Understanding Fixed-rate Mortgages
by: Chileshe Mwape
A fixed-rate mortgage is a mortgage on which the interest rate is set for the term of the loan. Your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage or for a specified period of time. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In fact, about 75 percent of all home mortgages have fixed rates. The main advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it.
A Fixed Rate mortgage will offer you the security of knowing that your mortgage interest rate will not change during the term of your fixed rate. For example, a lender can offer a 30-year fixed loan to a homebuyer at a 6.5% interest rate. The loan is locked in to the 6.5% interest rate, even if the market interest rate rises to 8.0%. Conversely, if the market interest rate decreases to 4.5%, you will continue to pay the 6.5% interest rate. A Fixed-Rate Mortgage applies the same interest rate toward monthly loan payments for the life of the loan.
Features:
- Straightforward and easier to understand than Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs).
- More secure for the buyer and very popular with first-time home buyers.
- Ideal for anyone who likes to budget monthly expenses and plans to keep their home for several years.
- Since the risk to the lender is higher, fixed-rate mortgages generally have higher interest rates than Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs).
- Tend to have higher initial monthly payments compared to those of adjustable rate mortgages.
- Fixed-rate mortgages are less flexibility than adjustable rate mortgages.
With adjustable rate mortgages the interest rate is not fixed, but changes during the life of the loan in line with movements in an index rate. The advantage of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is that you may be able to afford a more expensive home because your initial interest rate will be lower. In a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage.
About The Author
Copyright © 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for The Secured Personal Loans Website at: http://www.secured-personal-loan.org.uk/ and he?s also a regular contributor to the Fixed-rate Mortgages blog at http://www.fixed-rate-mortgages.blogspot.com/ This article may be reprinted online as long as all the above links are active and clickable.
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Mortgages - The Inside Story
Mortgages - The Inside Story
by: David Wood
Getting a mortgage to buy a property (or a remortgage to get a better deal on existing property) is not easy. Mortgaging is a complex process and will always involve some professional services and advice.
At a minimum you will require a solicitor to handle conveyancing and title of the property, you may also use a mortgage broker or advisor and even perhaps a property consultant and/or surveyor (in addition to the surveyor acting on behalf of mortgage lender).
For some, particularly first time buyers, dealing with all these "experts" can seem daunting. So lets examine some of the basic issues regarding mortgages and remortgages to better prepare you.
A mortgage is simply a "home loan", basically a type of secured loan using the property as security for the lender. To protect themselves lenders will need to know how much property is worth just in case they have to sell it to recover the...
Mortgages - The Inside Story
Mortgages > Mortgages - The Inside Story
Bad Credit Mortgage ? Sometimes Bad Credit History Can Be Rewarded?
Bad Credit Mortgage ? Sometimes Bad Credit History Can Be Rewarded?
by: Troy Francis
When you have bad credit you wonder what lenders will offer you for a mortgage deal on your home. The big obstacle, as you know, was your bad credit history. To add to the all the fears, there were a few pals of yours who held that the deals offered to you will not be as good as regular mortgages.
However, before you decide not to mortgage because of bad credit history, let me say,
mortgage lenders generally do not give much importance to bad credit history. Through this article, we will inform borrowers of bad credit mortgages which are basically mortgages for the people with bad credit history and the options for bad credit.
Ok! Why is it that mortgage loan providers ignore bad credit history while offering bad credit mortgage? Is it because they don?t fear for payment? Well, fact of the matter is that most borrowers with bad credit history do...
Bad Credit Mortgage ? Sometimes Bad Credit History Can Be Rewarded?
Mortgages > Bad Credit Mortgage ? Sometimes Bad Credit History Can Be Rewarded?
Rhode Island Mortgage Loans
Rhode Island Mortgage Loans
by: Mark Lambie
Whether you live in the Blackstone Valley, Block Island, East Bay, South County, Warwick, Providence, or Newport you know that Rhode Island offers so much to you. "Little Rhodey" is rich in history and her residents love living there. You can too as Rhode Island Mortgage Loans are widely available for home buyers. Let's explore two popular loan options available to you.
1. Fixed Rate - Loan rates are fairly stable right now. You can lock in a fixed rate for a 15 year or 30 year mortgage; some financial institutions are even offering 20 year term mortgages too.
2. Variable Rate - Usually as much as one point lower than a fixed rate loan, variable rate mortgages allow for home buyers to get more house for the money or save on monthly payments. Rates can fluctuate, so make sure limits are in place to keep your loan from increasing too rapidly or too high.
Other, less known Rhode Island Mortgage...
Rhode Island Mortgage Loans
Mortgages > Rhode Island Mortgage Loans
A Guide to Common Short-Term Loans
A Guide to Common Short-Term Loans
by: John Mussi
While some of the most well-known loan types are for large amounts of money and are repaid over several years (such as mortgages and automotive financing loans), there are a variety of loans that are designed for smaller amounts and for shorter periods of time. Some of these loans come from banks or other common lenders, whereas others come from specialty lenders that deal specifically with these types of short-term loans.
If you're in the market for one of these shorter-term loans, or if you're just wanting to see exactly what options are available, then the information presented in this article is for you.
Below you'll find information on the short-term loans that are commonly offered by traditional lenders such as banks, as well as other common types of lenders and a few specialty lenders that aren't as common but that deal almost exclusively in short-term loans.
Traditional Lenders...
A Guide to Common Short-Term Loans
Mortgages > A Guide to Common Short-Term Loans