A 7/1 ARM is a good option if you intend to live in your new house for less than seven years or plan to refinance your home within the same timeframe. An ARM tends to have lower initial rates than a fixed-rate loan, so you can take advantage of the lower payment for the introductory period.
But an 7-year ARM could be a “good risk” for mortgage consumers. It offers low rates, and two additional years of fixed payments compared to the more popular 5-year ARM. That extra time to sell or refinance could be the sweet spot for those who will not keep their home the full thirty years.
An ARM can be a good idea if your life is likely to change in the next few years — for instance, if you plan to move or sell the house. You can enjoy the ARM's fixed-rate period and sell before it ends and the less-predictable adjustable phase starts.
For example, folks who opt for a 7/1 ARM can choose to refinance into a fixed-rate or another adjustable-rate loan before the fixed period expires. This allows the homeowner to continue paying a low interest rate. However, there are certain costs associated with a refinance 7-year ARM.
A 7/1 ARM is a mortgage that has a fixed interest rate in the beginning, then switches to an adjustable or variable one. The 7 in 7/1 indicates the initial fixed period of seven years. After that, the interest rate adjusts once yearly based on the index stated in the loan agreement, plus a margin set by the lender.
Cons of an adjustable-rate mortgage
Rates and payments can rise significantly over the life of the loan, which can be a shock to your budget. Some annual caps don't apply to the initial loan adjustment, making it difficult to swallow that first reset. ARMs are more complex than their fixed-rate counterparts.
Adjustable Rate (ARM) Mortgages Have Been Shunned For Years — But Should Be Considered In 2022. During the last few years, few mortgage borrowers have bothered with adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). According to analysts at Ellie Mae, market share for the ARM mortgage is about four percent of all mortgages sold.
Prepayment penalties.
Some ARMs, especially interest only and payment options, charge fees if you try to pay off the loan early. That means if you decided to sell your home or refinance it, you will pay a penalty on top of paying off the balance on your loan.
Most importantly, with a fixed-rate mortgage, the interest rate stays the same during the life of the loan. With an ARM, the interest rate changes periodically, usually in relation to an index, and payments may go up or down accordingly.
With a 7/6 ARM, your introductory period is locked in for 7 years before any adjustments are made. This period gives you 7 years of predictable payments at a low interest rate. Flexibility: If you think your life may change in the next few years, an ARM loan can be a great idea and a way to save money.
Bottom line. Refinancing an ARM to a fixed-rate mortgage can be a wise investment in your financial future, potentially saving you thousands in lower monthly mortgage payments over the life of the loan. Not only that, you'll be spared the uncertainty and stress that may accompany a fluctuating mortgage rate.
When getting a mortgage, understand that 7/1 ARM loans usually have an overall term of 15 years or 30 years. The interest rate remains fixed for the first seven years, then adjusts every year after that for the rest of the loan term.
Another con of an ARM is that your loan terms and interest rate may at first be more lenient because of the lower monthly payments. So, if you want to refinance down the line into a fixed rate, it could be difficult to get approved for the same size mortgage loan.
(Adjustable-rate mortgages, or ARMs, require higher PMI payments than fixed-rate mortgages.)
The 5/5 ARM can be ideal for homebuyers who: Want to quickly pay down their mortgage. Expect substantial increases in their income over time. Plan to sell their home within a few years.
Regardless of the amount of funds applied towards the principal, paying extra installments towards your loan makes an enormous difference in the amount of interest paid over the life of the loan. Additionally, the term of the mortgage can be drastically reduced by making extra payments or a lump sum.
Adding Extra Each Month
Just paying an additional $100 per month towards the principal of the mortgage reduces the number of months of the payments. A 30 year mortgage (360 months) can be reduced to about 24 years (279 months) – this represents a savings of 6 years!
Okay, you probably already know that every dollar you add to your mortgage payment puts a bigger dent in your principal balance. And that means if you add just one extra payment per year, you'll knock years off the term of your mortgage—not to mention interest savings!
For example, if you plan to live in your house for eight to 10 years, taking out a 10/1 ARM (where the introductory rate lasts 10 years) is more cost-effective. A 10/1 ARM is usually between 0.25% to 0.5% less expensive than a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.
Unlike fixed mortgages where you pay the same interest rate over the life of the loan, with an ARM, the interest rate will change after a period of time, and in some cases, it may rise significantly. Knowing ahead of time how much more you'll owe—or may owe—each month can prevent sticker shock.
ARMs are easier to qualify for than fixed-rate loans, but you can get 30-year loan terms for both. An ARM might be better for you if you plan on staying in your home for a short period of time, interest rates are high or you want to use the savings in interest rate to pay down the principal on your loan.
ARMs are also attractive because their low initial payments often enable the borrower to qualify for a larger loan and, in a falling-interest-rate environment, allow the borrower to enjoy lower interest rates (and lower payments) without the need to refinance the mortgage.
Adjustable-rate mortgages aren't for everyone, and can be a very bad idea for some people. An ARM offers a short-term fixed rate now in exchange for potentially higher rates later. A 5/1 ARM, for example, would have a fixed rate for 5 years, and reset once per year thereafter.