Understanding The Mortgage: Adjustable Or Fixed?

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

The mortgage is not one simple thing. There are many types of them and they each offer different advantages to those that are looking for one. Purchasing a home is one of the largest investments that you will ever make during your life time. It is ideal to make sure that you make this investment carefully and to the best of your ability. One thing about them that you will want to understand is whether you should go with an adjustable or a fixed type of loan. The differences may seem confusing, but they are very important nonetheless.

When considering a mortgage , you may first want to consider such things as the interest rates and the terms of the loan. Yet, there are other elements to think about as well. Once you find the lender that is offering you the best rates out there, look at what types of rates he may be able to provide you with. Here?s a break down.

Fixed Rate

Any mortgage that has a fixed rate is one that has an interest rate that is not going to change. It will remain the same today as it will be down the road and throughout the course of the loan. It can be ideal to use this type of mortgage in most cases. It is especially helpful when interest rates are tending to slide up the scale. If you get a loan that is fixed while rates are climbing, then you will be secured into that low rate throughout the course of your loan, no matter what other rates do. In most cases, the fixed rate will be slightly higher than that of an adjustable but in the long run it may save you money.

Adjustable Rate

There are also many reasons why you may decide that an adjustable will work well for you. Besides being less expensive in the long term, they are also ideal for when interest rates are high and are falling. When interest rates are higher, securing an adjustable rate loan will allow you to take advantage of the slipping that they are doing. These are ever changing rates though, so if the rates tend to climb, you may be in trouble. One thing to note about them, though, is that they are generally not going to move up or down more than 5% and there is a lock of fluctuation per year at 1%. Carefully consider this option in a mortgage.

When considering either of these two options in home loans, carefully look at what the financial market is expected to do. You may even want to talk to your financial advisor about the difference and how likely it is to effect your situation. Remember too that interest rates fluctuate quarterly most of the time. They also vary from one lender to the next. You will want to consider the big picture here so that you can find the most ideal solution for your specific needs. An adjustable rate or a fixed rate mortgage quote can be given to help you to see what the end result for each will be.