Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Cape Elizabeth, ME

Compare Cape Elizabeth, ME Mortgage Rates

Whether someone intends to buy a new home or refinance the mortgage on their current home for a better deal, it's crucial that they get the best possible mortgage rates. That's where MyRatePlan can make a world of difference in pulling up the best mortgage rates in Cape Elizabeth, ME. We have all the info and tools a home buyer needs to research and compare mortgage rates, which will help them get the lowest interest rate and avoid paying any more than necessary for a home.

Finding the Best Mortgage Rates in Cape Elizabeth, ME

Most of the population does not have enough cash on hand to buy a house outright. A loan is most likely one of the first priorities when one is looking to purchase their house in Cape Elizabeth, ME. Even houses that start at $50,000 will require being approved for a loan for most people. You'll want to know exactly what you will need in order to get a home loan and what types of issues will influence the interest rate you are given. Since you want the lowest interest rate possible, make sure you shop around for the best option.

So how do you make sure you get the lowest interest rate on the market yet still land the house of your dreams? Let's take a look at how to do it. Many real estate agents will provide you with preferred lenders that he or she has done business with before after you find a home that you are interested in. It may sound like the easy way out but many times it isn't. Some real estate agents simply want to move the house as quickly as possible. This may mean the lenders they refer you to may have higher interest rates but will approve you quicker. You may want to get your house quickly, but don't get pushed into a lender that offers only high-interest rates just to save a few weeks. No matter what company you use, check their rates out online to make sure you are comparing every little detail. Using MyRatePlan's mortgage rate tool is the best place to start when you want the lowest interest rate possible.

Types of Mortgages in Cape Elizabeth, ME

What Types of Mortgages Borrowers Can Get in Cape Elizabeth, ME

The home loan marketplace includes a variety of loan products to appeal to the needs of different buyers, including fixed-rate home loans and variable home loans. As it's important to know how those two types of loans work, they're explained below.

A fixed-rate mortgage in Cape Elizabeth, ME gets its name because the interest rate stays fixed at one percentage for the full term length of the loan, regardless of whether the loan lasts five years, 10 years or 30 years. With the interest rate staying the same, the monthly payment also stays the same, which makes it easy for the borrower to set their budget and know how much their home payment is going to be.

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) in Cape Elizabeth, ME has an interest rate that changes on a set time frequency. For example, the interest rate could adjust with the market every year. There are also hybrid ARMs which start out as fixed-rate home loans for a predetermined period of time, and then transition to ARMs for the remainder of the loan term. For example, a 7/2 ARM would have a fixed interest rate for the first seven years, and after that, the interest rate would adjust every two years. The difficulty with ARMs and hybrid ARMs is that the interest rate can go up and leave the borrower with a larger home payment, potentially stretching their budget to its limit.

FHA Mortgages in Cape Elizabeth, ME

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 Cape Elizabeth, ME 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 Cape Elizabeth, ME

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 Cape Elizabeth, ME with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.