Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Clallam Bay, WA

Compare Clallam Bay, WA Mortgage Loan Rates

When you are in the market for a new home, it is important that you look for the best mortgage rates you can find. This is also true when you are looking to refinance your current home as well. MyRatePlan makes it easy to find the very best home loan rates in the Clallam Bay, WA area by offering their customers the tools and information they need. If you put in the time needed to compare home loan rates, you will be able to secure yourself a good interest rate and save money in the long run.

How Borrowers Can Get the Best Home Loan Rates in Clallam Bay, WA

For the typical homebuyer in Clallam Bay, WA, a mortgage is going to be a necessity to fund their home purchase. Even the most inexpensive homes on the market still tend to cost $50,000 or more, which is more than most people have on hand in their bank accounts, making it extremely difficult to pay for a home with cash. That's why a home loan is such an important part of the purchasing process. A small interest rate difference can make a massive difference over a loan with a term of 20 to 30 years. Real estate agents are often able to recommend their own preferred lenders that they know from past deals, but it's best for homebuyers to take these recommendations with a grain of salt. The real estate agent wants the deal done as soon as possible, but the homebuyer wants the home loan with the lowest interest rate, and those goals don't always align. Patience is a virtue for homebuyers looking for the right mortgage lender, and they should always check out rates online first for a full comparison. The MyRatePlan home loan interest rate tool is great for locating the lowest mortgage rates throughout Clallam Bay, WA. After the homebuyer finds the lowest rate, it's all a matter of making sure they have a credit score high enough to qualify.

Different Types of Mortgages on the Market in Clallam Bay, WA

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 Clallam Bay, WA. 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 Home Loans Available in Clallam Bay, WA

Besides fixed-rate mortgages and ARMs, there are also other categorizations that can apply to home loans, including whether the loan is backed by the government or not. Traditional mortgages are only made through the lender and don't involve the government, but with some mortgages, the federal government either guarantees or insures the loan. Examples include FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

FHA loans get their name because they are backed by the mortgage insurance program of the Federal Housing Administration, an organization that's controlled by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD for short. One benefit of FHA loans in Clallam Bay, WA is that it's not just first-time homebuyers who are able to apply, as they're a valid loan option for any borrower. For the lender, the advantage with these loans is that the government is providing insurance, and this will cover what the lender would lose in the event of a borrower default. Borrowers benefit by not needing as large a down payment, as down payments can be just 3.5 percent with FHA loans. However, the borrower needs to cover the cost of mortgage insurance, meaning they have bigger monthly payments.

Refinancing Mortgages in Clallam Bay, WA

Refinancing a mortgage in Clallam Bay, WA 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 Clallam Bay, WA 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.