One of the most critical decisions a homeowner will have to make when deciding to re-finance their home is whether they want to refinance with a fixed mortgage, an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a hybrid loan which combines the two options. The names are pretty much self illustrative but basically a fixed rate mortgage is a mortgage where the interest rate remains stable and an ARM is a mortgage where the interest rate varies. The amount the interest rate varies is as a rule tied to an index such as the prime index. Moreover there are usually clauses which prevent the interest rate from rising or dropping significantly during a specific period of time. This security clause provides protection for both the homeowner and the lender.
Advantages of a Fixed Option
A fixed re-financing option is ideal for homeowners with good credit who are able to lock in a favorable interest rate. For these homeowners the interest rate they are able to retain makes it valuable for the homeowner to re-finance at the new interest rate. The major advantage to this category of re-financing options is stability. Homeowners who re-finance with a fixed mortgage rate do not have to be concerned about how their payments may vary during the course of the loan period.
Disadvantages of a Fixed Option
Although the ability to lock in a favorable interest rate is a benefit it can also be considered a drawback. This is as homeowners who re-finance to get a favorable interest rate will not be able to take advantage of subsequent interest rate drops unless they re-finance again in the future. This will cause the homeowner incurring additional closing costs when they re-finance again.
Advantages of an ARM Option
An ARM re-finance choice is favorable in situations where the interest rate is expected to drop in the near future. Homeowners who are skilled at predicting trends in the economy and interest rates may consider re-financing with an ARM if they expect the rates to drop during the course of the loan period. However, interest rates are tied to a number of various factors and may rise unexpectedly at any time in spite of the predictions by industry experts.
A homeowner who can predict the future would be able to determine whether or not an ARM is the best re-financing option. However, because this is not possible homeowners have to either depend on their instincts and hope for the best or select a less risky alternative such as a fixed interest rate.
Disadvantages of an ARM Option
The most obvious drawback to an ARM re-financing alternative is that the interest rate may rise significantly and unexpectedly. In these situations the homeowner may suddenly find themselves paying considerably more each month to compensate for the higher interest rates. While this is a drawback, there are some elements of protection for both the homeowner and the lender. This frequently comes in the form of a clause in the terms of the contract which prevents the interest rate from being raised or lowered by a certain percentage over a specific period of time.
Consider a Hybrid Re-Financing Option
Homeowners who are undecided and find certain aspects of fixed rate mortgages as well as certain aspects of ARMs to be appealing might consider a hybrid re-financing alternative. A hybrid loans is one which combines both fixed interest rates and adjustable interest rates. This is frequently done by offering a fixed interest rate for an introductory period and then converting the mortgage to an ARM. In this option, lenders usually offer introductory interest rates which are extremely enticing to encourage homeowners to select this option. A hybrid loan may also work in the opposite way by offering an ARM for a particular amount of time and then converting the mortgage to a fixed rate mortgage. This version can be quite risky as the homeowner may find the interest rates at the conclusion of the introductory period are not favorable to the homeowner.
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