Fixed Rate Mortgages
- 30 year fixed
- 15 year fixed
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- Monthly payments are fixed over the life of
the loan
- Interest rate does not change
- Protected if rates go up
- Can refinance if rates go down
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- Higher interest rate
- Higher mortgage payments
- Rate does not drop if interest rates improve
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Adjustable Rate Mortgages
- 10/1 ARM
- 7/1 ARM
- 3/1 ARM
- 1 year ARM
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- Lower initial monthly payment
- Lower payment over a shorter period of time
- Rates and payments may go down if rates
improve
- May qualify for higher loan amounts
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- More risk
- Payments may change over time
- Potential for high payments if rates go up
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Balloon
Mortgages
- 7 year
- 5 year
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- Lower initial monthly payment
- Lower payment over a shorter period of time
- Many balloon mortgages offer the option to
convert to a new loan after the initial term.
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- Risk of rates being higher at the end of the
initial fixed period
- Risk of foreclosure if you cannot make balloon
payment or if you cannot refinance or if you
cannot exercise the conversion option
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| First Time
Buyer Programs |
- Lower down payment
- Easier to qualify
- Sometimes you may get lower rates
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- May be subject to income and property value
limitations
- Some programs which have government subsidies
may have a recapture tax if you sell the house too
early.
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| Stated
Income Programs |
- Don’t need to verify income
- Faster approval
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- Higher rates
- Higher down payment
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| Imperfect
Credit Programs |
- Potential for reestablishing credit if you pay
your mortgage on time.
- When used for debt consolidation, you may be
able to reduce your monthly debt payment
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- Higher rates
- Terms may not be as favorable
- Harder to get long term fixed loans
- Loans may have prepayment penalties
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