Mortgage Loan Types

BY STEWART CONTENT TEAM

You’ve decided to find a new home and finalized your budget. If you plan on getting a mortgage loan, now is the time to decide which loan type is best for you. There are a variety of loans you can pick from, each with their own unique circumstances, like loan duration and mortgage rate.

Let’s walk through what you should consider.

Mortgage Type:

Conventional Loan

Conventional loans are funded private companies or banks and come in two packages: conforming loans and non-conforming loans. Conforming loans follow standards put in place by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which monitor your credit and debt along with the size of the loan. Non-conforming loans do not follow these standards and are typically used for those with low credit or for loans towards particularly expensive homes.

Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Insured Loans

The FHA operates under the control of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and has the primary responsibility for administering the government home loan insurance program. This program allows buyers who might otherwise not qualify for a home loan obtain one because the risk is removed from the lender by the FHA.

VA Loans

Available to active or retired members of the U.S. military, VA loans offer flexible, low interest loans for borrowers. They do not require a down payment or mortgage insurance, and lenders typically offer the lowest rates on VA loans.

Loan Duration:

15-year Mortgage The 15-year mortgage enables borrowers to repay their loan more quickly, which means they build equity faster and pay less interest over the life of the mortgage. Many times, 15-year mortgages also have lower interest rates than 30-year mortgages.

30-year Mortgage The 30-year mortgage enables borrowers to repay their loan over a longer period, allowing for lower monthly mortgage payments. Meanwhile, because they are taking longer to pay off the loan, their level of interest paid naturally increases compared to that from the 15-year mortgage.

Mortgage Rate:

Fixed Rate Mortgage (FRM) This is the standard mortgage model. It is the oldest and most easily understood type of mortgage. Its primary attraction is that the interest rate and the amount of payment remain fixed for the life of the loan, typically either 15 or 30 years. However, if rates fall, the holder cannot benefit from the new, lower rate, except by refinancing.

Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) With this kind of mortgage, the interest rate you pay rises and falls along with other rates charged throughout the economy. Therefore, you, the borrower, assume the risk of rising rates, and you stand to benefit should rates fall.

An essential question to ask about an ARM is whether there are limits on how much your rate can be raised, both at each review and over the whole term of the loan. Without limits, known as caps, you'll have no way to predict how much your rate and, thus, your monthly payments might change.

Convertible Option FRM and ARM represent the primary options available to home buyers today. The convertible mortgage represents something of a compromise between the two. It is designed for those who want the advantages of the ARM, but also want to limit the risk of rising rates.

Under this arrangement, the buyer starts out with an ARM, but has the option of converting to an FRM at specified points during the loan term. You may want to ask the lender these questions: When can you convert? How often can you consider the option? Are there any up-front fees involved? Will you have to pay more for an ARM with the conversion feature than for an ARM without it? Are there additional fees due if and when you decide to convert? Find out the lender's conversion rate.

Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) A fixed rate GPM starts out with low payments, usually below that of a fixed rate and possibly that of an ARM, but rise gradually (usually over five to 10 years), then level off for the remaining years of the loan.

Growing Equity Mortgage (GEM) This option is designed for borrowers who want to pay off their mortgage as soon as possible. Therefore, the interest rate remains fixed, but the amount of the monthly payment increases according to a prearranged schedule, with the higher payments going to reduce the principal balance. This mortgage can be appealing to someone who is expecting regular income growth and wants to build equity quickly.