Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Northfield, MN

Compare Northfield, MN 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 Northfield, MN 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!

The Types of Home Loans Available in Northfield, MN

Since there's an extensive range of different buyers out there, it makes sense that there are also quite a few different loan products on the market, including fixed-rate mortgages and variable home loans. Those are two of the most common types of mortgages, and each will suit different types of buyers.

When the buyer gets a fixed-rate home loan in Northfield, MN, their interest rate stays the same throughout the whole loan term, whether that lasts for 10, 20 or 30 years. With the interest rate staying the same, the monthly payment amount also stays the same. A fixed-rate mortgage is a safe option, because the buyer never has any surprises with how much their home payment is.

As their name suggests, adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) in Northfield, MN don't have one set interest rate. Instead, the interest rate can go up or down. The most common type of ARM is a combination of an ARM and a fixed-rate mortgage, sometimes referred to as a hybrid ARM. For an initial period, the mortgage has a fixed interest rate. After that, the mortgage's interest rate adjusts on a predetermined schedule. For example, a buyer could get a 6/2 ARM. The six means that the loan has a fixed rate for the first six years. The two means that after that initial period, the interest rate adjusts every two years. The issue with ARMs is that the borrower's monthly payment could go up.

Northfield, MN FHA Home Loans

There's more to the buyer's choice than a fixed-rate mortgage or an ARM. The buyer also needs to figure out if they want to go with a mortgage that's insured by the government, including a FHA or a VA, or stick with the more conventional type of loan, which doesn't have any insurance or guarantee from the federal government. When it comes to government-backed mortgages in Northfield, MN, there are three options, which are FHA Loans, USDA Loans and VA Loans.

FHA loans are a popular option, and they're available through the Federal Housing Administration's mortgage insurance program. The federal government's Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) handles this program. One major benefit of FHA loans is that just about any type of borrower can be eligible, as they're not only available to people who are purchasing a home for the first time. The way the loan works is that the government is providing insurance for the lender against any losses that could occur if the buyer defaults on their mortgage. For the buyer, one perk of an FHA loan is that they don't need to have as much of a down payment saved, because the down payment could be as little as 3.5 percent of the home's price. Typical down payments are between 10 and 20 percent. The drawback with FHA loans for the borrower is that they're also responsible for paying for mortgage insurance, and this means larger monthly payments.

Refinancing a Home Loan in Northfield, MN

Although the term is technically refinancing, how this process really works is the borrower applies for a brand-new mortgage, which they use to pay the previous mortgage. The point of refinancing is that the new mortgage has a better interest rate than the old one, and this means that the borrower saves money by paying less interest on the remainder of their loan. The borrower should note any extra costs that come with the new mortgage, as there could be fees and closing costs involved. It's important that they do the math to make sure they're actually saving money when those fees are taken into account. However, if the borrower is making the switch from an ARM to a fixed-rate home loan, that's always a good move because they're not at the mercy of what happens with interest rates, which tend to increase, not decrease. When refinancing a mortgage, it's important for the borrower to get their credit score over 700 and minimize their debt-to-income ratio to look as low risk as possible to potential mortgage lenders and secure the lowest possible interest rate. The good news is that even a borrower who doesn't meet all the highest standards could still find a mortgage in Northfield, MN with a low interest rate.