If a home buyer opts for a 30-year loan, most of their early payments will go toward interest on the loan. The 30-year fixed-rate loan is the most common term in the United States, but as the economy has went through more frequent booms & busts this century it can make sense to purchase a smaller home with a 15-year mortgage. Loan Term: the number of years the loan is scheduled to be paid over. For your convenience we also publish current local mortgage rates. This calculator can help home buyers figure out if it makes sense to buy points to lower their rate of interest. If the buyer believes interest rates will fall or plans on moving in a few years then points are a less compelling option. In general discount points are a better value if the borrower intends to live in the home for an extended period of time & they expect interest rates to rise.
In some cases a borrower may want to pay points to lower the effective interest rate. Interest Rate: this is the quoted APR a bank charges the borrower. If the loan amount is above 80% of the appraisal then PMI is required until the loan is paid off enough to where the Loan-to-value (LTV) is below 80%. Loan Amount: the amount a borrower is borrowing against the home. This is used in part to determine if property mortgage insurance (PMI) is needed. Home Value: the appraised value of a home.
