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
Remodeling and Renovations >Considering Major Improvements
You have decided that it is time to sell your home. After taking an objective look around, you realize that you have a lot of work to do in order to prepare your home for the market. If it will take more than just cleaning to get your home for showing, it may be time to call in two professionals--a home improvement contractor and a professional real estate agent.
The ideal listing has a modern kitchen and bath, fresh paint, beautiful lighting fixtures and elegant hardwood floors or high-end wall-to-wall carpet. Your real estate agent can offer suggestions about what your house needs, what colors or cabinet styles are popular with buyers, and tips on cost-effective improvements. The contractor can work with you to put your plan into action.
If you feel that the costs or disruption of a major remodeling project would be overwhelming, you have the option of marketing your home as a "fixer-upper." If you decide to sell your home "as is", your agent can prepare a market analysis to give you an idea of what you can expect to net from the sale of your home.
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Real Estate Trivia
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Where is the world's largest mud building?
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| A |
The Grand Mosque in west Africa measures 328 feet long and 131 feet wide, and has been carefully maintained for centuries by local craftsmen, especially during the rainy season. |
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