Homebuyers Can Save Over $15,000 in Five Years with an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage






Adjustable-rate mortgages are making a comeback. The rise in rates on the 30-yr mortgage is driving this renewed attention. But don't let the stigma that ARMs were to blame for fueling the 2008-09 financial crisis cause you to dismiss them today. Strict borrower qualifications on these loans carry much higher requirements than 15 years ago. And approved buyers have an average credit score of 750. Check out the WSJ report, ARMs are Back.

What's the reward? An estimated savings of $15,582 over five years (roughly $260 per month) for the typical homebuyer, according to Redfin. The average interest rate on a 5/1 ARM was 3.98% during the week ending May 12, while the average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.3%—a spread of 1.32 percentage points.

What's the risk? Well, what's your time horizon to outgrow or want to move from your home? The average lifespan of a 30-year mortgage is under 10 years, and frequently well below that, according to Rocket Mortgage. That’s not because borrowers pay the loan off in record time. It’s more likely that homeowners refinance into a new mortgage or purchase a new home before the term is up. With a selection of ARMs that float from fixed to market in 5, 7 or 10 years, maybe there is one for you to consider.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Be the Landlord

Image
  Participate in RE Beyond Ownership of your Primary Home Have you considered investing in rental property? It may not be as big a leap as you imagine. The moderation of the residential real estate market could create opportunities for you to participate beyond ownership of your primary home. Recounted in the WSJ article linked below, home purchases by investors large and small climbed to record levels during the pandemic, reaching a high of 28% of all single-family home sales in February of 2022, up from 17% during the same month in 2019 (housing data firm CoreLogic).   Assess the Housing Market   The first step would be to assess the long-term direction of the housing market. As I wrote last week, residential real estate trends are best viewed from both national and location-specific perspectives. On a nationwide basis, there is a well-documented home inventory shortage. Match this with demographic pressures, the  catch-up growth in Millennial purchases will drive ...
Read more

Realtor.com - Financial Outlook for Residential Real Estate Markets

Image
Middle TN Inventory Remains Tight Available Inventory vs Sold 2018 - 2022 With all eyes focused on the rise of interest rates to slow the rate of inflation, how does this affect the residential real estate market and specifically the local Middle TN environment? Last week I pointed to the downturn in home sales and a rise in active inventory. Yet from a historical perspective we are experiencing an ongoing shortage of available properties. There remains a big gap between the small number of homes available for sale and the overwhelming number of buyers looking to make a purchase. Sellers' perspective: Price appreciation is decelerating.  It continues to appreciate, but at a slower pace. “We do still expect home prices to cool, but we’re starting at a higher price point,” says Realtor.com Chief Economist Danielle Hale. Buyers' perspective: More homes to choose from in our local market.  Up 21.7% from prior month, and 18.2% over same time last year.  But keep in mind, Middl...
Read more

Making an All-Cash Offer - Wouldn't It be Great to be in the Driver's Seat

Image
Have you competed unsuccessfully against an all-cash offer? Still waiting for your sudden "wealth event" like money from IPO, sale of your company or cryptocurrency windfall? This CNN article gives insight into the extra $$$ required to competitively sweeten the deal and overcome the appeal of all cash and short close. Look into how you too may also go the route of an all-cash offer, without actual cash. Click CNN all-cash-home-buyers
Read more