An interest only mortgage is a mortgage were the borrower(s)
pay only the interest payments on the loan. Generally the term of an interest
only mortgage is over 30 years with the interest only period either 5 or 10
years and then the loan will re-amoritize into a principle and interest loan
for the remaining 20 or 25 years.
Interest Only mortgages are a great way to increase your cashflow. Often it is
smartest to instead of throwing money at the mortgage to instead take an
Interest Only mortgage. This will allow you more money each month to pay off
other high interest rate debt.
You should weigh your options when considering an interest only loan. Don't
hesitate to contact me to discuss your unique situation.
With most interest-only payment option loans, you can always pay extra towards
the principal you owe at any time. When times are flush, pay down that
principal. When times are tough, pay only the interest-only payment. You
decide.
In areas with high appreciation such as 10% - 20% per year it's not necessary
for a person to pay down the principle on a morgage to reap great profits in an
investment property. This is where many people use I/O loans along with Neg-Am
products.
Often times lower income borrowers or first-time homebuyers will apply for an
interest only mortgage. This helps reduce their monthly mortgage cost while
still being able to get into a home. Investors buying investment/rental
properties will apply for interest only loans reduce monthly debt on their
properties while increasing their cash flow from the rental payments.
The easiest
way to figure the payments on an interest only mortgage is; loan amount x
interest rate percentage / 12. An example of the payments on a $150,000.00
mortgage with a 7.50% rate would be;
150,000 x 7.50% = 11250 / 12 = 937.50
Interest only payments will not reduce the principal balance of your mortgage.
When dealing with smaller loan amounts be sure to compare actual monthly
payments of a fully amortized and an interest only loan. Most of the time
anything under $100K the difference is extremely minimal. This is Due to the
fact that interest only rates are higher than your fully amortized rates.
Another advantage of the interest only mortgage is that most lenders allow the
borrower to qualify at the interest only payment. Since this payment is lower
than a fully amortized payment, the result is that the borrwer can qualify for
a larger mortgage, usually meaning a better or bigger house.
Many people will get interest only loans to help relieve them of the financial
burdens of all of their monthly bills. Obtaining an interest only loan can save
you a considerable amount of money in your mortgage payment. While you are not
paying down the principal on your loan amount your house is still appreciating
therefore helping you to still build equity. Some people that obtain interest
only loans will also use their income tax refunds to apply towards the
principal of their loan each year. This way they still have the flexibility of
a super low mortgage payment all year long and they still pay down the
principal of their loan just as much, if not more than they would on a normal
30 year mortgage loan.
Interest Only loans are often utilized by those who expect their income to
increase in the near future. College students who are expecting to graduate and
professionals getting an advance degree can purchase the homes now which they
otherwise cannot afford with their current incomes.
Having an interest only loan helps you to keep your monthly payments low.
Although you do not reduce the principle balance of the loan, your house will
appreciate over time, thereby building equity.