Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Clayton, LA

Compare Clayton, LA Mortgage Rates

When looking to buy a new home, it is important that one is well equipped with the necessary information. It helps, in the long run, to reduce the cost of transacting. Therefore, getting the best mortgage rates is of paramount importance. Needless to say, affordable rates are also important to those seeking to refinance their current home loans. MyRatePlan endeavors to assist you in finding the best mortgage rates in Clayton, LA.

Getting the Best Mortgage Rates in Clayton, LA

Shoppers who are in the market for new homes in Clayton, LA are almost always going to require mortgages to fund their purchases. The most inexpensive homes on the market still tend to cost $50,000 or more, and since people typically don't have that much money sitting around, it's difficult to get a home and pay cash for it. That makes securing a home loan an important part of the homebuying process, and this can be a complicated task, particularly for first-time buyers. It's wise to be patient and avoid rushing anything, because it can take time to find the best mortgage option. Real estate agents usually recommend mortgage lenders they've worked with before to homebuyers, but those homebuyers should do their own research before applying for a home loan. Even though a real estate agent can be helpful, their ultimate goal is to get the deal closed on the home quickly, not find a buyer the lowest interest rate. For that, the buyer should get an idea of rates online with the MyRatePlan mortgage rate tool, which is ideal for locating the lowest mortgage rates in Clayton, LA. Another important factor in securing a low interest rate is a high credit score for the borrower.

Types Of Home Loans Available In The Clayton, LA Area

There are many types of loan products which are available to a variety of home buyers. The options may include both variable-rate mortgages and fixed-rate mortgages. Below is some more information about the two most common types of loans and who they are more geared towards.

Fixed-Rate Home Loans In Clayton, LA - A fixed-rate mortgage will have the same interest rate throughout the entire loan term. This means that the amount of your monthly payment will remain the same each month until you're done paying off the loan. This is even true for loans as long as 30 years. The interest rate and the monthly payment will remain the same throughout the whole loan term.

Adjustable-Rate Home Loans In Clayton, LA - An adjustable-rate mortgage, or an ARM for short, is a type of loan where the interest rate can adjust or change at different points throughout the loan term. Generally, the interest rate on an adjustable-rate mortgage has the ability to change each year after the initial fixed-rate period. Oftentimes, this is referred to as a "hybrid" product. Hybrid ARM loans are ones which start off with fixed interest rates and then switch to an adjustable rate. As an example, a 5/1 adjustable-rate home loan can carry a fixed rate on the loan for the first five years and then may be adjusted each year after. This is what the five and the one signifies in the name.

FHA Home Loans in Clayton, LA

If you are in Clayton, LA, 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 Clayton, LA, 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 a Mortgage in Clayton, LA

It may be called refinancing, but when a borrower does that, what they're really doing is applying for a completely new home loan. If they're approved for that home loan, they can use it to pay off their previous home loan and only make payments on this new one. Since it's a new mortgage, there may be fees and closing costs involved. For this reason, it's vital that the borrower considers those extra costs and whether they will be outweighed by the savings of a lower interest rate. There is one situation where it's always smart to refinance, and that's if the borrower is getting a fixed-rate home loan to replace an ARM. That's because interest rates are trending upwards, meaning an ARM will likely cost more in the future, not less. When a borrower wants to refinance a home loan and get the best rate, they must make sure they represent as little risk as possible to mortgage lenders. They can do this by getting their credit score as high as possible, at least above 700, and maintaining a low debt-to-income ratio. Although it's good to be low risk, borrowers should also note that it is possible to get a home loan in Clayton, LA with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.