Understanding Fixed Rate Mortgages By: Jenny Lane There are several types of mortgages offered by lenders in the market. The most common of these types is fixed rate mortgages. Fixed rate mortgage loans are characterized by fixed rates and monthly payments that are generally for a 15-year and 30-year periods. Fixed rate mortgages are popular in the consumer market because of its stability. Most consumers are hesitant to get house loans where the rates fluctuate with the changing interest rates of the market. Fixed rate mortgages are generally very affordable, especially when rates are low. Consumers of fixed rate mortgages are faced with having to choose between a 15-year fixed rate mortgage or a 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Some prefer 15-year fixed rate mortgages because of the shorter duration. Other consumers choose 30-year fixed rate mortgages because the payments are considerably lower than the former. Each type of fixed rate mortgages certainly has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here are some of them. 30-year Fixed Rate Mortgage – Advantages and Disadvantages A 30-year fixed rate mortgage gives consumers the opportunity to borrow money on a long-term basis. They do this without having to worry about the change that might occur in fixed rate mortgage interest rates or payments of such. Because the interest of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is amortized over a longer period, the monthly payments for this are lower than those on 15-year loans. Lower monthly payments on 30-year fixed rate mortgages give consumers an extra resource which they can pour into other worthy investments. On the other hand, this could also cause a slight disadvantage for 30-year fixed rate mortgage borrowers. The overall interest bill of a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is much higher because of the long amortization period. And because payments for 30-day fixed rate mortgages are usually used to pay up the interest rather than the principal at first, borrowers will be building up their equity at a slower pace. The high interest rates of 30-day fixed rate mortgage loans do not necessarily stop consumers from taking this type of loan. They reason that higher interest bill for 30-day fixed rate mortgages increases the amount they can deduct at tax time. This could potentially reduce or perhaps, even eliminate their federal income tax liability. 15-year Fixed Rate Mortgage – Advantages and Disadvantages One of the advantages that attract borrowers into taking a 15-year fixed rate mortgage is the fact that amortization periods for this type of loan are usually shorter. This allows 15-year fixed rate mortgage borrowers to build equity much quicker. And with a 15-year fixed rate mortgage, the overall interest bills are low – at least, considerably lower than those of longer-term loans. Interest rates of a 15-year fixed rate mortgage are also lower than 30-year loans. The disadvantages however include significantly higher monthly payments, especially when compared with 30-year fixed rate mortgages. This setback of having a 15-year fixed rate mortgage may restrict home buyers to smaller houses than they might be able to afford with longer-term loans. There are also other factors to consider when choosing which type of fixed rate mortgage you want to take. Keep in mind that you can actually do a prepayment for your fixed rate mortgage, that way, the principal amount may be significantly reduced each month. In this way, fixed rate mortgages may even be paid off sooner than the projected term. About the Author: Jenny Lane is a banking specialist who writes on related financing and banking industry topics. Find out more about the latest in banking industry at http://bankingtrends.com

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