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Home Mortgage Loans - Fixed Rate, Adjustable or Balloon, Which One Is Right For You?


When you're shopping for a new home-especially for the first time-all the terms and expressions may be confusing and difficult to understand. Adjustable rate, fixed rate, balloon payment - how do you decide which is the right type of home mortgage for you if you're not even sure what each of them are?

The name of the mortgage type usually has to do with how you'll pay for your loan - how the interest on the loan is being determined by the bank. The three major types of mortgages are fixed rate, adjustable rate and balloon payment. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Fixed Rate Mortgage

With a fixed rate mortgage, you have a set interest rate for the entire life of the loan. The interest rate that you pay for your loan won't change - which means that you'll pay the same monthly payment for the entire length of the loan. This protects you from unexpected rises in interest rates that would increase your monthly payment. At the same time, should the interest rates drop, you will have the option of refinancing at a lower interest rate. Because the protections are largely on the side of the buyer with a fixed rate mortgage, interest rates on them are generally slightly higher than they would be on other types of mortgages.

A fixed rate mortgage is the safest type. Because the payments are predictable, it's usually considered the most desirable type of mortgage. Always choose a fixed rate mortgage if interest rates are rising.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

When you choose an adjustable rate mortgage, your monthly payment and interest rate will fluctuate with the current market interest rate. If the interest rate goes up, so will your monthly payment. If it drops, your monthly loan payment will as well. The adjustable rate is tied to an index, which is determined by the lender. Other terms of the mortgage are also determined by the lender. These include how often the interest rate is adjusted - anywhere from every 3-6 months to once a year, how much the interest rate can increase or decrease on any adjustment date, and whether there is a 'cap' on how high the interest rate can rise.

Often, adjustable rate mortgages are advertised with extremely low interest rates, which will be in effect for a short period of time. When the introductory period is over, the mortgage rate will rise to its normal amount.

Choose an adjustable rate mortgage when you have secure income that is likely to increase along with the economy. It's a good mortgage when interest rates are stable, or if the signs suggest that they're about to fall.

Balloon Mortgages

A balloon mortgage is often a last resort for home buyers who can't qualify for more traditional loans. The balloon mortgage has a fixed interest rate and monthly payments for a specific amount of time. At the end of that time, the entire loan comes due - hence the name 'balloon'. In practical terms, a balloon rate will give you a fixed monthly payment for several months. After that, you'll essentially have an adjustable rate mortgage.

Choose a balloon mortgage loan for substantially lower initial rates, or if your credit limits the other types of mortgage that you can apply of qualify for.

Now that you understand your options for mortgage loans, don't forget to shop around! The interest rates and fees can vary wildly from lender to lender, so make sure that you get the best deal that you can!

To view our list of recommended mortgage lenders online, visit this page: Recommended Mortgage Lenders Online

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans. The site has informative articles and the latest finance news.


MORE RESOURCES:

Housing Wire

Obama pressures Congress on mortgage refinance program
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WASHINGTON – President Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners. Obama, in his radio and Internet address Saturday, ...
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MonitorBankRates.com

Mortgage Refinance Rates: 15 Year Refinance Mortgage Rates at 3.29%
MonitorBankRates.com
Mortgage refinance rates on 30 year conforming home loans are averaging 3.98%, unchanged from yesterday's average 30 year mortgage refinance rate. Mortgage refinance rates today on 15 year home mortgage loans are averaging 3.29%, down from yesterday's ...

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Fox News

Obama Proposes Mortgage-Refinance Plan
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By NICK TIMIRAOS President Barack Obama called on Congress during Tuesday's State of the Union address to approve new legislation that would give all homeowners who are current on their mortgages the opportunity to refinance at record low mortgage ...
Obama proposes mortgage refinance programPolitico (blog)
Will Obama's Mortgage Refinance Plan Be D.O.A.?U.S. News & World Report
Obama proposes new mortgage refinance programHousing Wire
Daily Caller
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International Business Times

FOX 11 News Discussion: State of the Union
MyFox Los Angeles
And he aimed a pitch at homeowners, announcing a new mortgage refinance program with "historically low interest rates" that "gives every responsible homeowner the chance to save about $3000 a year on their mortgage." He added, "A small fee on the ...
Winning Words, But Not a WinnerU.S. News & World Report
Obama State of the Union 2012: Mortgage Refinance Changes Face ObstaclesInternational Business Times

all 12,250 news articles »


CBS Local

Six Questions on Obama's Mortgage Refinance Proposal
Wall Street Journal (blog)
By Nick Timiraos President Barack Obama said Tuesday night in his State of the Union address that he would send a plan to Congress to allow all homeowners who are current on their mortgages to refinance. Here's a quick look at the proposal: How is this ...
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all 19 news articles »


KOMO News

Living large? Get the best rate on your jumbo mortgage refinance
NASDAQ
If you buy apparel from "big and tall" clothing stores, you're used to paying more and having less to choose from. "Regular guys," on the other hand, benefit from a wider selection of products and more competition between retailers.
Mortgage Interest Rates Move Higher: 15 Year Mortgage Interest Rates at 3.34%MonitorBankRates.com

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AgedLeadStore.com to Add 1100000 Aged Mortgage Refinance Leads
Middle East North Africa Financial Network
COM, January 26, 2012 ) Baltimore, MD AgedLeadStore.com is increasing its value for its customers by adding 1.1 million aged Mortgage Refinance Leads in February. This is important as many people depend upon their ability to refinance to make progress ...



High Volume Stock Movers: Bank of America, Sprint, Cisco, Annaly, Sirius Feb. 8th
Wall St. Cheat Sheet
By Derek Hoffman Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC): The US's Home Affordable Refinance Program has increased mortgage refinance applications and strained capacity at Bank of America, leading the bank to ask some customers to wait 60 to 90 days, ...



New HARP Could Help Up to 6.7 Million
NASDAQ
Other changes to the program were designed to make it easier for homeowners with private mortgage insurance (PMI) to refinance or to obtain a HARP mortgage refinance with a lender other than their current mortgage servicer. In addition, new limits were ...

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Boehner On Refi Plan: Bad Idea, Obama!
Mortgageorb
by MortgageOrb.com on Thursday 02 February 2012 Any hope for bipartisan support of President Obama's mortgage refinance proposal was squashed by House Speaker John Boehner, who dismissed the new initiative as a continuation of failed policies.

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