MortgageBasics.htm
Mortgage Basics
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Source: Wichita Eagle, Sunday, 03/27/2005

A mortgage is a long-term loan that uses real estate as collateral. A mortgage loan is commonly used for buying a home. Mortgage loans are usually fully amortizing, which means that the monthly principal and interest payment will payoff the loan in the number of payments stipulated on the note. Mortgage loans are also described by the length of time for repayment, such as 15 or 30 years, and whether the interest rate is fixed or adjustable. A mortgage loan where the downpayment is less than 20% usually requires private mortgage insurance (PMI) or government insurance or guarantee.

Most mortgage loans require monthly payments of principal and interest plus additional payments that are set-aside in escrow accounts to pay property taxes and homeowners insurance. In addition, loans with PMI or government mortgage insurance may require payment of a monthly mortgage insurance premium as part of the regular monthly payment.

Some lenders offer bi-weekly mortgages, which call for 26 payments per year. The details of bi-weekly mortgages can differ, so it's best to ask the lender to outline the details of how these programs work.

Homebuyers who can afford the higher monthly payment sometimes prefer a 15-year mortgage to a 30-year mortgage. Interest rates on 15-year mortgages usually are slightly lower than 30-year rates. In addition, a homebuyer financing a home purchase with a 15-year mortgage will repay principal substantially faster and will pay far less total interest over the term of the loan.

Conventional Mortgages: A conventional mortgage is one that is not insured or guaranteed by the government. Conventional loans with a downpayment of less than 20% typically require private mortgage insurance (PMI), which protects the lender if the homeowner defaults on the loan.

FHA-Insured Loans: The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is a part of the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), operates several low-downpayment mortgage insurance programs that buyers can use to purchase a home. FHA-insured loans generally require the buyer to make a three percent cash contribution to the downpayment and closing costs. FHA-insured loans are available from most of the same lenders who offer conventional loans.

The maximum FHA-insured loan amount for a one-family home ranges from about $155,000 to $280,749 depending on local median home prices and other factors. Your lender can provide more details about FHA-insured mortgages and the maximum loan amount in your area, or find information on FHA's local area loan limits directly from HUD's Web site.

VA-Guaranteed Loans: If you are a veteran of military service, reservist, or on active military duty, you may be able to obtain a loan guaranteed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which requires little or no downpayment.

 
To get more information about the VA Loan Guaranty program, check out the VA internet site.

Rural Housing Service Loans: The Rural Housing Service (RHS), which is a part of the US Department of Agriculture, offers Section 502 Direct and Guaranteed Rural Housing loans to homebuyers located in rural areas. Section 502 Direct loans offer reduced interest rates to lower-income borrowers who qualify, and are arranged directly through local USDA County Agents or through USDA Rural Development state offices.

A limited amount of funding is available for Section 502 Direct loans, so some lenders also offer "Leveraged Loan" programs. Leveraged loans combine a Section 502 Direct loan that carries a low interest rate with a conventional, market-rate loan. The "blended" interest rate on the resulting loan is lower than the current market rate as a result of the combination of the rates on the two loans.

The Section 502 Guaranteed Rural Housing Loans are arranged through participating local lenders and are available to a broader range of borrowers. Check the RHS internet site to find out more about RHS loan programs.

State Housing Finance Agency Loans: State Housing Finance Agencies (HFA) provide loans to first-time homebuyers, often at below-market interest rates. Program availability and eligibility requirements vary from state-to-state. You should check with your state HFA for programs that are currently available. Find a link to your state HFA Office from the National Council of State Housing Agencies Web site.

Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs): With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the life of the loan. But with an ARM, the interest rate changes periodically, usually in relation to a specific index such as a cost of funds rate or the Treasury bill rate. Payments may go up or down accordingly. Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are characterized by the time frame for adjustment, such as 1 year, or 3 ,5, 7, or 10 years. Hybrid ARMs have grown in popularity because they may offer a favorable fixed rate of interest for a time, such as 3, 5, 7, or 10 years, after which the loan becomes a 1-year ARM.

Lenders generally charge lower initial interest rates for ARMs and Hybrid ARMs than for fixed-rate mortgages. This makes the ARM easier on your pocketbook at first than a fixed-rate mortgage for the same amount. It also means that you might qualify for a larger loan because lenders sometimes make this decision on the basis of your current income and the anticipated monthly payments for the first few years. Moreover, if interest rates remain steady or move lower, your ARM could be less expensive over a long period than a fixed rate mortgage.

Against these advantages, you have to weigh the risk that an increase in interest rates would lead to higher monthly payments in the future. It's a trade-off: you get a lower rate with an ARM in exchange for assuming more risk.

 
   Dean Eckhoff nde@cox.net LCP Press