Types of Mortgages

Types of Mortgages Mortgages come in many forms. The most popular mortgages are a 30-year fixed and a 15-year fixed. Some mortgages can be as short as five years; some can be 40 years or longer. Stretching payments over more years reduces the monthly payment but increases the amount of interest to pay. With a fixed-rate mortgage, the borrower pays the same interest rate for the life of the loan. The monthly principal and interest payment never changes from the first mortgage payment to the last. If market interest rates rise, the borrower’s payment does not change. If interest rates drop significantly, the borrower may be able to secure that lower rate by refinancing the mortgage. A fixed-rate mortgage is also called a “traditional" mortgage.

With an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), the interest rate is fixed for an initial term then fluctuates with market interest rates. The initial interest rate is often a below-market rate, which can make a mortgage more affordable in the short term but possibly less affordable long-term. If interest rates increase later, the borrower may not be able to afford the higher monthly payments. Interest rates could also decrease, making an ARM less expensive. In either case, the monthly payments are unpredictable after the initial term.