Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, TX

Compare Athens, TX Mortgage Rates

When you are looking to buy a new home or want to get your current home refinanced from another lender, securing the best home loan interest rates is a must. MyRatePlan helps buyers find the best home loan rates in Athens, TX. The process of finding mortgage rates through MyRatePlan is straightforward. All you have to do is use the tools here and input your loan requirements and you'll get a quick comparison of mortgage rates in your area. Doing a little research before applying for a mortgage helps get you better rates, which helps in saving a considerable sum of money in the long run.

Getting the Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, TX

Shoppers who are in the market for new homes in Athens, TX 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 Athens, TX. Another important factor in securing a low interest rate is a high credit score for the borrower.

Types Of Home Loans Available In The Athens, TX 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 Athens, TX - 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 Athens, TX - 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.

Athens, TX 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 Athens, TX, 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 Home Loans in Athens, TX

With mortgage refinancing in Athens, TX, what the buyer really does is apply for an entirely new mortgage. That new mortgage then pays off their old mortgage, and since the new mortgage has a lower interest rate, the borrower ends up paying less overall. The new mortgage can have fees, such as closing costs, and the borrower should consider how much those will cost when evaluating how much money they could save by refinancing. This isn't necessary if a borrower is refinancing an ARM with a fixed-rate loan, which is always smart because interest rates usually go up. When a borrower wants to refinance, they must prepare financially and make themselves look as low risk as possible. They can do this by getting a credit score over 700 and having as low of a debt-to-income ratio as possible. That being said, many borrowers that are applying for mortgages in Athens, TX can still secure low interest rates even without meeting the absolute toughest standards.