| Loan
Programs |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
Fixed
Rate Mortgages
- 30 year fixed
- 15 year fixed
|
- Monthly
payments are fixed over the
life of the loan
- Interest
rate does not change
- Protected
if rates go up
- Can refinance
if rates go down
|
- Higher
interest rate
- Higher
mortgage payments
- Rate
does not drop if interest rates
improve
|
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Adjustable
Rate Mortgages
- 10/1 ARM
- 7/1 ARM
- 3/1 ARM
- 1 year ARM
- 6 month ARM
- 1 month ARM
|
- Lower
initial monthly payment
- Lower
payment over a shorter period
of time
- Rates
and payments may go down if
rates improve
- May qualify
for higher loan amounts
|
- More
risk
- Payments
may change over time
- Potential
for high payments if rates
go up
|
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| Balloon Mortgages
|
- Lower
initial monthly payment
- Lower
payment over a shorter period
of time
- Many
balloon mortgages offer the
option to convert to a new
loan after the initial term.
|
- Risk
of rates being higher at the
end of the initial fixed period
- Risk
of foreclosure if you cannot
make balloon payment or if
you cannot refinance or if
you cannot exercise the conversion
option
|
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| First Time Buyer
Programs |
- Lower
down payment
- Easier
to qualify
- Sometimes
you may get lower rates
|
- May be
subject to income and property
value limitations
- Some
programs which have government
subsidies may have a recapture
tax if you sell the house too
early.
|
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| Stated Income
Programs |
- Don’t
need to verify income
- Faster
approval
|
- Higher
rates
- Higher
down payment
|
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 |
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| No point, No
fee Programs |
- No closing
costs
- Less
money required to close
|
- Higher
rates
- Higher
payments
|
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| Imperfect Credit
Programs |
- Potential
for reestablishing credit if
you pay your mortgage on time.
- When
used for debt consolidation,
you may be able to reduce your
monthly debt payment
|
- Higher
rates
- Terms
may not be as favorable
- Harder
to get long term fixed loans
- Loans
may have prepayment penalties
|
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| Home Equity
Line of Credit |
- You only
borrow what you need
- Pay interest
only on what you borrow
- Flexible
access to funds
- Interest
may be tax deductible
|
- Rates
can change. The maximum interest
rate is normally high.
- Payments
can change
- Harder
to refinance your first mortgage
|
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| Home Equity
Fixed Loan |
- Fixed
payments
- Interest
may be tax deductible
|
- Higher
interest rates than on 1st mortgages
- Harder
to refinance your first mortgage
|