So you're planning to buy a house. You might even have a home in mind. Unless you are independently wealthy, odds are that you will have to get a mortgage. You will want to choose a mortgage that is best for you and that suits your needs. The first step in this process is finding a bank that is offering you the best rates, and a banker that you can trust. Once you have done this, you will want to consider the different types of mortgages. The two most common types of mortgages are fixed and variable rate.
A fixed mortgage means that you buy into a mortgage at one rate (often the current market mortgage rate, which can be about 1% below the prime rate) and you will pay that rate until you have either paid back your mortgage, or have decided to move. Any move with a mortgage means that you will have to renegotiate and refinance.
A variable rate mortgage is one that changes with the interest rates as they fluctuate. However, you generally agree to one monthly payment. Say, for instance, that you agree to a monthly payment of $1000. Perhaps $700 of that is going to pay the capital investment (the initial money that you owe) and $300 is going to pay the interest. If the interest rates rise, you will still pay $1000 each month, but only $600 will go to cover your capital, and $400 covers the interest. This means that it will take you a longer time to pay back your mortgage if the interest rates rise. Conversely, if you have a variable rate mortgage and the interest rates fall, you can shorten the time it will take you to pay back your rates. Of your monthly $1000, you could end up paying $800 to the capital and $200 to the interest.
The difficulty with variable mortgage rates is that nobody can predict how interest will move. In the early 2000s, mortgage rates hit an all-time low. This meant that if you had chosen a variable rate mortgage in the 1990s, you would have done very well and paid your house off quicker than if you had chosen a fixed rate mortgage. However, if you chose a variable rate mortgage in 2002, your interest rates have been steadily going up, and you are possibly looking at the long-term financial forecast with horror. You can refinance your loans to fix yourself into a lower rate. Ask your bank what the penalties for refinancing are, and discuss your options with a banker.
A fixed rate mortgage offers home buyers the comfort of knowing exactly when they will be able to pay off their mortgage. Some home buyers would prefer to avoid the stress of having to watch the interest rates to pay off their home.
One type of variable rate mortgage is an adjustable rate mortgage. This might mean that your mortgage rate is calculated every year, or every six months. Your payment plan might even hinge on the interest rates. In this case, this means that if you have an adjustable rate mortgage and the interest rates rise, your payments might rise as well. Talk to your banker to see if the interest rates will affect your monthly payments.
Interest rates have been slowly but steadily increasing over 2004, 2005, and 2006. There has been a slight increase in the number of houses that go into default recently as well. Financial analysts agree that this trend is only going to continue for the coming years, which means that more and more people might find it harder to pay off their mortgages. Consider your financial situation and your future prospects. Be sure to choose the mortgage that works best for you, both in the short term and the long term. With a little research and planning, you will be able to make informed financial decisions that will benefit you and possibly save you thousands of dollars.
Fixed And Variable Rate
As the name suggest, the fixed rate mortgage contracts you for specified interest rate over a specific period of time. This period of time is refereed to as a mortgage term. A mortgage can range anywhere from a six months loan to 30 years.
Though the variable rate mortgage may have payment terms that are fixed, the interest rates can change. The moves in the market prevail in determining interest rates. You technically pay a fixed payment every month. What the variable rate mortgage is does is distributes what you pay in interest and what goes towards your premium depending on the current interest rate. If the interest raises your payment toward the principle decreases and the payment toward the interest increase. The reverse is true if interest rates decrease.
Which type of mortgage is right for your depends on your ability to handle the interest fluctuations. A fixed rate mortgage is a better fit for you if you like the stability of a fixed payment over a predetermined period of time.
You can apply for any term mortgage you feel you want, for example, a five year fixed table can be created for you with a fixed rate mortgage. This means that for five years you will repay the loan with a fixed interest rate table.
Some borrowers prefer to take a chance with the variable interest rate mortgage. The variable rate is for you if you feel that the amount you applied for can be repaid more quickly at a much lower interest rate. With this type of mortgage there is a possibility that the interest rate will lower during the term of the loan allowing you to pay down your premium more quickly.
Because of their expertise to predict the trends of the current economic conditions, financial experts are probably better of with a variable rate mortgage. They would certainly benefit even more from a variable rate mortgage if they can accurately predict the trends for the next couple of years.
While trying to decide on which of these two mortgage rates fits your comfort level, analyzed your analytic skills and financial abilities. Variable rates are not proven to be as stable as the fixed rate. If you want consistency, the fixed rate is for you.
There are some risk attached to the variable rate but it does have its rewards. Can you handle the risk-reward payoff? If so, then the variable rate is probably the route for you.
Both Morgan D. James & Lee Dobbins - are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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American Builders And Contractors You should also look for multiple quotes from various builders and contractors in order to get the best deal
