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Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, IL

 
 
Mortgage Rates in Athens, IL

Compare Athens, IL Mortgage and Home Loan Rates

When you are on the search for a new home or are considering buying a new one, finding the best mortgage rates possible in Athens, IL will be an important part of the decision. Using MyRatePlan will help your search go smoother by giving you the tools and information that is needed right at your fingertips. You don't want to end up paying a higher interest rate than you need to when you are buying a home, and by comparing different mortgage rates, we can help make sure that you won't!

Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, IL

Finding the Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, IL

The vast majority of the people looking to purchase homes in Athens, IL will need to apply for a mortgage to do it. Even a very inexpensive home will likely start at $50,000 or more, and since that's a larger sum than most have saved up, it's almost impossible to pay cash for a home. That's why people need home loans, and every home loan has an interest rate. Securing a lower interest rate means paying less over the lifespan of the loan. When a home shopper picks out their dream home, they're probably going to get some recommendations on home loan lenders from their real estate agent, but it's wise for people to do their own research here. The reality is that a real estate agent wants to close the home sale. That's their priority, not the borrower's mortgage rate. The mortgage application process can be complex and even a bit confusing for first timers. It's best for borrowers to be patient and ensure that they get the best mortgage deal instead of rushing anything. They can do this by checking out rates online and comparing every available option. With the MyRatePlan mortgage rate tool, borrowers can see the best home loan rates throughout Athens, IL. Of course, qualifying for those top rates will require that the borrower has a high credit score.

Types of Mortgages in Athens, IL

What Types of Mortgages Borrowers Can Get in Athens, IL

The home loan marketplace includes a variety of loan products to appeal to the needs of different buyers, including fixed-rate home loans and variable home loans. As it's important to know how those two types of loans work, they're explained below.

A fixed-rate mortgage in Athens, IL gets its name because the interest rate stays fixed at one percentage for the full term length of the loan, regardless of whether the loan lasts five years, 10 years or 30 years. With the interest rate staying the same, the monthly payment also stays the same, which makes it easy for the borrower to set their budget and know how much their home payment is going to be.

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) in Athens, IL has an interest rate that changes on a set time frequency. For example, the interest rate could adjust with the market every year. There are also hybrid ARMs which start out as fixed-rate home loans for a predetermined period of time, and then transition to ARMs for the remainder of the loan term. For example, a 7/2 ARM would have a fixed interest rate for the first seven years, and after that, the interest rate would adjust every two years. The difficulty with ARMs and hybrid ARMs is that the interest rate can go up and leave the borrower with a larger home payment, potentially stretching their budget to its limit.

FHA Loans in Athens, IL

FHA Mortgage Loans in Athens, IL

Apart from the fixed-rate and adjustable rate mortgages, there are also other loan products for home buying. One has the liberty of deciding whether to use a government-insured mortgage loan, or a normal type of loan. A normal or conventional loan is a type of loan that is not at all guaranteed by the government. This is its main distinguishing feature from government-backed home loans. This government-insured home loans include FHA and USDA loans.

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage insurance program is run by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This is one of the many departments of the government of the United States. FHA loans are also available in Athens, IL, and are available for all categories of borrowers. Basically, with this type of loan, the government insures the lender against all losses that may arise as a result of the borrower's default. The program allows a borrower to make a down payment of as low as 3.5% of the buying price. The disadvantage of this arrangement is that one has to pay for mortgage insurance, effectively increasing the monthly payments.

Refinancing a Mortgage in Athens, IL

Home Loan Refinancing in Athens, IL

If you wish to refinance a mortgage in Athens, IL, you should understand that the actual process involves applying for a separate, new mortgage. Keep in mind that you may need to pay for certain fees such as closing costs when completing this process. If your primary goal is to get a lower rate of interest via refinancing, take a moment to consider if the fees will allow you to offset the potential savings you want.

There is one exception if you wish to refinance by changing a fixed-rate loan into an adjustable-rate loan. Here, it is more common that rates will increase rather than decrease in the future. If you want the best possible rate on your home loan, the lending company needs to view you as a low-risk candidate. You should keep debt-to-income low and your credit score stable and high to give yourself the best chance at a fixed-rate loan. With all of that said, it is still possible to get home loan approval in Athens, IL even if you don't meet all criteria.

ZIP Codes in Athens, IL

  • 62613