Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Jacksonville, VT

Comparing Mortgage Rates in Jacksonville, VT

When it comes to getting a home loan, either to buy a home or refinance the terms on a current mortgage, interest rates are very important. A low interest rate can save the borrower a substantial amount of money over the term of the loan. Those looking for the best mortgage rates in Jacksonville, VT can use MyRatePlan to get all the tools and other info they need. When borrowers do their homework and compare home loan rates before committing to anything, they can ensure they don't end up paying more interest than necessary.

Getting the Best Mortgage Rates in Jacksonville, VT

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

Different Types of Mortgages on the Market in Jacksonville, VT

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 Jacksonville, VT. 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 Loans in Jacksonville, VT

When you are purchasing your first home or looking for a different house, you will have to make the decision between a fixed and adjustable-rate mortgage. However, there are other choices that will have a major bearing on your decision. You may have to choose a conventional type of loan or use a government-insured home loan. The federal government will not protect a conventional home loan in any way or form. This is what distinguishes them from the home loans that are backed by the government. These government loans are known as FHA, USDA and VA.

HUD, or the Department of Housing and Urban Development, manages the FHA, or Federal Housing Administration. HUD works under the federal government. An FHA loan in Jacksonville, VT is a type of loan that is made available to every borrower in the area, not just those who are looking to purchase their first home. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the lender has the backup of the government to pick up the slack. The advantage of this type of mortgage is that you will be permitted to make a very low down payment to purchase a home, usually as low as 3.5% of the final purchase price. The disadvantage is that you will need to pay mortgage insurance, which will cause your monthly payments to go up.

Refinancing a Mortgage in Jacksonville, VT

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 Jacksonville, VT with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.