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.
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.
For example, a 7/1 ARM has an initial interest rate of 7 years, after which it adjusts once per year. A 7/6 ARM adjusts every six months after the initial 7-year interest rate period. These different home loan options can have different benefits to you based on your financial situation, as discussed later.
A 7/1 adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) is a hybrid home loan product. Homeowners make fixed monthly mortgage payments at a set interest rate for the first seven years. After that time passes, a 7/1 ARM's rate can increase or decrease on an annual basis for the rest of the loan's life.
Choosing to refinance 7-year ARM loans is a big decision, but it can be worthwhile to many homeowners. 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.
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.
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.
Though typically a mortgage lasts for around 25 years, you can get longer mortgages over 40 years. At the other end of the scale, short term mortgages can be for as little as six months to two or five years. Lenders have their own minimum terms which vary from no minimum to a 15-year minimum.
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.
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.
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.
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 (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.
This option typically presents a high APR because the maximum amount of payments on the loan will be at the highest rate. Custom: In a Custom Scenario you define the Adjustment Points and the amount of each adjustment. The APR presented will be based on the total monthly payments for the entire amortization.
With an ARM, borrowers lock in an interest rate, usually a low one, for a set period of time. When that time frame ends, the mortgage interest rate resets to whatever the prevailing interest rate is.
Refinancing can be done for many reasons, but switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage (or ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage is one of the most common. The general rule of thumb is that refinancing to a fixed-rate loan makes the most sense when interest rates are low.
The cap typically limits the total amount you can owe to 110% to 125% of the original loan amount. When you reach that point, the lender will set the monthly payment amounts to fully repay the loan over the remaining term. Your payment cap will not apply, and your payments could be substantially higher.
If you have a payment-option ARM and make only minimum payments that do not include all of the interest due, the unpaid interest is added to the principal on your mortgage, and you will owe more than you originally borrowed. And if your loan balance grows to the contract limit, your monthly payments would go up.
Adjustable-rate mortgage loans are usually referred to as ARMs. These loans are typically offered with a 30-year or 15-year term. A 10/1 ARM has a fixed rate for the first 10 years of the loan. The rate then becomes variable and adjusts every year for the remaining life of the term.
Borrowers with a 15-year term pay more per month than those with a 30-year term. In return, they receive a lower interest rate, pay their mortgage debt in half the time and can save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of their mortgage.
An ARM has four components: (1) an index, (2) a margin, (3) an interest rate cap structure, and (4) an initial interest rate period.
Can You Refinance An ARM Loan? Refinancing your ARM loan is a possibility and is just as easy as refinancing any other loan. With this process, the borrower is essentially replacing their existing loan with a new updated loan.