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

New York Public, Private and Charter Schools: Compare them using these top-rated, comprehensive reports.
  Schools in Port Jefferson, Stony Brook, Miller Place and Long Island 

For Sale By Owner >Selling Tools After a month of trying to sell your home "By Owner" you may decide to list it with a real estate agent. If you are in this position, you may begin to notice that your agent doesn't market the home the same way you did. You ran classified ads every weekend, but your agent has only advertised twice all month. Even so, there is a lot more interest and activity than you were able to generate on your own. When your home is being marketed professionally, your real estate agent has many powerful selling tools that make it worth hiring someone who is experienced and competent. Some advantages to hiring an agent are the national and worldwide referral networks, the Multiple Listing Service, and the Internet. We advertise extensively in almost every media available including TV, which may bring in a call from the people who will buy your home. We work cooperatively with other brokers and share information about listings. Communication is the key to a real estates success. Agents use all of these tools to market their listings aggressively to get sales action! See All Tips In The "For Sale By Owner" Category > See Complete Library Of Hundreds Of Tips In 30+ Categories >

Q  What oceanfront area is currently the most popular choice among people searching for second homes and vacation homes? A  According to statistic published early in 2005, the Florida coast is the most sought-after vacation and retirement destination in the United States. See More Real Estate Trivia >

Jolie Powell CIPS, E-PRO, SRES, CBR, TRC Jolie Powell Realty 406 Main Street Port Jefferson, NY 11777 Mobile: 631-774-2528 Fax: 631-473-7959 Office: 631-473-0420 JoliePowell@NUMBER1EXPERT.com Jolie Powell has been a distinguished leader in the Real Estate industry since 1987. Prior to entering the world of Real Estate, Jolie had a successful career in advertising in Manhattan, New York. Always working to be at the top of her profession, Jolie has received her Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, Certified Buyer Representative (CBR) and Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designations. Jolie also serves as Director of the Multiple Listing Service of Long Island and now elected as Zone Chairperson for the MLS. Jolie’s expertise in counseling buyers and sellers brings people together from Long Island and, indeed, from all over the world. Having lived abroad and traveled extensively, Jolie has an excellent understanding of many cultures. As a Cuban-born American, Jolie is fluent in Spanish and communicates well with domestic and international clients, as well as professionals in other fields. Jolie is proud of the high level of trust she and her clients have established and she looks forward to continue building exceptional client broker relationships. Proudly selling homes and real estate in Port Jefferson, Stony Brook, Setauket, Miller Place, Smithtown, Mt. Sinai, Rocky Point, Port Jefferson Station. North Shore of Long Island. www.JoliePowell.com is brought to you by Jolie Powell NUMBER1EXPERT in real estate for Port Jefferson, Stony Brook, Miller Place and Long Island, New York Read Jolie Powell's 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.