Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Portage, ME

Compare Portage, ME Mortgage Rates

Whether someone intends to buy a new home or refinance the mortgage on their current home for a better deal, it's crucial that they get the best possible mortgage rates. That's where MyRatePlan can make a world of difference in pulling up the best mortgage rates in Portage, ME. We have all the info and tools a home buyer needs to research and compare mortgage rates, which will help them get the lowest interest rate and avoid paying any more than necessary for a home.

Finding the Best Mortgage Rates in Portage, ME

The vast majority of the people looking to purchase homes in Portage, ME 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 Portage, ME. Of course, qualifying for those top rates will require that the borrower has a high credit score.

Types Of Home Loans Available In The Portage, ME 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 Portage, ME - 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 Portage, ME - 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 Mortgages in Portage, ME

Buyers must decide on whether to get a fixed-rate home loan or an ARM, but that isn't the only decision. They also need to figure out if they will go with a mortgage backed by the government or a more traditional home loan. Those traditional home loans don't have any insurance provided by the federal government. There are three types of mortgages that have government backing, which are FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

An FHA loan is backed by the Federal Housing Administration, which is the Department of Housing and Urban Development's program for insuring home loans. One great aspect of FHA mortgages in Portage, ME is that it's not just first-time homebuyers who can get them, but any buyer. FHA mortgages have benefits for both the borrower and the lender. The borrower can get their home loan while making a significantly lower down payment, sometimes as little as 3.5 percent of what the home costs. The lender is protected from any losses due to a borrower defaulting by the government insurance. The drawback for borrowers is that they're required to cover the cost of mortgage insurance, which means larger home payments every month.

Refinancing Mortgages in Portage, ME

Refinancing a mortgage in Portage, ME means that you will be applying for a whole new mortgage. Once you are approved for refinancing you will be required to pay the closing costs and any additional fees. This is an important fact to keep in mind if you are refinancing to get a better interest rate on your current loan. It's important to check whether or not paying the additional fees will be beneficial to you in the future. One exception is if you are going for an adjustable-rate loan to a fixed-rate loan. Since interest rates are likely to increase instead of decrease in the future, this is more than likely a good move on your part.

To get the best interest rate on your mortgage, keep your credit score as high as possible. Your debt-to-income ratio should also be low to help you achieve your goal. However, don't give up hope if your score isn't the best. There are still ways that you can get approved for a loan in Portage, ME when you take the time to look for a lender. Use MyRatePlan to get started and to compare the loans and interest rates from lenders you can trust.