Guidelines on How to Identify High-Risk Mortgages
Option ARM - It is a kind of mortagage that has good flexibility. This kind of mortgage allows you to have the option to decide what kind of payment option and adjustable rate that you want each month. This may sound good and it is very tempting to just easily decide and get this kind of mortgage. However, you need to understand that this kind of mortgage is not for everyone and it is just suited for people that has specific financial situation. You need to understand that even if you choose to have a low monthly payment which may be good for you and your family in the beginning; it affects on how you are able to pay the entire mortgage.
You need to understand that this transaction is still business which means someone needs to get paid and needs to have profit over your business. Having a low monthly payment enables you to just prolong the payment that you really need to make. Having also a low monthly payment do not help you build equity on your house. You might end up being on having a big debt and very low or no equity on your house. The bank can and will step in to recast the loan. You really need to understand every side and angle of the mortgage before applying it.
2) ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortagage) - This mortgage are for people who have a good understanding on how the real estate market will go. If you are a person that has good grip on how the real estate market will go then this kind of mortgage may be applicable for you. ARM is a mortgage that the rate of mortgage are dependent on the real estate market. You can enjoy low rates or suffer high rates. If you have a deep understanding of the real estate market and can somehow see where it will go and has a good amount of excess money in the bank to help you pay your mortgage during high rates then this can be a good option for you.
3) Negative Amortization - At forst glance this is good and is interesting because you pay very little and at times even smaller than the interest. However, you need to understand that this is not for someone who thinks he or she can do this for a very long time. You will end up in debt and there is also a possibility of owing more than 100% of what you borrowed. Negative amortization is for those people that needs the money right now in order to buy the house but do not have the money yet. This is usually being used by people who are pushing very hard to buy a property that they think they will lose if they wait longer. These people who avail this mortagage also expects money but it is not in their disposal for the time being.
4) Interest only - This is also a bit similar to negative amortization. You only pay the interest; however, you need to think that when you pay only the interest the principal is not being reduced. This kind of mortgage is good only for temporary and it should not be consideed for long term.
You need to know your financial situation and understand each kind of mortgage. Only then, you are able to choose which kind of mortgage is applicable for you and would not hurt you in the future which might be the cause for you to lose your property.