Finances

While trying to find the lowest rates, many homeowners fail to examine the type of mortgage, and which type of mortgage is best suited to their needs. Whether you are buying a new home or refinancing, it is important to understand the different mortgage types, and evaluate which one best meets your needs.

In either case, mortgages can be refinanced, but refinancing a loan costs money, and the best savings will be available to those who don't need to refinance often.

Another type of loan that has become popular in recent years is the interest only loan. In fact, an interest only loan is not a type of mortgage; it is just an option that can be applied to a mortgage. With an interest only loan, the borrower is free to pay only the interest, but not make any payments towards the principal. This lowers payments, although the loan is not actually getting paid off. This type of loan may be attractive to those who believe leverage in their home's value is more important than actual ownership since their house value will increase. It is a speculative position.

Balloon loans are similar in many ways to the interest only option on mortgages. The balloon loan allows the borrower to pay off the principal at a later date, and pay interest only up front at set rates. In the ultimate derivation of a balloon, or interest only loan, a homeowner owes the entire sum of the original loan amount after 30 years of paying interest.

Choosing the right type of mortgage for your financial situation is an important decision that could save many thousands of dollars over the long run. There is no one correct answer for all people in all financial situations, but it is important to understand the types of loans, and how the match with your personal financial expectations.

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