Liz Voss Real Estate | Common Mortgage Options | Rate | Payment

Common Mortgage Options

Like homes themselves, mortgages come in many sizes and types. The type of mortgage that's right for you depends on many factors, such as your tolerance for risk and how long you expect to stay in your home. Here are some characteristics of various popular types of mortgages.

Conventional Fixed Rate Mortgages	Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
Low risk 10- to 40-year terms Interest rate doesn't change Large down payment (compared to government mortgages) may be required Payment remains the same	Higher risk Initial interest rate often lower than conventional fixed rate mortgage Interest rate may go up or down Interest rate usually adjusted annually Rate adjustments may be limited by cap(s) Payment caps can result in negative amortization in periods of rising interest rates
Government Mortgages	Hybrid Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs)
FHA, VA, or bond-backed Interest rate sometimes lower than conventional fixed rate mortgage Variety of programs available Low down payment requirements Liberal qualifying ratios Attractive to first-time homebuyers Higher insurance costs may apply for FHA loans Payment remains the same	Higher risk Initial interest rate often lower than conventional fixed rate mortgage Fixed term for 1-10 years, then becomes a 1-year ARM May have option to convert to a fixed rate mortgage before becoming a 1-year ARM Interest rate may go up or down Rate adjustments may be limited by cap(s) Payment caps can result in negative amortization in periods of rising interest rates
Jumbo Loans
Any loan over $417,000 (2006 figure, up from $359,650 in 2005) for a single-family home or condo Size of loan increases lender's risk, so interest rates are generally higher than for conventional fixed rate mortgages Jumbo loans are not available with government mortgages

Some Less Common Mortgage Options

Sometimes the more common fixed or adjustable rate mortgages aren't advantageous or aren't available because of your circumstances. Here are some less common mortgage alternatives and their characteristics.

Graduated Payment Mortgages	Growing Equity Mortgages
Fixed interest rate Medium risk Low monthly payments increase over 5-10 years, then level off for remainder of term (usually 30 years) Initial low payments can result in negative amortization during early years of the loan	Formalized prepayment method Medium risk Payments rise over 5-10 years, then level off for remainder of term Excess payment applied to principal Fixed interest rate usually lower than conventional fixed rate mortgages
Balloon Mortgages	Shared Appreciation Mortgages
High risk Low interest Short term (3-10 years) Large final payment	Low interest rate in return for agreement to share appreciation of home value with lender upon sale or at a specified time Low monthly payments Medium to high risk; if value of home doesn't increase as expected, lender may charge additional interest
Seller-Financed Mortgages
Seller-Financed Mortgages	Wraparound Mortgages
Medium risk Seller acts as lender Terms are negotiated between you and the seller	Medium risk Seller acts as lender Terms are negotiated between you and the seller Your mortgage payment repays both seller's original mortgage and any additional amount seller financed for you Interest rate higher than on seller's mortgage but often lower than conventional fixed rate mortgages