Finances

A fixed-rate mortgage is a mortgage on which the interest rate is set for the term of the loan. Your interest rate stays the same for the term of the mortgage or for a specified period of time. Most people use a fixed-rate mortgage. In fact, about 75 percent of all home mortgages have fixed rates. The main advantage of a fixed-rate mortgage is that you always know exactly how much your mortgage payment will be, and you can plan for it.

A Fixed Rate mortgage will offer you the security of knowing that your mortgage interest rate will not change during the term of your fixed rate. For example, a lender can offer a 30-year fixed loan to a homebuyer at a 6.5% interest rate. The loan is locked in to the 6.5% interest rate, even if the market interest rate rises to 8.0%. Conversely, if the market interest rate decreases to 4.5%, you will continue to pay the 6.5% interest rate. A Fixed-Rate Mortgage applies the same interest rate toward monthly loan payments for the life of the loan.

Features:

- More secure for the buyer and very popular with first-time home buyers.

- Ideal for anyone who likes to budget monthly expenses and plans to keep their home for several years.

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