There are a lot
of different
kinds of mortgages, including fixed - or
adjustable -
rate (ARM), interest - only, balloon
mortgages, and special programs sponsored by the Federal Housing Administration and Veteran's Administration.
As noted above, and like many
mortgage - related things, your
mortgage insurance premium is based upon several factors, including your credit score, the amount
of your down payment as a percentage
of the value
of the home (LTV); your choice
of mortgage product (fixed
rate or
adjustable rate — and how frequent the
rate adjustment will be); the length
of the term
of your
mortgage (15, 20, 25, 30 years), the amount
of the
mortgage and
of course the level
of coverage the investor requires for your
kind of loan and borrower profile.
The process can seem daunting, but take it step by step — you'll need to decide what
kind of mortgage you want, what repayment plan works with your finances and if you want to pursue a fixed
rate or an
adjustable rate mortgage.