Fixed Rate Mortgage – Better Option For a New Buyer
Posted in Fixed Loan Articles on 07/29/2010 11:10 am by owowonowoFacing financial troubles often leads us to look for a loan. For a lot of people, getting a loan or a mortgage is not such a big deal as they have been through the time once or twice before. Some of them have even taken out second mortgages on their houses, so they know all the ropes.
However, if you are going for a loan for the very first time to buy a house or some other kind of property, it can be a little trickier and confusing since there are so many options in the market and deciding which one to opt for is not easy. For a first time buyer, fixed rate mortgages are the best option as they offer a lot of features that are beneficial for the borrower.
One of the most significant benefits of a fixed rate mortgage loan is that there are no surprises as the rate of interest is fixed, and it does not go up at any given time. With an adjustable rate of mortgage, you might start off with a low interest rate but it can be increased by 40 to 50 % at any given time and thus give you financial troubles.
With fixed rate mortgages, the buyer knows the exact amount of money that he has to repay and he can make future plans since it is easy to calculate the date when your entire loan will be paid off. Since the rate of interest in these kinds of loans is fixed, the borrower has to pay the same amount in monthly installments, and there are no unpleasant surprises.
You have to keep in mind that if you wish to sell the house or relocate, you need to pay off the remaining balance. If such circumstances arise, the fixed rate mortgages can help you in finding out how much money do you still owe to the lender, and if you can easily make the payment. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage, the situation is a little more complex, so it is better for you to opt for a fixed rate mortgage.
The fixed rate mortgages are of two main types with time durations of 15 and 30 year mostly. If you can afford to make the payments before the time period expires, you can be free of the loan even in 5 years. If, however, you fail to make the payment in the time period, there can be serious consequences.
The only disadvantage associated with a fixed rate loan is that the lender will ask you to make monthly installments at a higher level than in the adjustable rate mortgage. This is because they cannot increase the interest rate any time during the period of loan. If the high monthly payment is affordable then you have nothing to worry about.
As a new buyer in the market, you need to make sure that you get the best deal. Do not go to any lender at random. Instead, do your research and ask about all the different kinds of lowest fixed rate mortgages available in the market before making the final decision.