What
Other Options Besides A 30 Year Fixed? - Many first time homebuyers are
under the assumption that the only and best program out there is a 30
year fixed rate mortgage.
Many
companies are now offering 40 and 50 year mortgages. These mortgages
will have slightly higher rates in most cases, but will stretch out
payments to ease the monthly costs. However, since the loan is over a
longer period of time, the interest you will end up paying is
significantly higher, so it is important to weigh the overall value of
having a lower monthly payment if the cost is having to pay more
dollars over time.
One
option to a 30 year fixed mortgage is the 15 year fixed. If you are
able to make higher payments each month you could pay off your mortgage
in half the time. One alternative to this would be to put the extra
money into an interest bearing account. Within 15 years you would have
enough money to payoff the 30 year with an additional $25,000 from
added tax savings.
Mortgages
are no different than many of the other facets of daily life. Feel free
to ask questions! That's what a mortgage professional is there for.
"What are my options?" is a fantastic question to ask. 30 year fixed
rates are looked at as the number one option, but who knows? Perhaps a
shorter term fixed rate fits your needs. Maybe an option arm with
different payment choices each month makes sense for you. There are no
stupid questions when it comes to the biggest investment of your life.
In
some case a long term 30 year mortgage will make sense. However by
opting for a shorter term arm, they may be able to save thousands on
the interest of the loan.
One
of the most popular options for homeowners across the country is the
minimum payment mortgage, available in both fixed and adjustable
varieties. By allowing you to pay even less than the interest due each
month, you can borrow $500,000 for as little as $1,264.00 per month,
and you can pick and choose when and how much you pay to cover total
interest or make payments directly to principal.
Borrowers
who can afford higher payments and want to pay off their mortgage
faster should consider a 15 year fixed mortgage. Borrowers who intend
to keep the mortgage for a shorter time frame and want a lower interest
rate should consider a hybrid adjustable rate mortgage in which the
interest rate is fixed for a shorter period (3 years, 5 years, 7 years,
10 years). Borrowers who want lower monthly payments may consider an
interest only loan, where only the interest accrued each month is paid.
Option ARMs give borrowers the lowest monthly payments, but may result
in negative amortization, where the loan balance grows each month.
Very
often, when a homeowner is not plannig on staying in their home for
more than a few years, it makes more sense to take an ARM or Adjustable
Rate Mortgage.
There are many different ARM programs, the most common of which are the 2 year, 3 year, and 5 year ARMS.
The rate is not adjustable from day one, it is fixed for a
pre-determined period (2 years for the 2 year ARM, 3 for the 3 year
etc...)
The rates on these ARMS are often lower than they would be on the fixed
rate, and it could mean thousands of dollars saved by choosing to go
with the "ARM".
Contact Charles Light at 888-920-0123 x302 for more information on what loan program will best fit you and your financial needs.