What Things Affect Your Mortgage Rate?
November 5th, 2008The only constant is change, especially when it comes to your mortgage rate.
Changes to borrowing rates are brought on by many factors. One primary factor of mortgage rate fluctuation is inflation. The term “inflation” is used to describe a growing economy and the increase of prices of goods and services. When the economy grows, there is a higher demand for goods and services, and producers can increase their prices. The resulting price increase brings about higher real estate prices, higher rental fees and higher mortgage rates.
In an effort to reduce inflation and slow down economy, the Federal Reserve decreases interest rates, and in the process, lowers mortgage rates. Although mortgage rates have the propensity to move in the same direction as interest rates, their actual movements are also based on the supply and demand for mortgages.
Compared to interest rates, mortgage rates have a slightly different equation in their supply and demand. This difference explains why mortgage rates tend to move differently from other rates. For example, lenders may be committed to close additional mortgages. In doing so, they will have to decrease the mortgage rates even when interest rates are going up.
Additional Factors Affecting Mortgage Rates
Inflation aside, there are several other factors that can influence mortgage rates. The rates on mortgages will tend to increase as the loan amount increases. This higher fluctuation is especially true if the loan amount exceeds the established loan limits of the potential borrower. Loan limits will typically change at the beginning of each year to conform to current mortgage rate trends that have been established.
The duration of the loan may also affect mortgage rates. Shorter loans usually equate to lower mortgage rates and longer loans can cost you higher mortgage rates. Loans with a 20-year or 15-year note can let you to save thousands of dollars on mortgage rate payments. However, this shorter time period also means that your mortgage rate payments every month will also be much higher.
It’s possible to avoid these high payments with an adjustable mortgage rate. This plan can allow you to start out with a lower mortgage rate, but your monthly mortgage payment will increase if the current interest rates go up. Fixed mortgage rates are typically higher than adjustable rates, but they provide the opportunity to save money as interest and mortgage rates increase.
Greater down payments can help you save up on your monthly mortgage rate payments. You can get the best possible mortgage rate with a down payment that is more than 20 percent. Higher mortgage rates are typical if the down payment is less than 5 percent since the beginning equity is smaller and provides less collateral.
You may also take advantage of discount points to decrease your mortgage rates. With lower mortgage rates, higher points will be paid on your loan. The same rule can apply to closing costs, which are fees that must be paid upon purchase of a property. Higher closing costs paid to lenders results in lower mortgage rates. If you don’t want to pay all of the closing costs up front, the lender can consolidate these costs into the mortgage amount, and increase the rates in order to cover it.
The concept is quite simple. Lenders are generally willing to lower mortgage rates as long as more money is paid upfront. More money down results in lower mortgage rates. And less money down results in higher mortgage rates.