Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Champaign, IL

Compare Champaign, IL Home Loan Mortgage Rates

Whether a prospective borrower is checking out mortgages in Champaign, IL because they want to purchase their first home or refinance the mortgage on their current home, it's vital that they get the best mortgage rate possible. That's made much easier by MyRatePlan, which has all the data and tools borrowers need to check out mortgage rates and compare what's available from different lenders. By looking at all their options first, the borrower can make sure that they pay as little interest as possible on their home loan.

Different Types of Mortgages on the Market in Champaign, IL

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 Champaign, IL. 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 Available in Champaign, IL

Besides fixed-rate mortgages and ARMs, there are also other categorizations that can apply to home loans, including whether the loan is backed by the government or not. Traditional mortgages are only made through the lender and don't involve the government, but with some mortgages, the federal government either guarantees or insures the loan. Examples include FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

FHA loans get their name because they are backed by the mortgage insurance program of the Federal Housing Administration, an organization that's controlled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD for short. One benefit of FHA loans in Champaign, IL is that it's not just first-time homebuyers who are able to apply, as they're a valid loan option for any borrower. For the lender, the advantage with these loans is that the government is providing insurance, and this will cover what the lender would lose in the event of a borrower default. Borrowers benefit by not needing as large a down payment, as down payments can be just 3.5 percent with FHA loans. However, the borrower needs to cover the cost of mortgage insurance, meaning they have bigger monthly payments.

Refinance Mortgages in Champaign, IL

If you are looking to refinance your home in Champaign, IL, it is essential to understand that it's basically the same as applying for a new mortgage. Thus, the borrower would have to pay the closing costs and other processing charges that come with it when the application for refinancing is accepted. Refinancing is done to help decrease the rate of interest charged by the other lender, but it is essential to check if the closing cost and additional expenses levied are going to offset the savings you aimed to achieve. The better your credit score, the better interest rate you will get.

Make sure that you keep your finances in order and well-organized so that your credit score stays above 700. It would help in ensuring that you can get an affordable rate of interest from different lenders without any hassles. However, even if you do not have the best credit history, you can get a low rate of interest on your mortgage by conducting extensive research. Searching online is the best solution to narrow down the lenders' list and get a mortgage with an affordable rate of interest. MyRatePlan has search tools with lots of features that would ensure that you can find the home loan for your new home without having to spend hours on it.