Fixed Rate Mortgage
The traditional fixed-rate mortgage has a constant interest rate and monthly payments that never change. This may be a good choice if you plan to stay in your home for ten years or longer. If you plan to move within ten years, then adjustable-rate loans are usually cheaper. As a rule of thumb, it may be harder to qualify for fixed-rate loans than for adjustable rate loans. When interest rates are low, fixed-rate loans are generally not that much more expensive than adjustable-rate mortgages and may be a better deal in the long run, because you can lock in the rate for the life of your loan.
10,15,20 or 25-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage
This loan is fully amortized over a 10,15,20 or 25-year period and features constant monthly payments. It offers all the advantages of the 30-year loan, plus a lower interest rate—The disadvantage is that, with a 10,15,20 or 25-year loan, you commit to a higher monthly payment. Many borrowers opt for a 30-year fixed-rate loan and voluntarily make larger payments that will pay off their loan in sooner. This approach is often safer than committing to a higher monthly payment, since the difference in interest rates isn't that great.
Adjustable Rate Mortgage (3/1 ARM, 5/1 ARM, 7/1 ARM, 10/1 ARM)
These increasingly popular ARMS—also called 3/1, 5/1, 7/1 or 10/1—can offer the best of both worlds: lower interest rates (like ARMs) and a fixed payment for a longer period of time than most adjustable rate loans. For example, a "5/1 loan" has a fixed monthly payment and interest for the first five years and then turns into a traditional adjustable-rate loan, based on then-current rates for the remaining 25 years. It's a good choice for people who expect to move (or refinance) before or shortly after the adjustment occurs.
Home Equity Loans ( 5, 10. 15, 20 & 30 Year Fixed rate terms )
Home Equity Lines of Credit
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