If your income or credit is lacking, a balloon loan may not be for you. This high-risk loan requires an excellent credit score, a large down payment and a substantial income.
A balloon payment is a lump sum principal balance paid towards the end of a loan term. Instead of paying down principal over the course of a loan, a balloon payment is an inflated one-time amount owed, usually after interest-only payments have been remit over the life of the loan.
Generally, a balloon payment is more than two times the loan's average monthly payment, and often it can be tens of thousands of dollars. Most balloon loans require one large payment that pays off your remaining balance at the end of the loan term.
Balloon mortgages aren't right in all cases. They're considered much riskier mortgage products for borrowers—and many lenders don't even offer them because they leave borrowers owing large lump sums that they may not be able to afford without taking out a new loan.
What Is a Balloon Loan. A balloon loan is a type of loan that does not fully amortize over its term. Since it is not fully amortized, a balloon payment is required at the end of the term to repay the remaining principal balance of the loan.
This can be done in one go or there is the possibility of spreading this payment over time as well. The latter is what you'll do when you choose to refinance the balloon payment – splitting the lump sum into monthly payments that then allow you to pay off the car and own it.
With careful planning, financing a home or car with a balloon attached can enhance your credit file and improve your score. Poor planning will accomplish the opposite.
There also are drawbacks to balloon payment promissory notes that should be considered: Unsecured loans with balloon payments usually have a higher interest rate than conventional loans. Paying that large balloon payment at the end of the loan may be financially difficult for your business.
If you want to reduce or eliminate your balloon amount, make larger payments consistently. Although a higher payment eliminates the benefit of a balloon mortgage, you will pay off the loan early. The amount you will need to increase your payment is based on the principal, interest and term.
Balloon payment schedule
A 30/5 structure means the lender calculates your monthly payments as if you'll be repaying the loan for 30 years, but you actually only make those payments for five years. At the end of the five-year (60-month) term, you'll repay the remaining principal, or $260,534.53, as a lump sum.
FHA loans and USDA loans are not available as balloon mortgages. An FHA loan is aimed at borrowers who might not be able to qualify for a conventional mortgage. This could be because their credit score is lower or they can't make a large down payment.
Key Takeaways. A balloon mortgage is a home loan that has an initial period of low—sometimes interest-only— payments, at the end of which the borrower is required to pay off the balance in full. A balloon mortgage is usually short term, often five to seven years.
What Happens When the Balloon Payment Is Due? When your balloon payment is due, you have two choices to pay it off: You can take out another mortgage for the amount of the balloon payment or you can sell your home and use the proceeds to pay it off.
The biggest advantage of a balloon mortgage is it generally comes with lower interest rates, so you make smaller monthly mortgage payments. You also may qualify for a larger loan amount with a balloon mortgage than you would if you got an adjustable-rate or fixed-rate mortgage.
You must refinance well in advance of the payment due date in order to ensure that you have the time to qualify and close the refinance. If you successfully acquire the refinance, you can kill two birds with one stone by paying the balloon mortgage off and getting a new loan with terms more suitable to you.
You can arrange that your car's trade-in value is used to cover its balloon. If your trade-in doesn't cover the balloon in full, you will have to settle it in full.
A balloon mortgage is usually rather short, with a term of 5 years to 7 years, but the payment is based on a term of 30 years. They often have a lower interest rate, and it can be easier to qualify for than a traditional 30-year-fixed mortgage.
If your car is worth more than the balloon payment at the end of the contract, then paying this could leave you better-off in the long run, even if you don't want to keep the car. You could sell the car immediately, leaving you with a surplus amount.
Can you refinance a balloon mortgage? Thankfully, you can. And unless you're simply rolling in dough, you may be forced to refinance. A balloon mortgage is a home loan with a short term, often 5 - 7 years, after which the rest of the loan is due in one large payment, called a balloon payment.
Can you refinance a balloon payment? It is possible to refinance your balloon payment. Refinancing can offer a lower interest rate which can give you access to better rates and fees. You can also make better repayments when it comes to paying off your balloon payment.
A balloon mortgage may be a good idea if: You know — with a high degree of certainty — that you aren't going to still be in the property when the balloon payment comes due. You expect, again with a great deal of confidence, that you're going to receive a lump sum at least equal to the balloon payment that will come due ...
We suggest talking to your servicer first and asking about a loan modification. Other, not-so-popular options include a short sale or bankruptcy. Now, depending on current interest rates, a refinance could be the easiest way out of a balloon mortgage.
You can handle a balloon payment in several different ways. Refinance: When the balloon payment is due, one option is to pay it off by obtaining another loan. In other words, you refinance. That new loan will extend your repayment period, perhaps adding another five to seven years.
Balloon mortgages are home loans with a large, one-time payment due at the end of the mortgage term. The final payment repays the loan in full and is often significantly larger than the initial payments.
48 months. Special cases sometimes allow for a payment term longer than 48 months, at the discretion of WesBank. That depends on your credit profile. You'll get an idea of how much the interest on your balloon refinance agreement will be, once you submit your documents and apply.