Understanding Fixed-rate Mortgages


A fixed-rate mortgage is a mortgage on which the interest rate is set for the term of the loan. Your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage or for a specified period of time. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In fact, about 75 percent of all home mortgages have fixed rates. The main advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it.

A Fixed Rate mortgage will offer you the security of knowing that your mortgage interest rate will not change during the term of your fixed rate. For example, a lender can offer a 30-year fixed loan to a homebuyer at a 6.5% interest rate. The loan is locked in to the 6.5% interest rate, even if the market interest rate rises to 8.0%. Conversely, if the market interest rate decreases to 4.5%, you will continue to pay the 6.5% interest rate. A Fixed-Rate Mortgage applies the same interest rate toward monthly loan payments for the life of the loan.

Features:

- Straightforward and easier to understand than Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs).

- More secure for the buyer and very popular with first-time home buyers.

- Ideal for anyone who likes to budget monthly expenses and plans to keep their home for several years.

- Since the risk to the lender is higher, fixed-rate mortgages generally have higher interest rates than Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs).

- Tend to have higher initial monthly payments compared to those of adjustable rate mortgages.

- Fixed-rate mortgages are less flexibility than adjustable rate mortgages.

With adjustable rate mortgages the interest rate is not fixed, but changes during the life of the loan in line with movements in an index rate. The advantage of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is that you may be able to afford a more expensive home because your initial interest rate will be lower. In a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage.

Copyright © 2005. Chileshe Mwape writes for The Secured Personal Loans Website at: http://www.secured-personal-loan.org.uk/ and he's also a regular contributor to the Fixed-rate Mortgages blog at http://www.fixed-rate-mortgages.blogspot.com/

This article may be reprinted online as long as all the above links are active and clickable.







Related News




ARM Holders Would Do Well to Shop Around Now - Washington Post

Sify

ARM Holders Would Do Well to Shop Around Now
Washington Post, United States -Oct 12, 2008
When Torres refinanced his Georgetown home in 2005, he got a five-year, adjustable-rate jumbo mortgage. (It's a jumbo because it's above $417000. ...
EDITORIAL: Let Bailout Money Trickle Up, Not DownistockAnalyst.com (press release)
Letter: Economic trauma can't be excusedThe Delaware County Times
Bush: Don't Panic! At Least Not This Week, AnywayReason Online
VDARE.com - SouthCoastToday.com
all 239 news articles

Avon Jittery As It Prepares To Refinance Debt - Hartford Courant

Avon Jittery As It Prepares To Refinance Debt
Hartford Courant, United States -Oct 12, 2008
... been struggling to process just $1 billion a week, a victim of the same credit strangulation that has stalled the mortgage and commercial paper markets. ...

Freeport family battered by struggling economy - Newsday

Freeport family battered by struggling economy
Newsday, NY -11 minutes ago
Joan Fennell said her mortgage broker "promised" verbally she could refinance again within the year into a fixed-rate loan and she assumed she'd earn enough ...

Mortgage refinancing wave seen silver lining to market woe - Reuters

Mortgage refinancing wave seen silver lining to market woe
Reuters -Sep 15, 2008
Yields on mortgage-backed securities that also dictate rates lenders can offer also fell, albeit to a lesser degree. The 30-year fixed rate on Monday ...
Applications to refinance mortgages surge as rates drop below 6%USA Today
Fickle Mortgage Market Demands Quick DecisionsWashington Post
Lenders' woes could aid borrowersBoston Globe
Newsday - Wall Street Journal
all 221 news articles

Mortgage crisis has turned homeownership upside down Homeowners ... - Chicago Tribune

Mortgage crisis has turned homeownership upside down Homeowners ...
Chicago Tribune, United States -38 minutes ago
"If you have some kind of disruption to your income and you can't make your mortgage payment, it's going to be very hard for you to refinance or anything ...

Majority backs McCain’s $300B mortgage plan - Bizjournals.com

Wall Street Journal

Majority backs McCain’s $300B mortgage plan
Bizjournals.com, NC -Oct 10, 2008
John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have the federal government buy distressed and upside down mortgages and refinance them so homeowners can avoid ...
The Filter: Oct. 9, 2008Newsweek
all 1,760 news articles

McCain campaign outlines mortgage-rescue plan - San Francisco Chronicle

Wall Street Journal

McCain campaign outlines mortgage-rescue plan
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA -Oct 9, 2008
Barack Obama, McCain's Democratic rival, has proposed helping troubled homeowners refinance their mortgages, but his campaign attacked McCain's proposal for ...
Video: Obama: 'Taxpayers Shouldn't Pick Up Tab'AssociatedPress
Taxpayers, Not Lenders, Would Bear Costs of McCain’s Mortgage ProposalNew York Times
Principal is key to housing solutionWinston-Salem Journal
Wall Street Journal Blogs - Newsday
all 882 news articles

FreeHomeRefi.com - Mortgage Refinancing Resources - Killer Startups

Killer Startups

FreeHomeRefi.com - Mortgage Refinancing Resources
Killer Startups, FL -Oct 10, 2008
It is a handful resource for people who want to have their mortgage refinancing done in a simple way. “Free Home Refi is committed to providing consumers ...

The Truth About Mortgage Refinancing Revealed By Oregon Mortgage ... - SBWire (press release)

The Truth About Mortgage Refinancing Revealed By Oregon Mortgage...
SBWire (press release), WI -Oct 8, 2008
The site is designed to give Oregon residents all the facts about mortgage refinancing so they can make an educated decision when obtaining a mortgage. ...

Reps Blunt And Frank Criticize McCain Mortgage Plan - ABC News

Reps Blunt And Frank Criticize McCain Mortgage Plan
ABC News -15 hours ago
John McCain's proposal to refinance distressed mortgages. "Not at face value, we're not going to buy up the mortgages at face value, because the people who ...
CQ Transcript: James Baker, Lawrence Summer, Rep. Barney Frank ...CQPolitics.com
all 3 news articles