Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Fixed Versus Adjustable Rate Mortgages


Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between a fixed rate loan and aa adjustable rate loan is one of the most perplexing choices anyone can make. With a fixed rate loan, you know exactly where you stand today, and where you'll stand any number of years from today. The fixed rate is easy to understand, and it holds no surprises for you. The adjustable rate loan may look more attractive because it will generally have a lower starting interest rate. And, of course, there's always the hope that interest rates may go down. In deed, in recent years, the have gone down.

How To Decide

One of the simplest rules of thumb in making the choice is to determine as best you can, how long you expect to be living in the dwelling, with the mortgage. If the base rate on the adjustable loan is 2 to 3 percentage points lower than the fixed rate that might be otherwise be available to you, and if you are reasonably certain that you will be in the house no longer than three to five years, then the adjustable rate loan will probably be better for you. On the other hand, if you expect to be in the house for five to seven years or longer, the fixed rate loan will probably be better for you. It won't necessarily be cheaper over the long run, but it will be more stable, and that stability is very important for you in the overall management of your finances. Put another way, over the long pull, you may end up having paid somewhat more in interest but you will have gained considerable peace of mind over the long term. And that is certainly worth considering.

One More Perk

Another feature of the adjustable rate loan should be noted: commonly, adjustable rate loans are assumable by a creditworthy buyer. In other words, having an assumable loan might make it easier for you to sell your home in the future; if the buyer wants to take on your existing assumable loan.

How They Sweeten The Pot

Many lenders offer added attractions to their adjustable rate plans, and new ones are occasionally introduced. There are special plans for first-time buyers. There plans that allow very low down payments, with outside parties (such as an employer) being permitted to contribute part of the down payment. There are plans that start out as adjustable rate loans which carry an option to switch at some later time to a fixed rate loan. And there are plans that start off at a fixed rate but can be converted to an adjustable rate at some agreed upon future time.

Genesis Font is an SEO and Developer for LoansInteractive.com - Mortgage and Loan Officer Websites. We also offer Quality Web Hosting Services.


MORE RESOURCES:

Wachovia Posts Loss, Exits Wholesale Origination Business
Mortgageorb, CT - Jul 22, 2008
By MortgageOrb.com on Tuesday 22 July 2008 Consistent with previously announced expectations, Charlotte, NC-based Wachovia Corp. has reported a net loss in ...


ARM resets to hit peak this summer
Chicago Tribune, United States - Jul 13, 2008
By Renae Merle | The Washington Post The number of homeowners facing an increase in their subprime adjustable-rate mortgage payments will peak this summer, ...


DEBT ADVISOR
Columbia Daily Tribune, MO - Jul 21, 2008
Second, your mortgage-refinance issue is just the tip of the iceberg. Many people don’t know a negative credit history also will hurt you if you have to ...


ABC News

Money Managing Matters: Three Dos, Don'ts
ABC News - Jul 17, 2008
If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, refinance into a fixed rate one. Interest rates on adjustable rate mortgages are only going to go up, ...


Market rescue, round two
Livemint, India - Jul 14, 2008
The stocks of the two mortgage refinance institutions fell to levels last seen 15 years ago on concerns about their bearing the brunt of the exposure to ...


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 ...


Reuters

Foreclosure-rescue legislation benefits both borrowers, lenders
Arizona Republic, AZ - Jul 12, 2008
by Julie Hirschfeld Davis - Jul. 13, 2008 12:00 AM AP The foreclosure-rescue legislation moving through Congress would let financially strapped homeowners ...
US housing agency expands mortgage aid program Reuters
all 81 news articles


HUD Bolsters Foreclosure Prevention in Detroit Area, Announces ...
DSNews.com, TX - Jul 10, 2008
Preston's Detroit announcement comes on the heels of a Tuesday conference call, where HUD announced the expansion of its FHASecure mortgage refinance ...


Refinance.com Expands National Footprint
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 7, 2008
... mortgage applications in Arkansas, New Hampshire and New Mexico, further expanding its national footprint as a leading mortgage refinance lender. ...


Don't Blame Canada
Conde Nast Portfolio, NY - Jul 9, 2008
Did Alan Greenspan get a commission on your mortgage refinance? Why would anyone think that war spending is an economy killer? ...

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

home | site map
© 2006