Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Smiths Station, AL

Compare Smiths Station, AL Home Mortgage Rates

When it comes time to buy a new home or refinance the loan on a current home, it's essential for the borrower to get the absolute best mortgage rates. MyRatePlan can help with that, as it has all the info and tools necessary to pull up the best home loan rates in Smiths Station, AL and compare the lender options. All it takes is some research and mortgage rate comparisons beforehand for a borrower to make sure they don't end up with a higher interest rate than necessary, saving themselves money over the long haul.

Different Types of Mortgages on the Market in Smiths Station, AL

Since different types of buyers have different mortgage needs, there are many different home loan products out there. Two important mortgage types every borrower needs to understand are fixed-rate mortgages and variable mortgages.

When a home loan has one interest rate throughout its entire term, no matter the length, then it's a fixed-rate mortgage, which got that name because the interest rate is fixed in place. Since the interest rate never changes, the monthly payment amount doesn't either, and the borrower will always know what their monthly payment is going to be. This is true even if they have a 30-day mortgage. Fixed-rate mortgages tend to be a smart, low-risk option, because the borrower doesn't need to worry about their interest rate increasing and suddenly having a higher home payment every month as a result.

The other option is an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) in Smiths Station, AL. As the name suggests, this is a mortgage where the interest rate adjusts on occasion. A popular variation on this is a hybrid ARM, which essentially combines the fixed-rate mortgage with the ARM. For a predetermined initial period of time, the hybrid ARM operates as a fixed-rate mortgage with one interest rate. After that initial period ends, it switches to an ARM with an interest rate that changes on a specific schedule. An example would be a 5/1 ARM home loan. That five indicates that the home loan has one interest rate for the first five years, and then it switches to an adjustable rate. That one indicates that the interest rate adjusts every one year after the initial period. The obvious drawback with ARMs and hybrid ARMs is that the borrower could end up paying more if interest rates go up.

FHA Home Loans in Smiths Station, AL

If you are in Smiths Station, AL, you would have to choose between the kind of loans mentioned above, which are fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgages. However, you would have to choose between the conventional loan or the government-insured mortgage. A conventional loan doesn't come with assurance from the government, but the government insured loan comes with a federal guarantee. Traditional loans are different from the other types of mortgages that are backed by the government, such as USDA loans, VA loans, and FHA loans.

The FHA mortgage insurance program is governed by the HUD or the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which is managed by the government. FHA mortgages are available for all types of borrowers in Smiths Station, AL, and not just the first time home buyers. In this kind of government-backed mortgage, the government ensures the lenders from any losses that might result due to default committed by the borrower. One of the most significant advantages of these types of loans is that the borrowers have to pay the down payment that's as low as 3.5 percent of the purchasing amount. However, the disadvantage is that the borrower would have to pay for mortgage insurance, which would increase the cost of monthly payments.

Refinancing Home Loans In Smiths Station, AL

When you choose to refinance your mortgage in Smiths Station, AL, it is imperative that you fully comprehend that you are actually applying for a whole new mortgage. This could mean that you might have to pay closing costs and various other fees once your application gets approved. If you are trying to refinance in order to get a lower interest rate on your mortgage, you should take into consideration if the extra fees and the closing costs are going to offset any savings you might see from refinancing to a lower interest rate. The only exception to this rule is if you're trying to refinance from an adjustable-rate loan to a fixed-rate loan.

With adjustable-rate loans, it is very likely that at some point in the near future your rates will go up instead of down. When you're trying to look for a new rate on your next home loan, you want potential lenders to view you as low risk. You can do this by maintaining your credit score above 700 and keeping the ratio of your debt-to-income as low as possible. Doing this will ensure that you can get the best rate possible when applying for a fixed-rate loan. Keep in mind that even if you don't have the best credit, you may still be able to get approved for a home loan in the Smiths Station, AL area for a low interest rate by using MyRatePlan.