Fixed Rate Mortgages
The most common type of mortgage program where your
monthly payments for interest and principal never
change.
Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM)
These loans begin with an interest rate that is lower
than a comparable fixed rate mortgage, but the rate
changes at specified intervals.
Standard ARMS and the Differences
Choosing an ARM with an index that reacts quickly lets
you take full advantage of falling interest rates.
Introductory Rate ARM's
Most ARM's have a low introductory rate, which is good
anywhere from 1 month to as long as 10 years.
Reverse Mortgages
A Special type of loan made to older homeowners to
enable them to convert the equity in their home to cash
to finance other needs.
London Inter Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
LIBOR is the rate on dollar-denominated deposits, also
know as Eurodollars, traded between banks in London.
Balloon Mortgages
Short term mortgages that have some features of a fixed
rate mortgage.
Interest Rate Buydowns
The buyer would pay points above current market points
in order to pay a below market interest rate during the
first two years of the loan. At the end of the two years
they would then pay the old market rate for the
remaining term.
Cost of Funds Index (COFI)
The ratio of the dollar amount paid in interest during
the month to the average dollar amount of the funds for
that month constitutes the weighted average cost of
funds ratio for that month.
Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM)
With a GPM the payments are usually fixed for one year
at a time.
Choosing The Best Program
The right type of mortgage for you depends on many
different factors |