A mortgage loan, also known as a hypothetical loan in civil law jurisdictions, is a loan used by buyers of real estate to purchase property or by existing landlords to raise funds for any purpose. It is also possible to use the accumulated value of your home to finance renovations or shorten the term of the loan to 20, 15, or even 10 years. The estimated monthly payment does not include the FHA mortgage insurance premium, taxes, and insurance premiums. The actual payment obligation will be higher.
Conventional loans are usually bought by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, two large government-sponsored companies (GSEs) that play an important role in the mortgage lending market. Unlike fixed-rate mortgages, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are affected by market fluctuations. If rates fall, mortgage payments will decrease. This is why the mortgage APR is usually higher than the interest rate and why it is such an important number when comparing loan offers. Mortgage points, or discount points, are a form of prepaid interest that can be paid in advance in exchange for a lower interest rate and monthly payment.
These points are usually paid before the start of the loan period, usually during the closing process. Mortgage lenders come in all shapes and sizes, from online companies to traditional banks and some are a combination of both. Once you decide what type of mortgage fits your needs, you can start comparing current mortgage options. Closing costs cover all fees associated with the loan, including lender fees (usually an opening fee and optional points) and third-party charges for services such as appraisal and title insurance. Adjustable-rate mortgages have an initial fixed-rate period during which the interest rate does not change followed by a longer period during which the rate can change at pre-set intervals. You can get a mortgage with bad or bad credit but your interest rate and terms may not be as favorable.
There are many types of fixed-rate mortgages such as 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, jumbo fixed-rate mortgages, and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages.
