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Understanding Mortgage Rates

Almost every homebuyer has experienced having a mortgage. If you haven’t, consider yourself lucky. Mortgage values are widely used, but not commonly understood. What factors go into mortgage rates? Read on to help further your understanding of mortgage rates.

Mortgage Rates In A Nutshell

When purchasing a home, you will pay a fraction of your home’s cost upfront. This portion of the payment is called the down payment. A bank or mortgage broker will then loan you the remainder to cover the home’s cost. The interest incurred throughout the mortgage is called the mortgage rate.

The home interest rate is figured based on the original total value of the loan. A higher balance naturally means more interest owed. The amount of interest incurred lowers as the loan is paid off. This lowering means your mortgage rates are more expensive at the beginning of the mortgage loan.

Interest is paid before taken from the original mortgage amount. Lower interest rates allow you to pay your mortgage off faster.

 

Knowing how mortgage rates are determined

 

Understanding mortgage rates mean understanding the different factors that affect them. Market conditions are key factors. These factors can be consumer sales, bond yields or employment.

The ten year Treasury bond yield is key to grasping interest rates. This is because the average mortgage is refinanced or paid off within the first ten years.

Your personal financial situation is another determining factor. Current financial flow along with past finances are used to help calculate the final mortgage rate. If you have bad credit, you are more likely to receive a higher interest rate than someone with good credit and vice versa.

Once you know your mortgage rate, you can pay off points. A point is an interest that can be paid off right away by the borrower. By doing so, you have a higher upfront cost. Using this method can save an enormous amount of money long term. Interest will cease to build on the remainder of the loan amount.

Another factor for your mortgage rate is the amount you have available for the down payment. The more you have, the lower mortgage rate you are likely to receive. The lender has less risk the more you have upfront. They are typically more willing to offer the client a lower interest rate the lower their risk.

 

How to get lower mortgage rates

 

Mortgage brokers are often hired as a means of finding the lowest interest rate on the market. Brokers have the capability to compare multiple rates. They can often get lower interest rates from banks than the same bank would be able to offer you.

Mortgage brokers often specialize in different areas to help find the client the best deal. There are multiple deals in the market. Agents can see if you qualify for any of the loans listed below.

  • VA loan
  • FHA loan
  • USDA loan
  • First time home buyer

The borrower may also choose to have a shorter loan period, or how long they have to repay the loan. The mortgage is taken out for 30 years. The lesser years shortens the time for interest to incur. While this is a good long-term solution, it will mean higher payments every month.

Another option often given to the borrower is a fixed or adjustable mortgage rate. Fixed rates lock you into a particular rate for the remainder of your lease. Your monthly amount applied towards interest and the outstanding balance remains the same.

Adjustable mortgage rates fluctuate throughout the mortgage. Choosing an adjustable mortgage rate means understanding mortgage rates can increase. An introductory period keeps your interest rate steady. This time ranges from 10, 7, 5, or 1 year. Once the initial period is over, it can fluctuate based on the interest rate index that is chosen.