Many people get confused when it comes to interest only mortgages. It's no wonder. There is actually no such thing as a mortgage which you only pay the interest on. With an interest only mortgage, you still have to pay down the principal on the loan. What you actually get is an interest only payment method which lasts for a set period and then you revert to a more traditional type of mortgage.
As you probably know, your mortgage payment mostly goes to pay off the interest; typically 95% of your payment goes toward the loan interest. So for a standard $100,000 mortgage at 6% interest, your monthly payment would be $600. Of that $600, $100 goes to pay down your principal and $500 goes to pay the interest charges.
Interest only mortgages involve jumbo loans and the difference in the monthly loan payment gets larger as the loan amount increases. So while there is a difference of $100 for a $100,000 loan, the difference on a $1,000,000 loan would be $1000. Savvy investors can use that $1000 per month to leverage their income and build assets much faster.
Interest only mortgages have traditionally been used by investors or wealthy individuals who are able to make a profit on the principal part of their mortgage payment. However, today virtually anyone can obtain an interest only mortgage.
The payment period of the interest only mortgage is based upon the adjustable rate mortgage. However, sometimes, it can be offered with a fixed rate as well. However, the payment period usually does not run for the entire loan term, even with a fixed rate mortgage. Interest only mortgages are only temporary; InterstFirst loans only allow interest only mortgage payments to be made for half of the total loan term. When the interest only mortgage payments come to an end, the amount of your loan payment will then rise to include both the interest and principal.
Interest only mortgages have advantages for certain types of borrowers. For one thing, the payments at the onset are lower so this frees up additional cash to be used elsewhere It can be invested or it can be used for needed cash flow. The spare cash can be used in any manner such as additional income, college expenses, or to build savings. The catch is that after a certain time, your interest only payments will expire and then your loan payment will be higher each month thereafter.
You are the only one who knows your situation and can determine if an interest rate mortgage is right for you. Consult with a banker or mortgage broker for advice and specific financial information such as projected monthly payments, then weigh your other mortgage options before you decide.
Calculator Interest Only Mortgage
Interest only mortgages give you the opportunity to buy a larger house than you might be able to obtain otherwise. They have an initial period of from 5 to 10 years in which the interest only is being paid. During this time period, your payments are lower because you are paying interest only. In a regular mortgage, each month normally includes some of the principal involved in the payment, and this slowly reduces both the principal and the interest.
An interest only mortgage is often attached to an adjustable rate mortgage, but can just as easily come as a fixed rate mortgage. If you get an interest only mortgage on an adjustable rate mortgage, it will enable an even greater reduction in the payment each month.
The actual idea of an interest only mortgage is a little deceiving. For one thing, there is no such thing as an interest only mortgage - you must pay the principal at some time. This mortgage is generally divided in two sections the first part being interest only with smaller payments, and then it changes to a fixed rate mortgage with payments that will enable a full amortization.
The individual that is best suited to this type of mortgage is someone who is on a short road to success - or at least believes they are. Not having all the money they need up front, they need to get a larger house, but are quite sure that their financial situation will rapidly be improving - soon. The lower initial payments gives them the opportunity to buy a larger house and the soon coming larger salary should come before the payments increase.
Many are now using an interest only mortgage to get the larger house, but have no real prospects of a larger salary. This could certainly lead to trouble with this type of mortgage. After the interest only mortgage changes to a fixed portion, and you start making payments on the principal, too, what happens is that the payments will now jump much higher. The payments were lower in the first place than what they should have been, but now the balance must be paid in the remainder of the time left.
If you are an investor and know how to take the extra portion of what would be your regular payment, and invest it for a higher return, then this could work well for you. Otherwise, it is probably just a good idea to make a full payment as often as possible, so that you can start reducing the principal before your full payments kick in.
When getting any mortgage, be sure to compare it with several other offers. This way you can see what is available, compare it, and find your best deal on an interest only mortgage.
Both Gavin Sanderson & Joseph Kenny are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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