What is the difference between fixed rate and variable rate mortgages?

How do adjustable rate mortgages work?

What are escrow accounts and how much do I need in my escrow account?

A fixed rate mortgage is a loan where the principle and interest payment never change during the life of the loan.

A variable rate mortgage is a loan where the interest rate can change periodically. The changes in the interest rate are tied into the market rates that exist at the time the rate is subject to change. They usually offer lower interest rates than fixed rate mortgages, but can adjust upward if interest rates go up. There is a predefined cap which defines how high the interest rate can adjust.

Fixed rate mortgages are beneficial to those who are on a fixed income, (adverse to interest rate change) and those who prefer fixed payment schedules.

Adjustable rate mortgages are advantageous for those who do not plan to stay in their home for a long time, for those borrowers who do not qualify at higher fixed interest rates, and those who can financially handle fluctuating payments.

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There are many types of adjustable rate mortgages, but all have some common features.

One common feature of adjustable rate mortgages is an interest rate change that occurs after a stipulated number of payments have been made. The interest rate can increase or decrease depending on how the new interest rate is calculated. Typically, the interest rate change is based upon a predetermined index value and a margin. If a mortgagor currently has an interest rate that is pending adjustment, the new rate would be calculated by adding the current index rate and a margin. For example, if the mortgagor’s current rate was 6.000% with a 2.000% margin, the new rate would be determined by adding the current index rate (5.000% as an example) to the margin. In this example the new interest rate would be 7.000%.

The maximum amount the interest rate can change during any adjustment period is usually fixed. This maximum adjustment is called the "cap." Adjustable rate mortgages also have a lifetime cap, preventing the interest rate from exceeding a predetermined rate.

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Escrows are payments made by a mortgagor to a mortgagee for the purpose of paying the mortgagor’s taxes, insurance, and other payments associated with home ownership. The mortgagee is responsible for the timely disbursement of escrow funds to pay the mortgagor’s bills as they come due.

Usually, a mortgage company collects funds for placement into the mortgagor’s escrow account with the mortgagor’s periodic payment for principal and interest. An escrow account has sufficient funds if there is enough to pay all bills when they come due.

It is common practice for mortgage companies to hold an "escrow cushion" for a mortgagor. The "cushion" is kept by the mortgage company to assure that if the cost of any escrowed item were to increase in the future, there would be sufficient funds to pay all bills as they come due.

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