Interest Rates And APRs
For those who are considering purchasing a new home, you will obviously need to speak will lenders about a mortgage. It is easy to make mistakes when it comes to borrowing or overlook the key terms you need to understand regarding your mortgage including, interest rates and APRs. Ultimately, your goal is to get a loan, however if you do not fully understand the meaning of these words, you might find yourself in a loan that you are not satisfied with, and the interest rates and APRs of your loan will definitely affect your ability to pay back your obligations. Because of this, before you speak with the lender, read below regarding the details of interest rates and APRs so you are educated about the facts of borrowing.
Lost of people today assume that interest rates and APRs are the same thing because both of them charge us money and both of them are something no one really likes. However, the two items are actually different and they impact your loan differently. If you do not understand the differences of the two, you may not be able to pay it back on time. Therefore, before you borrow, educate yourself on the difference between the two.
Interest is something that most people seem to understand because it is a lot less complicated than APRs. Basically, it is the fee we incur because we decided borrow money, and it is determined based off the amount of principal for the loan and the term of the loan. Although interest is mainly determined off the principle and term, there are other details that could affect your interest rate.
One of the biggest factors that affect the interest rate is the type of loan you take out with the bank – fixed loan, ARM loan, etc. In addition, your interest rate can also vary depending on the amount of your loan versus the value of your home. Also, many times interest is evaluated based off the type of property you decide to purchase. Depending on whether you are purchasing a home for a primary residence, secondary residence, or investment property, the interest rate can vary.
One of the great things about a mortgage is that you can actually “buy down” the interest rate if you want to. You “buy down” your interest rate by paying points up front. A point usually equals 1 percent of the loan you are buying, so if your loan was $100,000, you could “buy down” five points in interest by paying $5000 dollars up front. Buying down is a great way to not only reduce the interest rate, but also reduce the amount you will pay in the long run, and there are actually possible tax benefits from doing so.
If you are not sure what your interest rate is, it is easy to calculate. You simply divide the total interest charged by the principle amount; so, if the principal was $10,000 and the interest charged was $150 your interest rate would be (150/10000) x 100 percent = 15 percent. With a mortgage the numbers may be more complicated, however the math remains the same, so you should be able to calculate it.
APR is short for Annual Percentage Rate, and it calculates the total cost of a mortgage including closing costs and interest over its entire term. The APR is reflected as a yearly rate. While it includes interest in its calculations, it is an effective way to compare mortgages because it tends to best reflect the true cost of the loan. If you overlook the APR, you might overlook some of the cost that you need to anticipate in the future.
Because the APR takes into consideration all of the costs, not just the interest rate, it is usually higher than the interest rate. Also, the calculation for APR is not as simple as calculating interest, because it involves an amortization schedule and a more complex equation. For this reason, the APR is often a better prediction about your future charges from the loan.
When you do apply for a mortgage, do not be surprised when both the interest rate and APR are discussed. The rates will definitely vary given you credit score and the conditions of the market. Yet, those who better understand the terms will make more informed decisions when it comes to borrowing.
Also, although you may not have much control on the interest rates and APRs at the time, you do have more control on the controlling costs that come with your new mortgage. These costs are usually the initial cost like closing costs and mortgage insurance. Make sure to negotiate them with your lender because they have flexibility with them.
As always, now that you are more informed regarding the terms and practices of lending, it is always wise to shop around. Although the first lender may be willing to give you a loan, it may not be right for you. Do you research and find the best fit for you.

Recent comments