With a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the
life of the loan. But with an ARM, the interest rate changes
periodically, usually in relation to an index, and payments may go up or
down accordingly. Lenders generally charge lower initial interest rates
for ARMs than for fixed-rate mortgages. This makes the ARM easier on
your pocketbook at first than a fixed-rate mortgage for the same amount.
It also means that you might qualify for a larger loan because lenders
sometimes make this decision on the basis of your current income and the
first year's payments. Moreover, your ARM could be less expensive over a
long period than a fixed-rate mortgage -- for example, if interest
rates remain steady or move lower.
Against these advantages, you have to weigh the risk
that an increase in interest rates would lead to higher monthly payments
in the future. It's a trade-off -- you get a lower rate with an ARM in
exchange for assuming more risk. Here are some questions you need to
consider:
- Is my income likely to rise enough to cover higher
mortgage payments if interest rates go up?
- Will I be taking on other sizable debts, such as a
loan for a car or school tuition, in the near future?
- How long do I plan to own this home? (If you plan
to sell soon, rising interest rates may not pose the problem they do
if you plan to own the house for a long time.)
- Can my payments increase even if interest rates
generally do not increase?
THE BASIC FEATURES
The Adjustment Period: With most ARMs,
the interest rate and monthly payment change every year, every three
years, or every five years. However, some ARMs have more frequent
interest and payment changes. The period between one rate change and the
next is called the adjustment period. So, a loan with an adjustment
period of one year is called a one-year ARM, and the interest rate can
change once every year.
The Index: Most lenders tie ARM
interest rate changes to changes in an "index rate." These
indexes usually go up and down with the general movement of interest
rates. If the index rate moves up, so does your mortgage rate in most
circumstances, and you will probably have to make higher monthly
payments. On the other hand, if the index rate goes down your monthly
payment may go down. Lenders base ARM rates on a variety of indexes.
Among the most common are the rates on one-, three-, or five-year
Treasury securities. Another common index is the national or regional
average cost of funds to savings and loan associations. A few lenders
use their own cost offunds, over which -- unlike other indexes -- they
have some control. You should ask what index will be used and how often
it changes. Also ask how it has behaved in the past and where it is
published.
The Margin: To determine the interest
rate on an ARM, lenders add to the index rate a few percentage points
called the "margin." The amount of the margin can differ
from one lender to another, but it is usually constant over the life of
the loan. Let's say, for example, that you are comparing ARMs offered by
two different lenders. Both ARMs are for 30 years and an amount of
$65,000. (All the examples used in this booklet are based on this amount
for a 30-year term. Note that the payment amounts shown here do not
include items like taxes or insurance.) Both lenders use the one-year
Treasury index. But the first lender uses a 2% margin, and the second
lender uses a 3% margin. Here is how that difference in margin would
affect your initial monthly payment. In comparing ARMs, look at both the
index and margin for each plan. Some indexes have higher average values,
but they are usually used with lower margins. Be sure to discuss the
margin with your lender
