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Adjustable Rate Mortgage

By Mortgage Investors Group
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An adjustable-rate mortgage, also called an ARM, is a popular type of mortgage with an introductory interest rate that will last for a specific period of time before resetting, or adjusting, at intervals for the remainder of the loan. Adjustable-rate loans are popular because they typically have a lower interest rate than a fixed loan, although your mortgage payment will change when the interest rate resets. All ARMs have maximum adjustments (caps) for the interest rate which is used to calculate the payment.

Depending on the ARM, the initial interest rate may be fixed for as little as 60 months or 10 years or longer. Many borrowers who find that the ARMs match well with their future homeownership plans opt for the 5-year or 7-year ARM. These hybrids fix the interest rate for the first months of the loan, 60 or 84 months respectively, and thereafter the interest is subject to reset annually for the remaining term. The fixed period followed by annual adjustments are known as 5/1, 7/1 or 10/1 ARMs. The fixed periods may be a means of planning, such as comparing to the future time frame that you plan to be in this home.

The Consumer Handbook for Adjustable Rate Mortgages and a program disclosure are available to you when inquiring about an ARM. Both of these resources will be helpful when discussing your home-financing needs with your MIG mortgage professional.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages in Turner, AR

ARM Benefits in Turner, AR

There are several advantages to an adjustable-rate loan:


 
Monthly payments are lower early in the loan compared to a fixed-rate loan
Compared to a fixed-rate loan, monthly payments are lower early in the loan
Monthly payments are lower early in the loan compared to a fixed-rate loan
Borrowers can enjoy falling interest rates without refinancing the loan
Monthly payments are lower early in the loan compared to a fixed-rate loan
Borrowers who do not plan to stay in the home for many years will enjoy greater savings

ARM Adjustments in Turner, AR

You can learn how much your ARM interest rate will rise or fall based on the margin or index it is tied to. The most common type of index is the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) published in the Wall Street Journal. Other indices are the United States Treasury Bill (T-Bill) or the Constant Maturity Treasury (CMT). Added to the index is a margin, which is an amount that remains the same throughout the term of your loan. Index plus margin rate equals the rounded reset interest rate for your next period of time. You can negotiate the margin rate with us when you apply for the mortgage.

As an example, if your index rate is 4 percent and your margin is 1.5 percent, the fully indexed rate of your loan will be 5.5 percent.

Hybrid Mortgage in Turner, AR

ARM Caps in Turner, AR

 

You can get some protection against significant increases in your monthly mortgage payment with a cap limit. This will be the maximum amount your mortgage rate and payment can change. There are a few types of caps common in adjustable-rate mortgages:

  • Lifetime caps limit how much your rate can rise over the length of the loan.
  • Periodic rate caps limit how much your interest rate changes at once. This will usually be an annual cap that limits how much your interest rate can rise when being used to calculate your payment for the next 12 months.
  • Payment caps limit the amount that your monthly payment can rise over the length of the loan. This cap will be expressed in dollars, not a percentage point.

While an adjustable-rate mortgage is not best for every borrower, it can be an excellent option in many situations.

ARM Adjustments in Turner, AR

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