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A fixed rate mortgage has the same payment for the entire term of the loan. An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has a rate that can change, causing your monthly payment to increase or decrease. Use this calculator to compare a fixed rate mortgage to two types of ARMs, a Fully Amortizing ARM and an Interest Only ARM.
Definitions
Fixed Rate Mortgage
A fixed rate mortgage has the same interest rate and monthly payment throughout the term of the mortgage. The payment is calculated to payoff the mortgage balance at the end of the term. The most common terms are 15 year and 30 years.
Fully Amortizing ARM
This is the most common type of ARM. The monthly payment is calculated to payoff the entire mortgage balance at the end of the term. The term is typically 30 years. After any fixed interest rate period has passed, the interest rate and payment adjusts annually. A Fully Amortizing ARM will also have a maximum rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%. Below is a list of the most common types of Fully Amortizing ARMs.
Common Adjustable Rate Mortgages
ARM Type
Months Fixed
10/1 ARM
Fixed for 120 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
7/1 ARM
Fixed for 84 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
5/1 ARM
Fixed for 60 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
3/1 ARM
Fixed for 36 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
1 year ARM
Fixed for 12 months, adjusts annually for the remaining term of the loan.
Interest Only ARM
An Interest Only ARM only requires monthly interest payments. Since you are not paying any principal, as you are with the other two types of mortgages described above, this can lower your monthly payment. However, since your mortgage's principal balance is not decreased, you will have a balloon payment at the end of the mortgage's term. Like a Fully Amortizing ARM, an Interest Only ARM will often have a period where the interest rate is fixed, and then it is adjusted annually. An Interest Only ARM will also have a maximum interest rate that it will not exceed. This calculator uses a maximum interest rate of 12%.
Mortgage amount
Expected balance for your mortgage.
Term in years
The number of years over which you will repay this mortgage. The most common mortgage terms are 15 years and 30 years. Please note that for the Interest Only ARM you will have a balloon payment for the entire principal balance at the end of the loan term.
Expected rate change
The annual adjustment you expect in your ARM. The range for this calculator is minus 3% to plus 3%. Use a negative value if you believe interest rates will decrease, a positive value if you believe they will increase.
Interest rate
Annual interest rate for each mortgage type. Typically an ARM will have a lower interest rate than a fixed rate mortgage. The rate of an Interest Only ARM will vary by lender.
Months rate fixed
This is the number of months the rate is fixed for an ARM. During this period the interest rate and the monthly payment will remain fixed. The rate will then adjust annually by the expected rate change.
Interest rate cap
This is the maximum interest rate for this mortgage. The mortgage's interest rate will never exceed the interest rate cap.
Monthly payment
Monthly principal and interest payment (PI) for the Fixed Rate Mortgage and the Fully Amortizing ARM. This is an interest only payment for an Interest Only ARM.
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.
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Home safety precautions are always important, but it is especially important to make your home "accident-proof" while it is on the market. Many strangers will be coming through your home who won't be aware of the minor hazards that you and your family instinctively avoid.
Go through your home with an eye for potential hazards. Remove the obstacles that you can and post "watch your head" or "watch your step" signs where they are needed. Look for loose banisters, uneven steps, precariously placed plants, art objects or anything else that could fall on someone, wet spots on bath or kitchen floors, toys that someone might fall over and anything that you have to step over or duck under. Make sure that rugs will not slip, especially those at the bottom of stairs. There aren't many things that will more quickly dampen a buyer's enthusiasm for a house than a bump on the head or an unexpected trip down a flight of stairs.
Tom Sommers Edina Realty 7580 160th Street W. Lakeville, MN. 55044 (952) 994-7204 (952) 997-1854 Fax: (952) 891-7696 Email: tcsommers@NUMBER1EXPERT.com
BUSINESS PHILOSOPHY: To treat each client as you would a friend or family member. Maintain a standard of excellence through honesty and integrity. It is our desire to serve you the client with the highest level of customer service possible.
FOR SELLERS: We have an average list to sale market time of 89 days. On average we get 97% of the listing price for our clients. This is due to an extremely effective marketing campaign and a high level of skillful negotiation. We sell on average 90% of our listings. Please remember the market determines the value of your home not the agent. Choose your listing agent based on the one who can sell your home in the shortest amount of time for the best possible price with the least amount of inconvenience to you and your family. Your bottom line is the most important number of all.
FOR BUYERS: With our complete buyer profile system we will be able to save you time and money. You will not spend your valuable time looking at homes that do not suit your needs. Your time will be spent looking at the best the market has to offer in the areas that you want to live, in your price range with as many amenities that match your criteria. When choosing a buyers agent, base your decision on who will best represent you throughout the transaction.
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