A balloon payment is a larger-than-usual one-time payment at the end of the loan term. If you have a mortgage with a balloon payment, your payments may be lower in the years before the balloon payment comes due, but you could owe a big amount at the end of the loan.
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 ...
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.
Why Get a Balloon Mortgage? People who expect to stay in their home for only a short period of time may opt for a balloon mortgage. It comes with low monthly payments and a much lower overall cost, since it is paid off in a few years rather than in 20 or 30 years like a conventional mortgage.
A common example of a balloon mortgage is the interest-only home loan, which enables homeowners to defer paying down principal for 5 to 10 years and instead make solely interest payments.
The balloon payment is equal to unpaid principal and interest due when a balloon mortgage becomes due and payable. If the balloon payment isn't paid when due, the mortgage lender notifies the borrower of the default and may start foreclosure.
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.
It should not be used as an end to a means to buy a car that you can't afford to maintain. “Balloon payment deals require discipline. If a buyer is not financially savvy enough to manage cash flow and continue to save during the finance term, then a balloon deal is probably not the best option for that person.”
Paying the balloon payment will mean you won't have anything to repay, and you can put that money towards something else each month, or simply start saving. Even if you take out a loan to cover the cost of the balloon payment, you'll have a definitive end date in sight.
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.
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 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.
Drawbacks of a Balloon Mortgage
There is a big risk associated with a balloon mortgage, though. Most homeowners who don't plan to sell their homes before the balloon payment is due expect to refinance their balloon loan to a standard fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage before facing that big payment.
You can apply to refinance the balloon payment amount for a further period. Terms and conditions will apply. You can sell the vehicle. You can pay the full balloon payment amount and take ownership of the vehicle.
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.
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.
A balloon payment provision in a loan is not illegal per se. Federal and state legislatures have enacted various laws designed to protect consumers from being victimized by such a loan.
Many balloon payment lenders will extend their loan for an additional few years without any change in the loan terms. But some will ask for an increased interest rate or a partial paydown of the principal balance.
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.
What Is a Deferred Interest Mortgage? A deferred interest mortgage is a mortgage that allows the borrower to delay making interest payments on the loan for a specified period of time. This type of mortgage can mean lower payments in the short term but paying more in total over the life of the loan.
Pay off the loan.
For a loan with a balloon payment at maturity (this happens when the amortization period extends beyond the maturity of the loan, so the loan doesn't fully amortize over its term), the final payment may be much larger than what you've been paying each month.
If you fail to pay your loan at maturity without making arrangements to refinance or extend the maturity date, the lender will declare a default. It will send a demand letter requiring you to pay the loan in full.