Types of Home Mortgage Loans

When you apply for home mortgage loans online, you will be able to choose from a variety of different loans. Here is an overview of the pros and cons of the main types of loans.

Fixed-Rate Home Mortgage Loans Online

If you are looking for consistent monthly payments, fixed-rate home mortgage loans online are a good option. Fixed-rate mortgages offer consistent payments and interest rates for the life of the loan. Thus, fixed-rate loans make it easier to budget and plan. For this reason, this is the most popular type of home mortgage loans online. Fixed-rate home mortgage loans online make sense if you expect interest rates to rise or if interest rates are especially low when you apply. On the down side, fixed-rate mortgages usually come with higher payments initially than do adjustable-rate mortgages.

Adjustable-Rate Home Mortgage Loans Online

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) can usually offer the lowest initial monthly payments of all mortgages. An ARM typically comes with an initial interest rate that is fixed for a certain period, usually one to ten years. After that, the rate resets, or adjusts, and your payments and interest rates will fluctuate according to market conditions. Adjustable-rate home mortgage loans online can enable you to receive a larger loan than you would qualify for with a fixed-rate mortgage. ARMs make the most sense when you expect interest rates to fall or when you plan to move or refinance within a few years. The main disadvantage of adjustable-rate home mortgage loans online is unpredictability. Also, you might end up with unaffordable payments if interest rates begin to rise.

Subprime Home Mortgage Loans Online

More and more lenders are willing to work with borrowers with credit challenges by offering them subprime home mortgage loans online. Subprime loans are typically for borrowers whose credit scores fall below 620. If you fall into this category, you have two options. You can either wait to apply for home mortgage loans online and work on improving your credit or you can apply for subprime loans. Subprime mortgages usually come with substantially higher interest rates and sometimes require high down payments.

Balloon Mortgages

Balloon mortgages are a derivative of fixed-rate home mortgage loans online. Balloon mortgages can offer you greater purchasing power with consistent monthly payments. With this type of mortgage, you make small monthly payments for a specified period of time, usually five to seven years. After that time, the entire outstanding balance of the loan is due in one lump-sum payment. If you cannot pay the balance of the mortgage at that time, and most borrowers can't, you will have to refinance. If you have any questions, please visit our FAQ page.