Option Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Option adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) give you the option of making different mortgage payments each month, including the traditional payment of principal and interest, an interest only payment or a minimum mortgage payment which can be less than the amount of interest due that month.

The last payment option can be dangerous of not used properly because the amount of any interest you do not pay will be added to your mortgage balance, increasing the total amount you owe and increasing your future monthly mortgage payments. This process is called negative amortization.

The interest rate on a option ARMs are usually very low for the first few months or first year, sometimes this rate is referred to as the "teaser rate". Your monthly mortgage payments are also lower during the initial period because the mortgage rate is lower. After the initial teaser rate period has ended, the interest rate rises to an interest rate closer to the market rate for mortgages at the time and your mortgage payments also rises.

Loan Type

Purchase Refinance with Cash out Refinance

State

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

FICO Score

Superior (780-850) Exceptional (760-779) Excellent (740-759) Very Good (720-739) Good (700-719) Above Average (680-699) Average (660-679) Fair (640-659) Need Improvement (620-639) Poor (350-620)

Loan Amount

$

Points

Up to 0 points Up to 0.5 points Up to 1 points Up to 1.5 points Up to 2 points Up to 2.5 points Up to 3 points

LTV

%

Loan Term

 15-Year Fixed  20-Year Fixed  30-Year Fixed  5-Year ARM  7-Year ARM  10-Year ARM

Show Advertiser Disclosure

The lenders whose rates and other terms appear on this chart are ICB's advertising partners. They provide their rate information to our data partner RateUpdate.com. Unless adjusted by the consumer, advertisers are sorted by APR from lowest to highest. For any advertising partners that do not provide their rate they are listed in advertisement display units at the bottom of the chart. Advertising partners may not pay to improve the frequency priority or prominence of their display. The interest rates, annual percentage rates and other terms advertised here are estimates provided by those advertising partners based on the information you entered above and do not bind. Any lender Monthly payment amounts stated do not include amounts for taxes and insurance premiums. The actual payment obligation will be greater if taxes and insurance are included. Although our data partner RateUpdate.com collects the information from the financial institutions themselves, the accuracy of the data cannot be guaranteed. Rates may change without notice and can change intraday. Some of the information contained in the rate tables including but not limited to special marketing notes is provided directly by the lenders. Please verify the rates and offers before applying for a loan with the financial institution themselves. No rate is binding until locked by a lender.

Lender

APR / Rate

Fees / Points

Payment

NMLS #1835285

4.846%

15-Year Fixed

4.625%

$5,912

Includes 0.978 points for $3,912

Lender Fees: $2,000

$3,086 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1513908

5.201%

15-Year Fixed

4.990%

$5,822

Includes 0.879 points for $3,516

Lender Fees: $2,306

$3,162 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1689962

License: 02053435

5.391%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$3,708

Includes 0.927 points for $3,708

Lender Fees: $0

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2578474

5.393%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$3,750

Includes 0.675 points for $2,700

Lender Fees: $1,050

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

5.409%

15-Year Fixed

5.125%

$7,500

Includes 0.875 points for $3,500

Lender Fees: $4,000

$3,190 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2326098

License: 60DBO-181478

5.436%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$5,077

Includes 0.781 points for $3,124

Lender Fees: $1,953

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2006915

License: 60DBO-149268

5.457%

15-Year Fixed

5.250%

$5,445

Includes 0.875 points for $3,500

Lender Fees: $1,945

$3,216 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

5.632%

15-Year Fixed

5.490%

$3,712

Includes 0.753 points for $3,012

Lender Fees: $700

$3,267 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1835285

5.864%

30-Year Fixed

5.750%

$5,000

Includes 0.750 points for $3,000

Lender Fees: $2,000

$2,335 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1835285

6.007%

5-Year ARM

5.875%

$5,696

Includes 0.924 points for $3,696

Lender Fees: $2,000

$2,367 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1513908

6.105%

30-Year Fixed

5.990%

$5,186

Includes 0.720 points for $2,880

Lender Fees: $2,306

$2,396 /mo

Next >

6.201%

30-Year Fixed

6.125%

$3,228

Includes 0.625 points for $2,500

Lender Fees: $728

$2,431 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2578474

6.236%

30-Year Fixed

6.125%

$4,750

Includes 0.925 points for $3,700

Lender Fees: $1,050

$2,431 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2326098

License: 60DBO-181478

6.249%

30-Year Fixed

6.125%

$5,469

Includes 0.879 points for $3,516

Lender Fees: $1,953

$2,431 /mo

Next >

NMLS #401822

6.265%

30-Year Fixed

6.125%

$5,995

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $1,995

$2,431 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1689962

License: 02053435

6.319%

30-Year Fixed

6.250%

$2,908

Includes 0.727 points for $2,908

Lender Fees: $0

$2,463 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2006915

License: 60DBO-149268

6.355%

30-Year Fixed

6.250%

$4,445

Includes 0.625 points for $2,500

Lender Fees: $1,945

$2,463 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

6.368%

15-Year Fixed

6.250%

$3,000

Includes 0.750 points for $3,000

Lender Fees: $0

$3,430 /mo

Next >

NMLS #1025894

6.461%

30-Year Fixed

6.375%

$3,608

Includes 0.727 points for $2,908

Lender Fees: $700

$2,496 /mo

Next >

NMLS #2326098

License: 60DBO-181478

6.881%

5-Year ARM

6.750%

$5,581

Includes 0.907 points for $3,628

Lender Fees: $1,953

$2,595 /mo

Next >

NMLS #3030

6.973%

30-Year Fixed

6.875%

$4,000

Includes 1.000 points for $4,000

Lender Fees: $0

$2,628 /mo

Next >

Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes and insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and product details.

Option ARMs were originally created for people who expected their income to increase in the future, making it possible for them to afford a larger home now instead of waiting until their income increased in the future. Unfortunately, over the past few years, option ARMs were also marketed and written for people who couldn't afford payments when the initial interest rate period ended. This practice extended the housing boom but has also make the housing bust even worse than it would have been. In fact, some real estate professionals say another wave of foreclosures is on it's way because of option ARMs.