Loan Program |
Description |
Benefits |
Drawbacks |
30-year fixed rate |
30-year term mortgage (monthly payment & interest rate stay constant over the loan life). |
Payment never changes over the life of the loan. |
Higher interest rate than most other programs. |
15-year fixed rate |
15-year term mortgage (monthly payment & interest rate stay constant over loan life). |
Interest rate is lower than a 30-year fixed rate and payments never change over loan life). |
Since the mortgage is paid off twice as fast as a 30-year fixed rate mortgage, payments are significantly higher. |
10-year adjustable (ARM) |
Interest rate stays constant for 10 years, then fluctuates based on market conditions. |
Lower interest rate than 30-year fixed rate. |
Rate can change after 10-year fixed rate period. |
7-year adjustable (ARM) |
Interest rate stays constant for 7 years, then fluctuates based on market conditions. |
Lower interest rate than 30-year fixed rate and 10-year ARM. |
Rate can change after 7-year fixed rate period. |
5-year adjustable (ARM) |
The interest rate stays constant for 5 years, then can change based on market conditions. |
Lower interest rate than the 30-year fixed rate, 10-year ARM, and 7-year ARM. |
Rate can change after the 5-year fixed rate period. |
3-year adjustable (ARM) |
The interest rate stays constant for 3 years, then can change based on market conditions. |
Lower interest rate than the 30-year fixed rate, 10-year ARM, 7-year ARM, and 5-year adjustable. |
Rate can change after the 3-year fixed rate period. |
1-year adjustable (ARM) |
Interest rate stays constant for 1 year, then fluctuates based on market conditions. |
Lower interest rate than the 30-year fixed rate, 10-year ARM, 7-year ARM, 5-year ARM, and 3-year ARM. |
Rate can change after 1-year fixed rate period. |
Interest-only Option |
Only required to pay interest on the loan. Typically available on 5/1 and 7/1 adjustable (ARM) mortgages. |
Payments are lower because you don’t have to pay principal. You can make principal payments at any time; and when you do, your required monthly payment will be lowered accordingly. |
If paying only interest every month, you will still owe the same amount that you initially borrowed. This loan program requires more equity than other programs. |
Balloon Mortgage |
Loan is amortized over a longer period (usually 30 years) but entire principal balance must be paid off after a certain number of years (usually 5 or 7 years) |
Interest rates can be lower than a fixed rate mortgage. |
This is considered a risky loan since the entire principal is due at the end of the loan term. |