortgage Refinance Loan
TransWorldNews (press release), GA - Jun 15, 2008
The good news is that there are lenders who are willing to give mortgage refinance loans to people who have gone through bankruptcy. ...


Mortgage Refinance - Does The Advantages Outweigh Disadvantages
American Chronicle, CA - Jun 13, 2008
A mortgage refinance loan is any new loan incurred to pay off the original mortgage loan. Whenever there is low rate refinance advertisements, ...


THE DEBT ADVISER: Ignored debt grows and damages many parts of ...
Quad City Times, IA - 22 hours ago
Second, your mortgage-refinance issue is just the tip of the iceberg. Many people don’t know that a negative credit history will also hurt you if you have ...


Tips on obtaining money through refinancing
Fall River Herald News,  USA - Jul 3, 2008
Here are a couple of pointers for those considering mortgage refinance to take cash out of their home: The traditional way of judging the market value of a ...


Mortgages Refinance
Central Asian and Southern Caucasus Freedom of Expression Network (CASCFEN), Azerbaijan - Jun 12, 2008
Mortgage refinance refers to applying for a secured loan in order to replace an existing loan secured by the same assets. Home mortgage is the most common ...


Citizen

Sens. Dodd, Conrad tied to special mortgage deals
The Associated Press - Jun 13, 2008
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher J. Dodd, a leader of Congress' efforts to help homeowners ensnared in the subprime mortgage ...
Senator Conrad Says Countrywide Waived Point on His Mortgage Bloomberg
Sens. Dodd, Conrad tied to special mortgage deals guardian.co.uk
Senator says loan favoritism is possible Sarasota Herald-Tribune
all 908 news articles


Refinancing Online Provides Opportunities for Homeowners
WCIV, SC - Jun 23, 2008
(ARA) - Homeowners refinance for a variety of reasons including to take cash out of their home equity to make home improvements, to consolidate debt, ...


Mortgage rescues turn out to be scams
Allentown Morning Call, PA - Jun 22, 2008
| For people about to lose their homes to foreclosure, the advertisements are like a lifeline: ''WE BUY HOUSES FOR CA$H,'' or ''Refinance Your Mortgage! ...
Homeowners can seek help when faced with foreclosure Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
all 2 news articles

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006