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ARMs: Questions To Consider

POSTED: 1:38 pm EDT May 18, 2007
UPDATED: 1:39 pm EDT May 18, 2007

  • Will my income cover higher mortgage payments if the interest rate increases?
  • Will I be taking on other sizable debts in the near future?
  • How long do I plan to be in this home?
  • Do I plan on making any additional payments or paying the mortgage off early?
  • Show me the worst case scenario. Where could this interest rate adjust to?
  • What is the annual cap? Some adjustable rate mortgages have payment caps.
  • What are the maximums per adjustment period.

Source: Julie Garton Good, Federal Reserve Bank Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages.

Things To Consider

  • Monthly payments can change even if interest rates don't go up.
  • Payments may not go down by much or at all if interest rates go down.
  • Borrower could end up owing more money they borrowed, even all the payments are made on time.
  • Paying off the ARM early to avoid higher payments could mean thousands of dollars in prepayment penalities
Source: Federal Reserve Board Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

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