Welcome > Resources > Mortgage Calculators > Fixed or Adjustable Rate ...

Fixed or Adjustable Rate?

A fixed rate mortgage has the same payment for the entire term of the loan. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has a rate that can change, causing your monthly payment to increase or decrease. Use this calculator to compare a fixed rate mortgage to two types of ARMs, a Fully Amortizing ARM and an Interest Only ARM.

Definitions

Fixed Rate Mortgage

A fixed rate mortgage has the same interest rate and monthly payment throughout the term of the mortgage. The payment is calculated to payoff the mortgage balance at the end of the term. The most common terms are 15 year and 30 years.

Fully Amortizing ARM

This is the most common type of ARM. The monthly payment is calculated to payoff the entire mortgage balance at the end of the term. The term is typically 30 years. After any fixed interest rate period has passed, the interest rate and payment adjusts annually. A Fully Amortizing ARM will also have a maximum rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%. Below is a list of the most common types of Fully Amortizing ARMs.

Common Adjustable Rate Mortgages
ARM Type	Months Fixed
10/1 ARM	Fixed for 120 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
7/1 ARM	Fixed for 84 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
5/1 ARM	Fixed for 60 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
3/1 ARM	Fixed for 36 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
1 year ARM	Fixed for 12 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.

Interest Only ARM

An Interest Only ARM only requires monthly interest payments. Since you are not paying any principal, as you are with the other two types of mortgages described above, this can lower your monthly payment. However, since your mortgage's principal balance is not decreased, you will have a balloon payment at the end of the mortgage's term. Like a Fully Amortizing ARM, an Interest Only ARM will often have a period where the interest rate is fixed, and then it is adjusted annually. An Interest Only ARM will also have a maximum interest rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%.

Mortgage amount

Expected balance for your mortgage.

Term in years

The number of years over which you will repay this mortgage. The most common mortgage terms are 15 years and 30 years. Please note that for the Interest Only ARM you will have a balloon payment for the entire principal balance at the end of the loan term.

Expected rate change

The annual adjustment you expect in your ARM. The range for this calculator is minus 3% to plus 3%. Use a negative value if you believe interest rates will decrease, a positive value if you believe they will increase.

Interest rate

Annual interest rate for each mortgage type. Typically an ARM will have a lower interest rate than a fixed rate mortgage. The rate of an Interest Only ARM will vary by lender.

Months rate fixed

This is the number of months the rate is fixed for an ARM. During this period the interest rate and the monthly payment will remain fixed. The rate will then adjust annually by the expected rate change.

Interest rate cap

This is the maximum interest rate for this mortgage. The mortgage's interest rate will never exceed the interest rate cap.

Monthly payment

Monthly principal and interest payment (PI) for the Fixed Rate Mortgage and the Fully Amortizing ARM. This is an interest only payment for an Interest Only ARM.

The mortgage calculators are provided by KJE Computer Solutions, LLC and made available to NUMBER1EXPERT as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can't guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.

"A model of how the Internet can facilitate the process of deciding where to send your children to school" - America's Best School Profiles by The Heritage Foundation California Public, Private and Charter Schools: Compare them using these top-rated, comprehensive reports.   Schools in Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park

Selling Your Home >Getting Ready To Sell Here is a scenario that you may encounter when you sell your home. You make a listing appointment with a real estate agent who shows up with a detailed market analysis and a list of all the advantages of listing with his or her company. The agent then walks through your home with you, making suggestions about how you can present your home at its best. The real estate agent's recommendations about cosmetic "fix-ups" make some sellers feel a little uncomfortable. They realize how long they have put off all of those "little" projects. If the suggestions about the cat box, spider webs, kitchen and bathroom cleanup, and removal of clutter make you feel a little defensive, remember that none of this is personal! Most sellers need a little coaching to make their homes show well. Providing suggestions for home staging is an important part of an agents job. The better your home looks while it's on the market, the more likely it is to sell quickly, and for top dollar. See All Tips In The "Selling Your Home" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  What celebrity home sold recently for a reported $5.5 million, despite its yellow-and-rust striped paint job? A  This Hollywood Hills residence was the former home of the popular singer, Madonna. See More Real Estate Trivia >

Kathy and Brian Boals RE/MAX Olson/Advantage Realty/Dos Vientos Realty 280 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd, Ste B Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 805-446-4200 email: ARE@roadrunner.com In 1988 Kathy and Brian opened their own real estate brokerage office. They are a dynamic husband and wife team and have developed their own unique agent and client support system for marketing, escrow management, property management, and seller and buyer services, and mortgage lending. "We have committed ourselves to providing the detailed supervision and care of each and every transaction we handle, which is necessary to protect our clients and comply with all legal aspects of each sale. We have also established strong relationships with leading Escrow companies, Title companies, property inspection services, and other services our clients need.We provide a personal touch and not a corporate environment for our clients and customers." Kathy and Brian have a passionate vision of service and are ready to be of assistance with integrity and honesty to their clients. www.isellthousandoaks.com is brought to you by Kathy and Brian Boals NUMBER1EXPERT™ in real estate for Thousand Oaks and Newbury Park, California, foreclosures and bank owned properties Read Kathy and Brian Boals' Privacy Guarantee, Terms of Service, and Free & Without Obligation Pledge

NUMBER1EXPERT®
© Best Image Marketing and/or its clients.
All rights reserved. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.