Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Edmonds, WA

How to Compare Edmonds, WA Mortgage Rates

Whether a mortgage is needed to finance a new home purchase or refinance a previous home loan, it's crucial that the borrower secures a favorable interest rate. MyRatePlan can help any borrower locate the lowest mortgage rates in Edmonds, WA and compare all their available options, as it has all the tools and information necessary to get a clear picture of the home loan marketplace. When the borrower does their homework by researching mortgage options and comparing rates from different lenders, they can feel confident that they're paying too much interest, and having the lowest possible interest rate will save them a considerable sum over the long haul.

Are There Different Types of Home Loans in Edmonds, WA

There are a variety of mortgage types that cater to a range of buyers and incomes. Some of these are fixed-rate or variable rate mortgages, just to name two broader categories. We'll take you through the most common loan types you're likely to encounter when shopping for a place in Edmonds, WA.

Fixed-rate home loans for the Edmonds, WA area are those that require you to pay the same amount of interest throughout the life of the loan. That means that the amount you pay on a monthly basis does not change, regardless of month, year, or circumstances. This is also true even if you choose a long-term financing plan like a fixed-rate loan over a period of decades.

Adjustable-rate mortgages, as the name implies, have interest rates that will fluctuate slightly over time. Generally, an adjustable-rate mortgage starts out as a fixed-rate mortgage for a predetermined length of time that begins at the start of the loan period. After this time, the rate will change slightly, usually once per year. This combination of home loan types is why adjustable rates are also referred to as a hybrid mortgage. For example, if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage that lists 5/1 on the form, that means the loan has a fixed rate of interest for the first five years of its life. After these five years, the home loan adjusts once each year, signified by the one after the five.

Edmonds, WA 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 Edmonds, WA, 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 Mortgage in Edmonds, WA

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 Edmonds, WA with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.