The benefit
of fixed rate mortgages is that a borrower's monthly payment will be the exact same on the first month as it will be on the last month.
Studies have shown that, despite the popularity
of fixed rate mortgages, Canadians usually pay less interest with variable mortgage products.
Odd terms - 8, 11, 14 years have recently become available, but the most common types
of fixed rate mortgages are still 30 & 15 years.
In most cases, the interest rate on the Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs) is usually lower than
that of Fixed Rate Mortgages at the initial stage.
The main disadvantages
of Fixed Rate Mortgages are; you will need to be paying the same interest rate even if there is a fall in the interest rate index.
The major advantage
of fixed rate mortgages is that they present predictable housing costs for the life of the loan.
J.G. Wentworth's convenient online mortgage tool allows you to see
all of the fixed rate mortgages and ARM loans the company offers for your location, along with the required down payment percentage and credit score.
Most borrowers prefer the stable, predictable payments
of fixed rate mortgages.
A lot
of fixed rate mortgages that I've seen have had the policy of 10 % of current balance per year is allowed in overpayments.
The report also shows that Canadians are generally in favour
of fixed rate mortgages — 69 % have one — but around half of respondents said their choice is based on rates available when they apply.
In this group, Dollar Bank offered the best rate on both types
of fixed rate mortgages.
For someone who bought on the higher end of their budget they wouldn't have this flexibility and would likely opt for the stability
of a fixed rate mortgage.
Many homeowners prefer paying slightly more in interest for the security and predictability
of a fixed rate mortgage.
Adjustable rate mortgages should be used when their is a significant difference in the rate
of a fixed rate mortgage and an adjustable rate mortgage.
An excellent option for borrowers who plan to move or refinance in the foreseeable future, balloon loans are a simple instrument for short - term mortgage, which have some features
of a fixed rate mortgage and others from a variable rate mortgage both combined to create an excellent product.
For that purpose, the short versions (15, 20 years)
of fixed rate mortgage loans are the best while short variable rate terms (1, 3, 5 and 7 years ARM) or long fixed terms are better for reducing the amount of the mortgage loans» monthly installments.
If you have a great deal of high interest rate debt, increasing the size
of your fixed rate mortgage with a refinancing (even if you end up with a slightly higher mortgage rate than what you currently have) may result in lower overall interest costs.
Under certain circumstances, I would use an ARM instead
of a fixed rate mortgage.
Some homeowners who start out in an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) find that they would like to switch to the stability
of a fixed rate mortgage.
The initial interest rate of an Adjustable Rate Mortgage is lower than
that of a fixed rate mortgage, consequently, a good option to consider, if you plan to own your home for only a few years, is a Adjustable Rate Mortgage; or, the prevailing interest rate for a fixed rate mortgage is too high; or, you expect an increase in future earnings.
An example
of a fixed rate mortgage would be a home purchased for $ 200,000, at a rate of 3 % for a period of 30 years.
Perhaps you have an adjustable rate mortgage now, and would like the security
of a fixed rate mortgage.
Looking for the security
of a fixed rate mortgage for your next purchase or refinance?
You should also take the same test when choosing the length
of the fixed rate mortgage term.
Interest payments during the early years of your ARM loan will be generally lower than
those of a fixed rate mortgage.
What are the benefits
of a fixed rate mortgage?
Choosing the term
of a fixed rate mortgage is generally related to the monthly payments you can afford, how anxious you are to pay off the entire mortgage and any rate difference with the different terms.
Some homeowners who start out in an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) find that they would like to switch to the stability
of a fixed rate mortgage.
Typically the initial fixed rate on an ARM is slightly lower than the comparable rate
of a fixed rate mortgage.
If it's going to be your dream home or one you plan to raise a family in, then you may want the stability
of a fixed rate mortgage.
No matter the term
of a fixed rate mortgage, the loan is fully amortizing.
The additional monthly cost
of a fixed rate mortgage is an insurance policy against effects of fluctuating rates.»
Not exact matches
About 70 per cent
of mortgages in Canada are
fixed rate, with the majority
of those loans set for five - year terms.
Bernanke noted that when the Fed launched its first round
of bond buying in late 2008, the average
rate on a 30 - year
fixed -
rate mortgage was a little above 6 percent.
Such
rates will generally be higher than what home buyers currently pay, not only because banks now offer substantial discounts from posted
rates, but also because many buyers (40 % according to a July 2011 TD Bank report) take
mortgages with variable
rates, which are lower than
fixed rates at least 85 %
of the time.
It is what makes possible the very popular 30 - year
fixed -
rate mortgage with a down payment that is manageable for a wide swath
of creditworthy borrowers (20 %, with or without primary
mortgage insurance for a conforming borrower), but also maintains other underwriting standards as well.
TD says as
of Wednesday it increased its posted
rate for five - year
fixed mortgages to 5.59 per cent from 5.14 per cent.
TD says as
of Wednesday it increased its posted
rate for five - year
fixed mortgages
The average 30 - year
fixed -
rate mortgage is now about 4.38 percent — steadily moving further from the record low
of 3.50 percent in December 2012.
In addition, both variable and
fixed -
rate mortgage rates have risen over the past year as a result
of moves by the Bank
of Canada and fluctuations in the bond markets.
Converting a typical U.S. monthly
rate to a lump - sum premium using the
rate schedule
of PMI Group, the second - largest
mortgage insurance firm in the U.S., an American customer with a
fixed -
rate 25 - year
mortgage can expect to pay 1.15 %
of the loan value to insure a
mortgage with 10 % down.
In Belgium, for instance, homeowners can get an «accordion» adjustable -
rate mortgage: as the interest
rate changes, monthly payments remain
fixed but the length
of the
mortgage changes.
They have also increased the cost
of new
fixed -
rate mortgages as yields on the bond market have moved higher.
Overall, Treasury yields, which influence the interest
rates that borrowers pay on
mortgages and other loans, have been «remarkably stable» given the Fed could raise
rates against the backdrop
of ongoing turmoil in global markets, said Kathy Jones, chief
fixed income strategist at Schwab.
Forty - six per cent
of those surveyed also they'll choose a
fixed mortgage rate when they buy, versus 20 per cent who will choose a variable
rate.
Economic factors like consumer confidence, financial obligations, and delinquencies are all improving and the consumer may be more insulated than investors think from a back - up in yields, given 75 %
of their financial obligations are in the form
of a
mortgage, close to 90 %
of all
mortgages are 30 - year
fixed, and the average
mortgage is termed out at the lowest
rate ever... Taking these factors into account, we generally think it pays to remain sanguine.»
For example, if you apply for a $ 250,000, 30 - year,
fixed -
rate mortgage and your credit score is between 760 and 800 (which is excellent), you could qualify for a
rate of 5.9 percent.
Right now, the average
rate on new 30 - year
fixed -
rate mortgages is hovering around 4.2 %, so there's plenty
of upward room.
Overall, the distinguishing factor
of a
fixed -
rate mortgage is that the interest
rate for every installment payment does not change and is known at the time the
mortgage is issued.
In a time
of rising
rates, a
fixed -
rate mortgage will have lower risk for a borrower and higher risk for a lender.