close
The price comparison tools on this website require you to disable Adblock for full functionality. Please consider disabling your ad blocker on our website in order to best take advantage of our tools.
Menu Menu

Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, AL

 
 
Mortgage Rates in Athens, AL

Comparing Mortgage Rates in Athens, AL

When it comes to getting a home loan, either to buy a home or refinance the terms on a current mortgage, interest rates are very important. A low interest rate can save the borrower a substantial amount of money over the term of the loan. Those looking for the best mortgage rates in Athens, AL can use MyRatePlan to get all the tools and other info they need. When borrowers do their homework and compare home loan rates before committing to anything, they can ensure they don't end up paying more interest than necessary.

Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, AL

Finding the Best Mortgage Rates in Athens, AL

Most of the population does not have enough cash on hand to buy a house outright. A loan is most likely one of the first priorities when one is looking to purchase their house in Athens, AL. Even houses that start at $50,000 will require being approved for a loan for most people. You'll want to know exactly what you will need in order to get a home loan and what types of issues will influence the interest rate you are given. Since you want the lowest interest rate possible, make sure you shop around for the best option.

So how do you make sure you get the lowest interest rate on the market yet still land the house of your dreams? Let's take a look at how to do it. Many real estate agents will provide you with preferred lenders that he or she has done business with before after you find a home that you are interested in. It may sound like the easy way out but many times it isn't. Some real estate agents simply want to move the house as quickly as possible. This may mean the lenders they refer you to may have higher interest rates but will approve you quicker. You may want to get your house quickly, but don't get pushed into a lender that offers only high-interest rates just to save a few weeks. No matter what company you use, check their rates out online to make sure you are comparing every little detail. Using MyRatePlan's mortgage rate tool is the best place to start when you want the lowest interest rate possible.

Types of Mortgages in Athens, AL

What Types of Mortgages Borrowers Can Get in Athens, AL

The home loan marketplace includes a variety of loan products to appeal to the needs of different buyers, including fixed-rate home loans and variable home loans. As it's important to know how those two types of loans work, they're explained below.

A fixed-rate mortgage in Athens, AL gets its name because the interest rate stays fixed at one percentage for the full term length of the loan, regardless of whether the loan lasts five years, 10 years or 30 years. With the interest rate staying the same, the monthly payment also stays the same, which makes it easy for the borrower to set their budget and know how much their home payment is going to be.

An adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) in Athens, AL has an interest rate that changes on a set time frequency. For example, the interest rate could adjust with the market every year. There are also hybrid ARMs which start out as fixed-rate home loans for a predetermined period of time, and then transition to ARMs for the remainder of the loan term. For example, a 7/2 ARM would have a fixed interest rate for the first seven years, and after that, the interest rate would adjust every two years. The difficulty with ARMs and hybrid ARMs is that the interest rate can go up and leave the borrower with a larger home payment, potentially stretching their budget to its limit.

FHA Loans in Athens, AL

FHA Mortgage Loans In Athens, AL

It will be up to you whether you choose to go with a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage loan. However, there are other choices to choose from as well. You might get to choose whether or not you want to use a conventional type of loan or government-insured type of loan such as a VA or FHA loan. Conventional home loans from private lenders are ones that are not insured or even guaranteed by the government in any such way. This is the biggest difference between the three types of government-backed home loans such as FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD, manages the Federal Housing Administration, or FHA. In Athens, AL, FHA loans can be available for many types of home loan borrowers, even if this is not your first time buying a home. Through these loans, the government will ensure your lender against any losses that could be a result from the borrower defaulting on the loan. One advantage of this type of loan is that the program will allow you to make a low down payment on the purchase price starting at 3.5 percent. A disadvantage of this program is that you will have to pay for mortgage insurance, which will increase the amount you'll have to pay each month.

Refinancing a Mortgage in Athens, AL

Refinancing a Mortgage in Athens, AL

It may be called refinancing, but when a borrower does that, what they're really doing is applying for a completely new home loan. If they're approved for that home loan, they can use it to pay off their previous home loan and only make payments on this new one. Since it's a new mortgage, there may be fees and closing costs involved. For this reason, it's vital that the borrower considers those extra costs and whether they will be outweighed by the savings of a lower interest rate. There is one situation where it's always smart to refinance, and that's if the borrower is getting a fixed-rate home loan to replace an ARM. That's because interest rates are trending upwards, meaning an ARM will likely cost more in the future, not less. When a borrower wants to refinance a home loan and get the best rate, they must make sure they represent as little risk as possible to mortgage lenders. They can do this by getting their credit score as high as possible, at least above 700, and maintaining a low debt-to-income ratio. Although it's good to be low risk, borrowers should also note that it is possible to get a home loan in Athens, AL with a low interest rate even without hitting all the strictest standards.