Home Loans are a secured type of loans given to homeowners. Generally, the home property you wish to buy is the loan collateral. Because it is secured, the interest rate for a home loan is lower and the terms of payment are flexible.
In Canada, home loans can have a fixed term of payment which can be as short as 6 months to as long as ten years. Variable rate loans can have three, four and five year terms. There are two types of home loans�fixed rate mortgages and variable rate mortgages.
In Fixed rate mortgages, the interest rate never changes regardless of how the economy moves. The monthly payment for amortization is the same all throughout the completion of the loan. This feature can work to your advantage as you already know how much to prepare monthly regardless of how the economy moves. On the other side, fixed rate mortgages usually have higher interest rate.
The higher interest rates in fixed rate mortgages is due to the risks involved on the part of the lender, especially when you choose longer term of payment such a thirty or forty years. During this term, the prime interest rate may go up, but you will not be responsible for paying the difference. The lending institution is.
In contrast, adjustable rate mortgages, another term for variable mortgages, have an adjustable interest rate all throughout the loan term. In most cases, the adjustable rate mortgages kick off with a fixed rate for an initial period of time like three, five or seven years. This phase is called the introduction period. The interest rate never changes.
However, after the introduction period, the loan becomes an adjustable rate mortgage. At such stage, there is no way for you to predict the rate. It can go higher, which is often the case, to the point that most borrowers give up the loan or apply for refinancing or other types of loan.
The introductory period is termed as the reward for uncertainty of the adjustable period. During the adjustable period of the mortgage, your monthly payment will rise and fall with average interest rates. It would be good on your part if the interest rate goes down. Nevertheless, if the interest rate rises, your payment for such month is also high.
To most homeowners and those who are planning to buy a house through home loans, adjustable rate mortgages are a loan to gamble. There are qualifications that you must meet in order to be approved of a home loan.
Besides your capacity to pay off monthly payment, your credit history is evaluated. Most banks refuse to grant loans to borrowers with bad credit scores. But some lending institutions do for higher interest rates.
Before you decide which type of home loan is best for you, it is wise to search on the internet for in-depth knowledge of the different types of home loans available in your area. You can weigh down the advantages and disadvantages of each home loan type. Choose your home loan that best meet your needs.