Fixed-Rate Mortgages
Generally, the purchasing power of money goes down over time due to market forces; this is also true for the housing market, where the prices of homes usually go up over time. If the mortgage a home buyer applied for is affected by the market, the tendency is for their mortgage costs to go up long-term. Therefore, if a home buyer intends to own or stay within a certain property for decades, he or she will usually want to be insulated from such price volatility. In this case, applying for a fixed-rate mortgage will be ideal.
Adjustable-Rate Mortgages
While the fixed-rate mortgage is fit for long-term needs, adjustable-rate mortgages are designed for those who have a shorter time horizon in mind. People who do not intend to stay long in the home they own (whether to move to a better one or for some other reason) can avail of adjustable rate mortgages. What’s the benefit? Adjustable-rate mortgages generally have lower initial interest rates than fixed-rate mortgages. Therefore, the home buyer may imagine that he or she will be able to move out and get out of the commitment before their mortgage payments have a chance to go up. There are other home financing options, such as hybrid home loans, available for people with different risk appetites. If you are planning to buy a home and are not aware of the instruments that may be within your reach, a home financing expert such as Vahe Hayrapetian should be able to help inform you.