Why An Adjustable Rate Mortgage Could Be Your Best Option
With today's mortgage crisis, many consumers are afraid of the adjustable rate mortgages. These types of loan programs, also known as ARM mortgages,...
With today’s mortgage crisis, many consumers are afraid of the adjustable rate mortgages. These types of loan programs, also known as ARM mortgages, have received negative publicity in the news. With all the terrible news reported about ARM loans, many people have decided to only go with a fixed rate loan.
But the adjustable rate mortgage program is a good mortgage program. Knowing how the program works and why you would want to consider the loan program is important when looking at all your mortgage loan options. The ARM loan could save you money.
Knowing How An Adjustable Rate Mortgage Works
First off, you need to know how the adjustable rate mortgage program works. For starters, most ARM loan programs have an initial period in which the rate is fixed. These time periods are normally between 3-7 years. At this time, most ARM programs offer fixed rates for the first 3, 5, and 7 years. During this time, the interest rate of the home loan cannot change.
What Makes Up The New Mortgage Interest Rate
After the initial fixed rate period is over, the ARM loan rate could change. The new home mortgage loan interest rate is based on the index plus the margin. The interest rate index is the specific fund/security that your interest rate on an adjustable rate loan is tied to. Margin is the amount a lender adds to the index on an Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) as profit to establish the adjusted interest rate.
Once the loan adjust, the new interest rate is based on the current index plus the margin set by the loan company at time of closing. The rate can adjust every 6 or 12 months, depending on what the mortgage note states. Most ARM mortgages have caps on how much the interest rate can change and what the highest rate can be charged.
The Reason To Consider An Adjustable Rate Mortgage
The reason behind the ARM loan is to have the loan only during the fixed rate period. This type of loan is designed for people who are only going to keep the mortgage for a short period of time. If you are only planning on staying at the home for 5 years, then an ARM loan will save you a lot of money compared to a fixed rate mortgage loan. Many ARM loan programs offer rates starting lower than a fixed rate mortgage loan. The savings per month on the monthly payment is a major benefit to the adjustable rate mortgage.
Keep in mind that this type of mortgage program is not designed to be kept for the entire term of the mortgage. Obviously, some consumers will keep an ARM loan beyond the initial fixed rate period and if you do so, you need to be able to budget for a possible rise in payment.
Knowing The Risk Involved
What got most consumers in trouble with the ARM loans is that many people were going with the ARM loan as the only way to get approved for the mortgage. Once the loan reached the adjustment period, many homeowners could not afford the new payment. Make sure that when you look at the ARM loan program, that you can afford the highest possible payment. Many mortgage companies now have underwriting guidelines set in place that require the lender to approve a person based on the highest possible payment.
Again, the main reason to do an ARM loan is that you are only planning on staying or keeping this mortgage for a short amount of time. If you want to keep the loan for a longer period of time, then a fixed rate loan is your best option.
Talk to your home loan advisor today to see which home loan program is best for you.
David White is a Sr. Mortgage Advisor who specializes in . David has over 12 years experience in the mortgage industry and understands . David helps his clients get the best possible home loan.