Loan Programs

Loan Programs, also known as Loan Products, are offered by the lender to meet the need of a particular consumer. If you are interested in one of these loan programs, learn about them and discover the pro's and cons of each program. It is a risk-based pricing factor that affects the overall interest rate an individual borrower will qualify for. The general rule is that the less verifiable documentation a borrower provides, the more expensive the interest rate becomes. The major categories of mortgage loan documentation are as follows:

• Adjustable Rate Mortgages - ARM
• Fixed Rate Mortgages
• Home Equity Line of Credit - HELOC
• Interest Only Loan
• Jumbo Loan
• Second Mortgage - Equity Loan
• FHA Loan
• Full Document Loan

Adjustable Rate Mortgages

The interest rate on this loan will be fixed for a stated period of time and will then become adjustable for the remainder of the loan. For example, a 5-year fixed (30-year) loan would have a fixed interest rate for the first five years and then convert to an adjustable rate for the remaining 25 years.

This adjustment is based on changes in a pre-selected index, and will take place according to a pre-defined schedule (generally every six months or every year). Your interest rate and monthly payment will fluctuate based on changes in your index. The most common indices are the Treasury Bill, Certificate of Deposit (CD), LIBOR and COFI.

Adjustable rate loans have more risk due to the possibility that the interest rate could increase. However, because you are assuming additional risk the lender will generally reward you with a lower interest rate and monthly payment during the initial fixed interest period. These loans are of particular benefit to borrowers that plan to either sell the property or refinance before reaching the adjustable period.

An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), variable rate mortgage or floating rate mortgage is a mortgage loan where the interest rate on the note is periodically adjusted based on an index.[1] This is done to ensure a steady margin for the lender, whose own cost of funding will usually be related to the index. Consequently, payments made by the borrower may change over time with the changing interest rate (alternatively, the term of the loan may change). This is not to be confused with the graduated payment mortage, which offers changing payment amounts but a fixed interest rate. Other forms of mortgage loan include interest only mortgage, fixed rate mortgage, negative amortization mortgage, and balloon payment mortgage. Adjustable rates transfer part of the interest rate risk from the lender to the borrower. They can be used where unpredictable interest rates make fixed rate loans difficult to obtain. The borrower benefits if the interest rate falls and loses out if interest rates rise.

Fixed-Rate Loans

Monthly principal and interest payments do not change over the term of the loan, which means your mortgage expenses are easily anticipated. If you believe interest rates are going to increase, this may be the best option for you.

A fixed rate mortgage (FRM) is a mortgage loan where the interest rate on the note remains the same through the term of the loan, as opposed to loans where the interest rate may adjust or "float." Other forms of mortgage loan include interest only mortgage, graduated payment mortgage, adjustable rate mortgage, negative amortization mortgage, and balloon payment mortgage. Please note that each of the loan types above except for a straight adjustable rate mortgage can have a period of the loan for which a fixed rate may apply. A Balloon Payment mortgage, for example, can have a fixed rate for the term of the loan followed by the ending balloon payment. Terminology may differ from country to country: loans for which the rate is fixed for less than the life of the loan may be called hybrid adjustable rate mortgages (in the United States).

This payment amount is independent of the additional costs on a home sometimes handled in escrow, such as property taxes and property insurance. Consequently, payments made by the borrower may change over time with the changing escrow amount, but the payments handling the principal and interest on the loan will remain the same.

Fixed rate mortgages are characterized by their interest rate (including compounding frequency, amount of loan, and term of the mortgage). With these three values, the calculation of the monthly payment can then be done.

Home Equity Line of Credit - HELOC

A home equity line of credit is a form of revolving credit in which your home serves as collateral. Think of it as a credit card that is secured by the equity in your home. Many homeowners use these credit lines for major items such as debt consolidation, travel expenses and home improvements.

