Welcome > Resources > Mortgage Calculators > Fixed or Adjustable Rate ...

Fixed or Adjustable Rate?

A fixed rate mortgage has the same payment for the entire term of the loan. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has a rate that can change, causing your monthly payment to increase or decrease. Use this calculator to compare a fixed rate mortgage to two types of ARMs, a Fully Amortizing ARM and an Interest Only ARM.

Definitions

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A fixed rate mortgage has the same interest rate and monthly payment throughout the term of the mortgage. The payment is calculated to payoff the mortgage balance at the end of the term. The most common terms are 15 year and 30 years.

Fully Amortizing ARM

This is the most common type of ARM. The monthly payment is calculated to payoff the entire mortgage balance at the end of the term. The term is typically 30 years. After any fixed interest rate period has passed, the interest rate and payment adjusts annually. A Fully Amortizing ARM will also have a maximum rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%. Below is a list of the most common types of Fully Amortizing ARMs.

Common Adjustable Rate Mortgages
ARM Type	Months Fixed
10/1 ARM	Fixed for 120 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
7/1 ARM	Fixed for 84 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
5/1 ARM	Fixed for 60 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
3/1 ARM	Fixed for 36 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
1 year ARM	Fixed for 12 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.

Interest Only ARM

An Interest Only ARM only requires monthly interest payments. Since you are not paying any principal, as you are with the other two types of mortgages described above, this can lower your monthly payment. However, since your mortgage's principal balance is not decreased, you will have a balloon payment at the end of the mortgage's term. Like a Fully Amortizing ARM, an Interest Only ARM will often have a period where the interest rate is fixed, and then it is adjusted annually. An Interest Only ARM will also have a maximum interest rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%.

Mortgage amount

Expected balance for your mortgage.

Term in years

The number of years over which you will repay this mortgage. The most common mortgage terms are 15 years and 30 years. Please note that for the Interest Only ARM you will have a balloon payment for the entire principal balance at the end of the loan term.

Expected rate change

The annual adjustment you expect in your ARM. The range for this calculator is minus 3% to plus 3%. Use a negative value if you believe interest rates will decrease, a positive value if you believe they will increase.

Interest rate

Annual interest rate for each mortgage type. Typically an ARM will have a lower interest rate than a fixed rate mortgage. The rate of an Interest Only ARM will vary by lender.

Months rate fixed

This is the number of months the rate is fixed for an ARM. During this period the interest rate and the monthly payment will remain fixed. The rate will then adjust annually by the expected rate change.

Interest rate cap

This is the maximum interest rate for this mortgage. The mortgage's interest rate will never exceed the interest rate cap.

Monthly payment

Monthly principal and interest payment (PI) for the Fixed Rate Mortgage and the Fully Amortizing ARM. This is an interest only payment for an Interest Only ARM.

The mortgage calculators are provided by KJE Computer Solutions, LLC and made available to NUMBER1EXPERT as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can't guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

"A model of how the Internet can facilitate the process of deciding where to send your children to school" - America's Best School Profiles by The Heritage Foundation Colorado Public, Private and Charter Schools: Compare them using these top-rated, comprehensive reports.   Schools in Denver, Arvada and Westminster

Selling Your Home >Selling and Lock Boxes Having your house on the market involves a certain invasion of your privacy. Real estate agents will be previewing it and showing it to buyers with some regularity. While you want to make your home reasonably accessible to the real estate professionals and their prospects, you don't want to run the risk of stepping out of your shower just as a broker is ushering in buyers. In many areas real estate agents use a handy little tool of the trade called a "lock box". When a property is occupied, the agent first calls to let the owner know when they will be coming by. If no one is at home, the agent can get into the house with a key stored in the lock box. The other extreme of accessibility is to require a day's notice before a showing, and to insist that your real estate agent be present at each one. This will eliminate a lot of the inconvenience to you, but it may also eliminate a lot of showings of your house. Whatever arrangements you work out, keep in mind that the easier you make it for real estate agents to open and show your home, the easier it will be to sell it quickly. See All Tips In The "Selling Your Home" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  1992 marked the first year since before the Civil War that there were fewer than 2 million ________ in the United States? A  There are fewer than 2 million farms, and agricultural land is still being carved up for residential and commercial uses. See More Real Estate Trivia >

Gary & Cindy Belhumeur, GRI, ABR, CSR, SRES, e-Pro Home Source Group 7728 Vance Dr., Suite B Arvada, CO. 80003 Toll Free: 866-295-4977 Local Phone: 303-429-1887 Fax: 303-412-5608 Email - Gary: Gary@HomeSourceInfo.com E-Mail - Cindy: Cindy@HomeSourceInfo.com Gary and Cindy Belhumeur are the NUMBER ONE AGENTS in the Denver Metro area. The Home Source Group, owned and operated by Gary and Cindy Belhumeur, is your "One-Stop Real Estate Source". Their experienced Realtors and professional support staff offer "Concierge" service to all of their clients. The Home Source Group represents Buyers or Sellers and offers comprehensive Relocation Services and Financing. Give Gary and Cindy Belhumeur a call and find out why they've been in the Top 1% of Denver Realtors for the last TEN consecutive years! The Home Source Group also specializes in Short Sales and Foreclosures and are HUD Certified Brokers. www.HomeSourceColorado.com is brought to you by Gary & Cindy Belhumeur NUMBER1EXPERT in real estate for Denver, Arvada and Westminster, Colorado Read Gary & Cindy Belhumeur's Privacy Guarantee, Terms of Service, and Free & Without Obligation Pledge

NUMBER1EXPERT®
© Best Image Marketing and/or its clients.
All rights reserved. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.