What You Need to Know About Balloon Mortgages

To overcome the major challenges, homeowners area specified period. This is one of the biggest
provided with different opportunities to get differentadvantages of this type of home loan. The fixed rates
home loans. You have the option to choose a loanand the low monthly payments will give you the
that is suitable for your capacity to pay. And one ofneeded peace of mind. That is because your
the most preferable choices available for you is amortgage is predictable which will enable you to better
balloon mortgage. It is important that you understandmanage your finances.
the features of this loan to determine if it is perfect forThe typical fixed rate period for this type of loan is 5
your situation.to 7 years. During this time, you will know the exact
What Is A Balloon Mortgage?amount that you have to set aside for the mortgage
A balloon mortgage combines the features of 30 yearmonthly. A balloon mortgage therefore will give you the
(or 15 year) conventional fixed rate home loan at aopportunity to save some cash.
lower start rate with a preset early payoff date. ThisThe Disadvantages of a Balloon Mortgage
preset payoff date is the date when the loan comesA balloon loan however has some major risks that
due and payable in one lump sum often called ashould not be taken for granted. One of the biggest
balloon payment...hence the same balloon mortgage.risks is the possibility of failing to get a suitable
Because of this preset early payoff date, a balloonrefinancing loan when the mortgage becomes due.
loan has a serious disadvantage that fully amortizedThere are so many reasons why you might fail to
mortgage do not carry. Of course, in the US thesecure a refinancing.
average home loan is retired via sale or refinanceFirst of all, property values are very unstable. The
within 7 years anyway, so many advocates of balloonvalue of your home could decline drastically which will
loans are saying US borrowers are not takingprevent you from getting a new home loan. Another
advantage of the lower rate and are paying for timerisk is the possibility of losing your job or your current
they never use.income may not be sufficient to qualify for a
When you get a balloon loan, you will be given a fixedrefinancing or a new mortgage. These are the risk
period to pay the loan at specific interest rate. So youfactors that must be considered before you apply for
will pay a fixed interest rate for the mortgage fora balloon type home loan.
either 5 years or 7 years. But after the fixed period,A balloon mortgage is a suitable loan option for many
the mortgage becomes due. If you want to stay in thehomeowners. This type of mortgage however has
home, this means you have to refinance or get acertain risks that you must consider. If you are unable
different loan with interest rates subject to the currentto get a new home loan when the balloon payment
market rates. The balloon mortgage therefore forcingbecomes due, and the housing market in you location
decision making sometime in the future where housingwill not allow you to sell for enough to cover the
and interest rate markets are unknown.existing mortgage, there is a good possibility that you
The Benefits of Balloon Mortgagescould lose your home by the lender forced to
When you get a balloon mortgage, you will enjoyforeclose.
lower monthly payments with lower interest rates for