Home Mortgage Loans - Fixed Rate, Adjustable or Balloon, Which One Is Right For You?
When you're shopping for a new homeespecially for the first timeall the terms and expressions may be confusing and difficult to understand. Adjustable rate, fixed rate, balloon payment - how do you decide which is the right type of home mortgage for you if you're not even sure what each of them are ... more...

What is a Fixed Rate Mortgage?
As the term implies, with a fixed rate mortgage the mortgage rate is fixed for a set period of time, so no matter what movements occur in the lender's standard variable mortgage rate, the borrower's arrangement is fixed and, therefore, so are the monthly fixed rate mortgage payments.A fixed rate ... more...

Know Your Mortgage Options
While trying to find the lowest rates, many homeowners fail to examine the type of mortgage, and which type of mortgage is best suited to their needs. Whether you are buying a new home or refinancing, it is important to understand the different mortgage types, and evaluate which one best meets ... more...

Rate Locks And How They Work
Remember, rates change all the time, and it can be one or two months between the time you apply for a loan and when your sale closes... and rates can have jumped in that time.A lock commits the lender to lend at a specified interest rate and points, provided the loan is closed within the specified ... more...

What is a Tracker Mortgage?
A tracker mortgage 'tracks' the Bank of England base rate, meaning your mortgage stays in line with interest rates and the market in general. The result on your monthly mortgage interest payments is that they go up when the base rate goes up and go down when the base rate goes down.A tracker ... more...

How to Compare Fixed Rate Mortgages and Adjustable Rate Mortgages
There are many types of mortgages, and the more you know about them before you start, the better. To compare one Adjustable Rate Mortgage with another or with a fixed-rate mortgage, you need to know about indexes, margins, discounts, caps, negative amortization, and convertibility. You need to ... more...

Mortgage Loan Basics: Interest Only Loans, Pay Option ARM
Mortgage Loan BasicsTo understand loans and mortgages we need to understand loan limits first. If your loan amount exceeds the amount below, you will qualify for a Jumbo Loan, which carries higher interest rate.One-Family (single family homes) $417,000 Two-Family(duplex) $533,850 Three-Family ... more...

Home Loans and Mortgages The Selection Can Be Bewildering
For years, when someone wanted to purchase or refinance a home, the choices were simple. The buyer chose either a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage or a 30 year fixed-rate mortgage. That was it. Of course, those were also the days of twenty percent down payments, which seriously hindered the ability ... more...

Do Your Homework - Find the Mortgage That Fits Your Lifestyle and Your Budget
You've been looking at houses for months, and finally youve found it--the house that's just right. So now, all you have to do is to purchase your new home, move in, and get settled, right? Not quite. Theres one more big step to go-getting a mortgage loan. Youre going to want to decide on the type ... more...