A HELOC differs from a conventional home equity loan in that the borrower is not advanced the entire sum up front, but uses the line of credit to borrow sums that total no more than the amount, similar to a credit card. At closing you are assigned a specified credit limit that you can borrow up to. During a "draw period" (typically 5 to 25 years), HELOC funds can be borrowed "on demand" and you pay back only what you use plus interest. Depending on how much you use the HELOC, you will have a minimum monthly payment requirement (often "interest only"); beyond the minimum, it is up to you how much to pay and when to pay. At the end of the draw period, you will have to pay back the full principal amount borrowed either in a lump-sum balloon payment or according to a loan amortization schedule.

Another important difference from a conventional loan: the interest rate on a HELOC is variable based on an index such as prime rate. This means that the interest rate can - and almost certainly will - change over time.

Interest Only Loan

An interest-only loan is a loan in which for a set term the borrower pays only the interest on the principal balance, with the principal balance unchanged. At the end of the interest-only term the borrower may enter an interest-only mortgage, pay the principal, or (with some lenders) convert the loan to a principal and interest payment (or amortized) loan at his/her option.

Jumbo Loan

A jumbo mortgage is a mortgage with a loan amount above the industry standard definition of conventional conforming loan limits. This standard is set by the two largest secondary market lenders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Loans above the conforming limits may be offered by seller servicers of these wholesale institutions as well as Wall Street conduits who provide warehouse financing for mortgage lenders. The loan amounts reflect average loan sizes nationwide. Jumbo mortgages apply when agency (FNMA and FHLMC) limits don't cover the full loan amount. Fannie Mae (FNMA) and Freddie Mac (FHLMC) are large agencies that purchase the bulk of residential mortgages in the U.S. They set a limit on the maximum dollar value of any mortgage they will purchase from an individual lender. As of 2006, the limit is $417,000, or $625,500 in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This leaves a portion of the market to look elsewhere for placement. Other large investors, such as insurance companies and banks, step in to fill the need with maximum mortgage amounts going to the $1 million or $2 million range. The average interest rates are typically greater than normal for conforming mortgages, and vary depending on property types and mortgage amount.

Second Mortgage - Equity Loan

A home equity loan is a type of loan in which the borrower uses the equity in their home as collateral. These loans are sometimes useful for families to help finance major home repairs, medical bills or college educations. A home equity loan creates a lien against the borrower's house.

Home equity loans are most commonly second position liens (second trust deed), although they can be held in first or, less commonly, third position. Most home equity loans require good to excellent credit history, and reasonable loan-to-value and combined loan-to-value ratios. Home equity loans come in two types, closed end and open end.

Both are usually referred to as second mortgages, because they are secured against the value of the property, just like a traditional mortgage. Home equity loans and lines of credit are usually, but not always, for a shorter term than first mortgages. In the United States, it is sometimes possible to deduct home equity loan interest on one's personal income taxes.

A home equity loan enables you to borrow money in a lump sum against the equity (the value of your home minus what you owe) you have built up in your home. This loan is subordinate to the existing first mortgage. Buyers commonly use a second mortgage to keep their first mortgage in the conforming range (which keeps the rate lower) and to avoid PMI. Home equity loans are often used to pay off credit card debt, buy a car or to make major renovations to a home. .

FHA Loan

FHA loan is a federal assistance mortgage loan in the United States insured by the Federal Housing Administration . The loan may be issued by federally qualified lenders.

FHA loans have historically allowed lower income Americans to borrow money for the purchase of a home that they would not otherwise be able to afford. The program originated during the Great Depression of the 1930s , when the rates of foreclosures and defaults rose sharply, and the program was intended to provide lenders with sufficient insurance . Some FHA programs were subsidized by government, but the goal was to make it self-supporting, based on insurance premiums paid by borrowers.

Over time, private mortgage insurance (PMI) companies came into play, and now FHA primarily serves people who cannot afford a conventional down payment or otherwise do not qualify for PMI insurance.

Full Documentation Loan - Full Doc

Full Documentation Loan refers to a loan where all income and assets are documented. It is typically referred to as a "full doc" loan in the mortgage industry and is a common type of loan used for financing a home purchase.