This standard form of a mortgage has two basic characteristics that do not change throughout the liof the loan: the interest rate and the repayment term. In addition to the principal and interest the lender often collects monthly on the amount needed to pay annual taxes and insurance. This amount can sometimes be known as impound fees or escrow funds, this amount can be determined by taking the cost over the year dived by 12. Although, the principal plus interest payment remains constant over the life of the loan, the amount needed to pay taxes and insurance may vary, resulting in the change in the total monthly payment. The accured interest due on the loan is always paid first, with the balance of the payment allocated to principal, taxes and insurance accordingly. The result of this standard payment format is that the borrower begins to build equity with the first monthly payment.

Fixed rate mortgages (FRM) are stable loans because the interest rate is the same for the life of the loan. If rates rise you are protected from paying a higher rate on your loan. Also, if rates decrease, you can refinance to a new lower fixed rate mortgage.

Todays fixed rate mortgages are available in terms of 15,30,40 and 50 years. By going with a longer term you will be able to lower your payment, afford more house and you will be able to pay off the mortgage with the security of a fixed rate.

This being the most common type of mortgage, consists of one fixed interest rate for the complete term of the mortgage, so you always pay the same monthly payments for the life of the loan. This offers consistency, an advantage for borrowers on fixed or limited incomes.

Usually, the term fixed rate also means that the payment is fixed for the life of the loan and pays it off over the term.

A 30 Year Loan may be an Adjustable Rate Mortgage or a Fixed Rate Mortgage since both mortgage types can be amortized over 30 years. To ensure you truly are in a fixed rate mortgage, review the Truth In Lending, this document should show no adjustment in payment.

A Fixed rate does offer the most in safety and lack of risk of any loan program. That safety comes with a price, however. The payment on a 30 year fixed mortgage will be the highest payment of any program that you select.

In addition to a 30 year fixed loan, you can get a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. Most people believe that, since the mortgage is paid off twice as fast, the payment must be twice as much. This is simply not the case.

15 year fixed mortgages usually have a lower interest rate than 30 year fixed. Since most of your monthly payment is interest, it only takes a small increase in your principle payment to pay off your loan in 15 years. Your total monthly payment can be as low as 15% more than on a 30 year fixed mortgage.

For example, if you had a 30 year mortgage where you are paying $1,000 per month, a 15 year mortgage may cost only $1,150 per month. The exact difference in payment will depend on your own situation. Contact a trusted mortgage professional if you are interested in seeing what the payment difference is for you.

Fixed Rate mortgages have come in a variety of lengths and amortization periods for quite some time. A more recent development is the availability of fixed rate mortgages with minimum payment options, allowing homeowners to make lower payments in exchange for home equity on a month to month basis. Popularized first by adjustable rate mortgages known as option ARMs, fixed rate loans with these "cash flow" payment options are an interesting alternative for borrowers who like the security not only of a fixed rate, but also the safety of a lower payment option for months when cash flow might be allocated more usefully elsewhere in their budget.

Considering the fact that the average American homeowner sells or refinances their home every 5 years, that is a major reason why a fixed rate mrotgage is not always the best program for everyone. An adjustable rate mortgage will usually offer a lower rate and a lower payment.

And remember conventional fixed rates change twice a day. So be sure to consult with your loan officer to determine the best option for you.

Although your monthly mortgage payment will always remain the same, the principal payment will go up, and the interest payment will go down with time. The longer you remain in the mortgage, the faster you build equity.

The reason your principal and interest change each month is that you are paying interest on the current amount of the loan. Therefore, since the amount of the loan goes down with each payment, the amount of the interest payment also goes down. Since your total principal and interest payment stays the same, your principal payment goes up.

Also, if you pay more on your mortgage each month than you are required, you will build equity faster, in two ways. First, the added payment goes directly to your equity. Second, you decrease your loan amount, which means you pay less in interest, and more in principal for every month, for the rest of the life of your mortgage.

Fixed Rate Mortgages (FRM) are suitable for homeowners who intent to keep the property for a long time, preferably for the life of the loan. FRM are also good for homeowners who are uneasy about the uncertainty in interest rate trends and the potential increase in future payments that are associated with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM). To accommadate homeowners who do not intent to keep the home for more than 10 years and are uncomfortable with the potential risk of an ARM, most banks offer Hybrid Loans. Hybrid Loans offer a Fixed Rate period for the initial one, three, five, seven, or ten years, followed by an Adjustable Rate for the remainder of the loan term.

One of the misconceptions about mortgage programs the average borrower has is they truly believe fixed rate mortgages are always best. When you understand the mortgage business you begin to see why this is not always the case. When you plan on refinancing your house in just a few years or selling the home in this time frame you may want to consider one of the Hybrids to keep your payments lower. This can save you money over time. Ask your mortgage broker to show you the difference and compare.

ARM loans generally have a lower interest rate than fixed rate loans, and you therefore have a lower payment. However, there are some cases where the interest rate may be the same or even slightly lower on a fixed rate loan that on an ARM. In these cases, it is always better to choose the fixed rate mortgage.

You are probably familiar with a fixed rate mortgage. Your parents more than likely had one, as did their parents before them. The major advantage of fixed rate mortgages is that they present predictable housing costs for the life of the loan

For up to date quotes on today's fixed rates, contact Brenda Puckett at 770-634-4315 for a free rate quote.

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