Sunday, January 18, 2009

Common Types of Mortgage Loans

By Trinity Clawson

When it comes to choosing a mortgage loan to purchase a home, there are a lot of different options to choose from. The best mortgage option for you might be different from the one that is best for your neighbor. If you are looking to take on a mortgage sometime in the near future, it might be helpful to know what some of the common types of mortgage loans are all about so you can make an educated decision when the time comes to make a choice.

The fixed rate mortgage is a very typical mortgage loan. This type of mortgage offers an interest rate that is fixed to one set rate. With the interest rate set, your monthly mortgage payment will be set and won't change over time. This mortgage allows people to truly plan on what their housing payments will be over the course of the loan.

Most fixed rate mortgages have a term of thirty years, but amortization schedules can range anywhere from ten year terms to forty year terms. The shorter the term, the lower the interest rate usually. The longer the term, the more expensive the loan will be by the end of the term since you are paying interest for longer.

Obviously, the least expensive loans have the shortest terms so if you are looking to save money, you might consider a shorter term for your fixed rate mortgage. Your monthly payments will be more, but you will pay less for the loan in the long run.

When the interest rate adjusts, your monthly mortgage payment will either go up or down depending on whether the interest rate increased or decreased. ARMs can be tricky since you can't really plan on what your monthly payments will be exactly. You want to make sure you will still be able to afford your mortgage, even if the interest rates increase so that you don't lose your house. Another type of mortgage that has become more common over the past five years or so is the interest only loan. With this type of mortgage, the monthly payments are usually a lot lower than with other types of mortgages, but you are only paying on the interest of the loan and not the principal.

Interest only loans are mortgage loans that are commonly used for people using real estate as an investment. With this loan, the payments you make each month are only paid on the interest of the loan. If you were using the property as an investment and can find renters to pay the mortgage on the home, then you can make money selling the home years later when it has appreciated in value.

These are two of the most common types of mortgage loans. There are of course several more options available to the borrower. It is important that you feel you made the best financial decision for you and your family when you purchase a home. Choose a mortgage loan that makes sense for you. - 15224

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