What Everyone Should Know About Fluctuating Mortgage Rates
Filed Under : Real Estate by Victor Entrekin
May.28,2011With today’s depressed housing market and the uncertainty in the economy, you may feel that the time is right to buy a house. When you take a look at all the different mortgages and the different mortgage rates involved as well has how quickly those rates change, you may be totally confused and have concerns about committing to a mortgage that could put you under water if you don’t understand how they work. That’s why understanding how mortgage rates work and why they fluctuate can help you understand which mortgage you’ll want.
The four basic types of mortgages, fixed rate, adjustable rate, VA loans and FHA loans can be confusing. However, the two federal backed loans, the Veterans Administration (VA) loan is only for veterans and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) loan is only for low income families and has other restrictions as well so most people looking for a home loan won’t qualify for them. Most people will be working with a mortgage company or bank on a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage.
Paying a fixed rate for either 15 or 30 years means the amount you pay each month won’t change for the life of the loan. Since the mortgage rate is fixed, you’ll never have to worry about the rate changing to something you can’t afford; however an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) can possibly save you money in the long run. Since the initial rate for an ARM is usually lower than a fixed rate, as long as the interest rates remain low, it’ll be less expensive than a fixed rate loan.
Even though it may be a little riskier in the long run, an ARM which has an adjustable mortgage rate provides the potential homeowner with the opportunity to get into a home or buy more home than they may have been able to with a fixed rate mortgage. Instead of having to wait to build up a larger down payment, the first time homeowner can have the chance to qualify for a loan earlier. However, with an adjustable mortgage rate, the long term cost of the home may be higher.
Since interest rates are dependent on multiple economic factors, including Wall Street, unemployment and even foreign markets, there will always be fluctuations. The basic rate is based on the Fed rate or the amount the government charges banks to borrow from the government. But mortgage companies and banks use a variety of factors including introductory rates and other perks to give people a better interest rate for a short time. A fixed rate mortgage may give you a lower overall payoff, an adjustable rate mortgage can give you the chance to have a lower initial mortgage rate and get into a home you may not be able to afford any other way.
In determining just how much many can afford when it comes time to buy a home, the fluctuation of mortgage rates can play a big role. To help you get in the home of your dreams, Mortgage101 can help you find the lowest mortgage interest rates from hundreds of companies.
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