IC asked:


When you want to buy a home you will generally need to look into home loans to see what your financing options are. You may have assumed, before you started looking into it, that there was just one sort of loan that people could get when they wanted to buy a home but when you start looking into it you will find that buying a home with a loan is much more complicated than that. There are a lot of different loan products out there for you to choose from and chances are you will not be able to navigate the world of loans all on your own. Instead, you may need to seek the assistance of a mortgage broker to help you understand what is what and also help you determine what sort of loan may be best for you and your specific situation.

Home Loan Basics

There are many different types of home loans for you to consider. You should try to learn about all of the different types of loans out there before you decide that one is or is not for you. The most common types of loans that you will find are the fixed rate loans. These loans are a great option for those that plan to stay in their home for more than three to five years. The reason for this is that the rate stays the same for the entire term of the loan. So, if you start off your mortgage with a 6% interest rate, it will continue to be 6% for the whole 10, 15, or 30 year loan term. This is a good idea if you plan to stay in the home for a long time because you will always be able to determine what your monthly payment will be.

Another very common type of loan that you will find is adjustable rate home loans. These loans are ideal for those that are planning on living in their home for less than five years. The reason why these loans are a great option for these people is because the interest rate starts off very low and then the longer you are in the home the higher it gets because it adjusts from time to time to meet the current market interest rates. Many people like these loans at first because they are very affordable but then if you stick with it, you can end up in trouble if you are unable to make your mortgage payment. The adjustable nature of the interest rate is what ends up getting a lot of people in trouble.

In addition, there are loans that are meant to refinance a home. Many people refinance a home to lower their mortgage payment, trade in an adjustable rate mortgage for a fixed rate, or get money out of their home to pay bills, update the home, or pay off debt. These home loans are for those that already have a home and would like a new one.

These are the basic types of loans but you should not confuse the type of loan for different loan programs. There are different loan programs that apply to different people based on where they live, how much money they make, how much they can afford, and what their credit score is. There are a lot of different programs out there for you to take advantage of, so shop around, learn all that you can, and then choose the right one for you.



EDDY

Dean Shainin asked:


When you’re choosing a home loan, there are two big decisions you need to make, namely whether to take a fixed interest rate or an adjustable interest rate mortgage.

It is important for you to be aware of what these different type of home loan interest rates encompass and also know which one would be suitable to your needs and circumstances.

Fixed-Rate Mortgage

1. A fixed-rate mortgage is a mortgage with an interest rate that is fixed for the life of the loan and the debt is amortized, or paid in equal monthly installments for the entire amortization period, be it 30 years, 15 years, or 20 years.

2. What are the advantages for a fixed-rate mortgage? The main advantage is that you know precisely how much each repayment will be over the long term. Even if market interest rate rise, you can lock in lower rates.

3. This type of a loan is suitable for someone in not keen on movements in home loan interest rates, and who does not want to constantly review the performance of market interest rates.

4. A fixed-rate mortgage is also suitable for people with a fixed income, for those who do not want ‘surprises’ in the form of sudden changes in their monthly repayments. With this type of a loan, you have certainty that as the years go by, your payment will remain the same, and you will pay exactly the same amount until you finish paying your mortgage. If you are the sort of person who does not like uncertainty as far as future interest rate increases are concerned, then this is your loan.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage

1. An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is one where lenders lift or lower the interest rate as interest rates in the wider market change, meaning that your repayments may go up or down. The home loan interest rates are adjusted periodically to keep it in line with changing market rates.

2. What are the advantages for an ARM? This type of a loan has a lower start interest rate, and it is relatively easy to qualify. In addition, one can also be able to predict the direction of the rates in advance, but not always. From the lenders or bankers point of view, this loan type is better because the loan stays close to their cost of funds, thus enabling them to match their assets to their liabilities.

3. A mortgage with an adjustable rate is suitable for people who are good planners and who have alternative sources of funds or disposable assets. In order to manage an adjustable-rate mortgage properly, one need very good cash-flow management skill. This loan would also be good if you anticipate windfall profits that will allow you to reduce the principle substantially, thereby lowering your monthly debt. The preliminary payments for this type of a home loan tend to lower, as lenders offer lower initial rates to attract potential home buyers into the deal.

4. With an ARM, you can qualify for a higher loan amount. So if you expect some career advancements and subsequent salary increase, then this type of a mortgage rate will be suitable for you. If the interest rates decline, your repayments are lowered, and this may be a good ‘bonus’ to get. With good planning, that “bonus” should let you to handle the increases in home loan interest rates comfortably, or to add to your payment amount to reduce the principle balance of your loan.

It is important that you are fully aware of what these different types of mortgage interest rate imply, the advantages and disadvantages involved; so that you can decide which one is the best for you.



ALTON