Sunday, 21 August 2011

Is A Fixed-Rate Mortgage (FRM) Or Variable-Rate Mortgage (VRM) Best For You

By Adriana Noton


If you are in the market for a home you will have to choose between a fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) or variable-rate mortgage (VRM). They are the two most popular ways of securing funds to buy the residence you will live in. Both offer excellent financing with a few variations in how they are handled.

One of the main factors between these two loan types is the probable amount of interest you will pay over the term of the note. Knowing if you will be able to make the payments each and every month is vital. Once that has been determined, you can take the time to examine these two options.

The amount owed on the home, or the principal, will never change. How quickly that amount will be paid off can fluctuate. For one thing, all financial institutions will first deduct the amount they charge for holding your loan. Any balance is applied to the principal. As time passes, the bank will take less money and more will be posted to your principal. Regardless of your choice, the note will have to be paid off in the allotted time period.

When a home purchase is made with the intent of living there for a long time, the fixed amount borrowed may be your best bet. The interest is predetermined and that plus the purchase price is spread out over a period of up to 30 years. Your payment is locked in and can never change.

A variable note also has a fixed payment, but the interest can fluctuate over time. The borrowed amount can be for one year up to ten years. The usual time period is three or five years. Many lenders offer interest rates so low the buyer is enticed by the low monthly payments.

As the borrower, the initial variable amount should afford savings to cover possible payment increases. If it allows you to lower the principal by a large amount and an increase will still see you making a profit, the variable may be your best choice. Another reason for going this route is if the home purchase is expected to be short term. In this case, it could save you a lot of money.

The downtrend in the economy over recent years has made the VRM most inviting to most people. The low rate and the anticipated continuing low rate can save the borrower a lot of interest on their loan. Talk to your banker and ask for the latest news in borrowing trends. The Truth in Lending Act is one that assures he or she will have to disclose all information on both mortgages.

A few percentage points may not seem like much, but spread out over the term of a mortgage, thousands of dollars can be saved. Your lender will let you know the pros's and con's of each mortgage, and the final choice will be the applicants. Both offer excellent terms and even if the interest should rise, the variable mortgages are capped at a certain amount. This means that if the rate increases, it cannot increase over a set number of points. FRM or VRM, the choice is yours and you can't go wrong.




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