There are only two things people should keep in mind before taking on an interest-only mortgage. The name interest-only mortgage is misleading. If truth be told, there is no such thing as an interest-only mortgage. In an interest-only mortgage, you will still have to pay for the loan principal. When you get an interest-only mortgage, what you’re really getting is an interest-only payment method which you can combine with other traditional mortgage types.
The other thing you need to keep in mind is that the stated benefits of interest-only mortgages are exaggerated. In a standard mortgage, 95% of each dollar paid to the lender goes to the loan interest. Thus on a $100,000 standard loan with 6% interest, the total payment would be $600 with the $500 going to interest and the other $100 for equity.
A Brief History of Interest-Only Mortgages
Interest-only mortgages are not relatively new concepts. The idea behind interest-only mortgages was spawned from the more flexible and more inventive jumbo mortgage markets. Because of this, interest-only mortgages are traditionally a loan type preferred by savvy investors and well-heeled clients who want to use the principal portion of their payment on other more productive investments.
Because interest-only mortgages are jumbo loans, the difference in monthly payment grows with the larger loan amount. For example, in a $100,000 interest-only mortgage loan, the per month difference is $100. If the loan is worth $1,000,000, then the difference per month grows to $1,000, a substantial amount that can be put to better use. The savvy investor can make it so that his investment using the money he gets from the per month difference growth of an interest-only mortgage can increase within a short period, thus leveraging incomes to build assets.
This is partly the reason why interest-only mortgages are still preferred by big-time investors. However, it is only natural to assume that there are some considerable risks associated with an interest-only mortgage, especially when it comes to stocks.
Interest-only mortgages have payment periods based on adjustable-rate mortgages. This, however, is not always the case. Interest-only mortgage payment schedules are also offered in fixed-rate mortgages as well. Interest-only mortgages have also gone mainstream so virtually anyone can borrow money with this type of loan.
Temporary Payment Periods
The payment periods for interest-only mortgages almost never run for the entire term of the loan. Even with a fixed-rate mortgage, interest-only mortgages are still bound to be only temporary. And InterstFirst product only lets interest-only mortgage payments for half of the total term.
The expiration schedule of an interest-only mortgage payment is usually at the end of a set period. This makes interest-only mortgages compatible with “amalgam” adjustable-rate mortgages. When the interest-only mortgage payment comes to an end your payment will then rise to include principal and interest.
The great thing about interest-only mortgages
Interest-only mortgage payments also have their advantages. Borrowers can find that there are various practical benefits that an interest-only mortgage can offer. First is that interest-only mortgages can help you in accumulating assets. Because interest-only mortgages do not demand so much during its initial years, you can use the payment differential in cash investment. The “spare” cash provided by interest-only mortgages may also be used for college money, retirement money, and even as a seasonal income factor.
Of course, you are the only person who can really tell if the mortgage option is right for you or not. However, awareness of the issues that surround those choices is a good way to make a more informed decision.
