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Compare The Best Mortgage Rates in Decatur, IA

 
 
Mortgage Rates in Decatur, IA

Compare Decatur, IA Mortgage and Home Loan Rates

When you are on the search for a new home or are considering buying a new one, finding the best mortgage rates possible in Decatur, IA will be an important part of the decision. Using MyRatePlan will help your search go smoother by giving you the tools and information that is needed right at your fingertips. You don't want to end up paying a higher interest rate than you need to when you are buying a home, and by comparing different mortgage rates, we can help make sure that you won't!

Best Mortgage Rates in Decatur, IA

Finding the Best Mortgage Rates in Decatur, IA

The vast majority of the people looking to purchase homes in Decatur, IA will need to apply for a mortgage to do it. Even a very inexpensive home will likely start at $50,000 or more, and since that's a larger sum than most have saved up, it's almost impossible to pay cash for a home. That's why people need home loans, and every home loan has an interest rate. Securing a lower interest rate means paying less over the lifespan of the loan. When a home shopper picks out their dream home, they're probably going to get some recommendations on home loan lenders from their real estate agent, but it's wise for people to do their own research here. The reality is that a real estate agent wants to close the home sale. That's their priority, not the borrower's mortgage rate. The mortgage application process can be complex and even a bit confusing for first timers. It's best for borrowers to be patient and ensure that they get the best mortgage deal instead of rushing anything. They can do this by checking out rates online and comparing every available option. With the MyRatePlan mortgage rate tool, borrowers can see the best home loan rates throughout Decatur, IA. Of course, qualifying for those top rates will require that the borrower has a high credit score.

Types of Mortgages in Decatur, IA

Different Types of Mortgages Available in Decatur, IA

There are a variety of loan products on the market to appeal to all kinds of different buyers. Mortgages can be separated into the fixed-rate and variable categories.

With a fixed-rate mortgage loan in Decatur, IA, the loan's interest rate will stay the same for the whole repayment term. This also means that the buyer's monthly payment stays the same until the loan is paid off, and it remains true even if the loan is going to last decades, as is the case with 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. For the buyer, this means that they always know how much they'll be paying and they don't need to worry about interest rate fluctuations.

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) in Decatur, IA work much differently, because they have interest rates that can adjust with the market. There is usually an initial period of time where the interest rate is locked in, and after that time period ends, the interest rate on the loan adjusts every year. Since this effectively blends the fixed-rate mortgage and the ARM, these loans are sometimes called hybrid ARMs. One example would be a 5/1 ARM, with the numbers indicating how long the interest rate is fixed. In a 5/1 ARM, the first five years of the loan have a fixed interest rate, and from then on out, the interest rate adjusts annually.

FHA Loans in Decatur, IA

FHA Home Mortgages in Decatur, IA

Buyers must decide on whether to get a fixed-rate home loan or an ARM, but that isn't the only decision. They also need to figure out if they will go with a mortgage backed by the government or a more traditional home loan. Those traditional home loans don't have any insurance provided by the federal government. There are three types of mortgages that have government backing, which are FHA loans, USDA loans and VA loans.

An FHA loan is backed by the Federal Housing Administration, which is the Department of Housing and Urban Development's program for insuring home loans. One great aspect of FHA mortgages in Decatur, IA is that it's not just first-time homebuyers who can get them, but any buyer. FHA mortgages have benefits for both the borrower and the lender. The borrower can get their home loan while making a significantly lower down payment, sometimes as little as 3.5 percent of what the home costs. The lender is protected from any losses due to a borrower defaulting by the government insurance. The drawback for borrowers is that they're required to cover the cost of mortgage insurance, which means larger home payments every month.

Refinancing a Mortgage in Decatur, IA

Home Loan Refinancing in Decatur, IA

If you wish to refinance a mortgage in Decatur, IA, you should understand that the actual process involves applying for a separate, new mortgage. Keep in mind that you may need to pay for certain fees such as closing costs when completing this process. If your primary goal is to get a lower rate of interest via refinancing, take a moment to consider if the fees will allow you to offset the potential savings you want.

There is one exception if you wish to refinance by changing a fixed-rate loan into an adjustable-rate loan. Here, it is more common that rates will increase rather than decrease in the future. If you want the best possible rate on your home loan, the lending company needs to view you as a low-risk candidate. You should keep debt-to-income low and your credit score stable and high to give yourself the best chance at a fixed-rate loan. With all of that said, it is still possible to get home loan approval in Decatur, IA even if you don't meet all criteria.