Are Balloon Mortgages For You?
A balloon mortgage can be an excellent option for many home buyers. A balloon mortgage is usually rather short, with a term of five to seven years, but the payment is based on a term of 30 years. They often have a lower interest rate, and can be easier to qualify for than a traditional 30 year fixed mortgage. There is, however, a risk to consider. At the end of your loan term you will need to pay off your outstanding balance. This usually means you must refinance, sell your home or convert the balloon mortgage to a traditional mortgage at the current interest rates.
Definitions
- Mortgage amount
- Original or expected balance for your mortgage.
- Interest rate
- Annual interest rate for this mortgage.
- Term in years
- The number of years over which you will repay this loan. The most common balloon mortgage terms are 5 years and 7 years. After the mortgage term is complete, you will then need to refinance or pay off the remaining balance.
- Monthly payment
- Monthly principal and interest payment (PI). The monthly payment is calculated using a 30 year term.
- Total payments
- Total of all monthly payments over the term of the balloon mortgage. This total payment amount assumes that there are no prepayments of principal.
- Total interest
- Total of all interest paid over the term of the balloon mortgage. This total interest amount assumes that there are no prepayments of principal.
- Prepayment type
- The frequency of prepayment. The options are: none, monthly, yearly, and one-time payment.
- Prepayment amount
- Amount that will be prepaid on your mortgage. This amount will be applied to the mortgage principal balance, based on the prepayment type.
- Start with payment
- This is the payment number that your prepayments will begin with. For a one time payment, this is the payment number that the single prepayment will be included in. All prepayments of principal are assumed to be received by your lender in time to be included in the following month's interest calculation.
- Savings
- Total amount of interest you will save by prepaying your mortgage.
The mortgage calculators are provided by KJE Computer Solutions, LLC and made available to NUMBER1EXPERT as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment advice. We can't guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.
Real Estate Tips
First Time Buyers >Insuring Your Home
Many home buyers are concerned about whether they have an insurable interest in the property before the actual closing. The answer is an unqualified "yes". Although the buyer is not yet the recorded owner of the property, he or she has an insurable interest in the property as soon as the agreement of sale is executed by both the buyer and seller.
Should you get hazard insurance before the closing? It depends. Buyers do not usually insure a property until the title passes to them from the seller. However, it's wise to know what the agreement between you and the seller stipulates with regard to insurance.
Most agreements state that the property will be insured for a specific amount. This is very important to both parties. From the buyer's point of view, it is also critical that an adequate sum or full replacement value be stipulated. Watch out for agreements which read "as now insured". This is an all-too-common practice which usually indicates that the seller does not to want to increase inadequate insurance coverage.
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Real Estate Trivia
| Q |
What was the world's highest viewing platform before the opening of the Empire State Building in 1939?
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| A |
The Eiffel Tower, built between 1887-1889, was for 42 years the highest viewing platform in a man-made structure. |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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