Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in West Augusta, VA

Comparing Mortgage Rates in West Augusta, VA

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 West Augusta, VA 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.

Different Types of Mortgages on the Market in West Augusta, VA

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 West Augusta, VA. 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 Mortgages in West Augusta, VA

While you will need to decide between a fixed- or adjustable-rate home loan, that isn't the only choice you need to make. You also must choose whether you'd prefer a loan that is backed by the government, such as an FHA loan, or a conventional loan instead. When we say conventional, we mean a mortgage that is not guaranteed or insured by the government. This is the primary difference between conventional loans and FHA, VA, and USDA loans, all three of which are backed by the government.

HUD, also known as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, is the governing body for all Federal Housing Loans. As these are federal loans, they are available to prospective homeowners in the West Augusta, VA area and include every buyer type, not just the first-timers. The government takes on the responsibility of ensuring the lender should any losses occur thanks to the buyer. An advantage for consumers is that you can make a potentially very low down payment. A disadvantage is you must maintain mortgage insurance, which will raise your overall payments.

Refinancing a Mortgage in West Augusta, VA

Even though the term is refinancing, this means that the buyer is going through the application process for a new mortgage, and there could be fees, including closing costs, upon approval of the application. Therefore, homeowners who are planning to refinance to get a lower interest rate need to also consider how much the extra fees they need to pay compare to what they're going to save in interest over the remainder of the loan. It's possible to go from one type of mortgage to another through refinancing, but if the borrower plans to go from a fixed-rate mortgage to an ARM, they should note that interest rates tend to go up, not down. The key in securing the best interest rate when refinancing a mortgage is appearing low risk to the lender. A borrower can make themselves look as low risk as possible by having a credit score of 700 or higher and maintaining a low debt-to-income ratio. But there are also circumstances where a borrower who doesn't meet the strictest standards could still receive approval on a mortgage in West Augusta, VA with a low interest rate.