Financial Factors – 7 Things That Will Affect the Interest Rate of Your Mortgage

Very rarely will you end up with the same mortgage rates as your friends and family. Everyone’s financial situations are different, and lending institutions consider this when establishing interest rates for home loans.

However, you may be curious about the factors impacting your interest rate and whether you may benefit from a better rate in the future. Keep the following points in mind as they can have more of an impact than you might think.

The Professionals You Use

There is nothing wrong with going directly to your bank to set your mortgage interest rate, but working with a property investment consultant as a first-time buyer may be in your best interests.

They can communicate with banks on your behalf, find out which lending institutions are offering the best rates, and offer advice on whether having a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage will be a better option for you given the current climate and projections for the future.

Credit Score

Your credit score reflects your reliability when making payments. Your lender may charge you a higher interest rate than other homeowners if you have a low credit score (typically between 300 and 579). If you’re worried about your credit score affecting your lending chances, try to improve its health before approaching any lenders for a mortgage.

Loan Amount and House Price

Some banks put higher interest rates on mortgages in the very high and very low range. Generally, the interest rate is added to the cost of your house, mortgage insurance, and closing costs, minus your down payment.

The differences may not look like a lot, but a few percentage points can add or remove tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan.

Down Payment

The more of your own money you use to buy a house, the lower your interest rate should be. This is because banks and lenders see you as less risky than a homeowner who has lessof their own money in their home. Right now, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 3.1%.

Loan Type

There is more than one mortgage loan type, which means your interest rates may differ depending on which one you have. Shop around to see which loan type is going to suit you the best.

Conventional loans are among the most affordable, but FHA loans are available to people with low credit scores. You might also be eligible for special loans, such as VA, local, and USDA. When you view each product with your preferred lender, you can gain insight into the different set rates for each.

Interest Rate Type

One of the hardest decisions you must make when you become a homeowner is whether you want a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. The interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage remains the same for the term you set, but an adjustable-rate mortgage may fluctuate throughout the same period.

Loan Term

There can be a lot of variation in the interest rate of each mortgage, especially when the loan terms differ dramatically. As a general rule, the shorter your loan term, the more you pay each month but the lower your overall costs. There are plenty of online calculators to help you determine which mortgage loan term makes the most financial sense. Many things can impact your mortgage interest rate, so it’s worth doing your homework. Talk to experts, compare different loan types, check your credit score, and look at as many options as possible before committing.