Adjustable Rate
Mortgage vs Fixed Rate Mortgage
Both
fixed rate and adjustable rate home loans have positives and negatives
associated with them. Because every borrower has different needs and
financial goals they must pick the right loan for them. But how do you
know if you should take a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage?
The Fixed
Rate Mortgage
One of the best selling points and advantages of fixed rate mortgages
is that they offer predictability and stable payments. However it is
their stable interest rate that some consider to be their disadvantage.
In a fixed rate loan if market conditions allow for a lower interest
rate you will have to refinance to get it.
This means paying closing
costs and having to deal with a refinance. With a fixed rate loan there
really is no difference between lenders so when it comes to shopping
for a fixed rate mortgage take the deal with the best rates and lowest
closing costs.
But many Borrowers tend to find better deals with mortgage brokers and
lower closing costs with banks and credit unions. So decide what is
more important to you and make your adjustable mortgage to fixed rate
refinance choice accordingly.
Adjustable
Rate Mortgages (ARM)
The main advantage that an adjustable
rate
mortgage offers is that they
come with lower initial interest rates when compared to their fixed
rate counterparts. A lower rate will allow you to qualify for and buy a
more expensive home then you could with a fixed rate loan.
Another great advantage to an ARM loan is that if the market allows
lower interest rates your loan may adjust downward and give you lower
payments with out the need to refinance. However if the market
conditions dictate your loan payments and interest rate can increase as
well, so always refer to your adjustable rate rider and know when your
loan is set to adjust.
So Should I
Get an Adjustable Or a Fixed Rate
Adjustable rate mortgages are really only recommended when you know
that you will be selling your home, refinancing your home or have an
increased income when the loan begins to adjust. If you unsure of your
future income or the possibility of selling your home is unlikely then
you may want to skip the adjustable mortgage and go for the stability
of fixed rate instead!
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