Contact Us Home

Apply Now
Pre-Qualify
Loan Programs
Purchasing
Refinance
My Daily Blog
Request Loan Status
Calculators
Loan Process
Library
FAQ
Glossary
Forms
Contact Us
About Us
Tell-A-Friend
Sweepstakes
Home
Credit Report
Marketplace
Web Resources
For Sale by Owner
Preferred Realtor
MONEY.CNN.COM
FORBES
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
NASDAQ

What is a Payment Option ARM loan program?


This loan program is an adjustable rate mortgage with a low initial monthly payment that will increase each year for the first five years. It also offers other payment options to help you budget your monthly cash flow.

  • Minimum Monthly Payment
  • Interest Only Payment
  • 30-year Amortized Payment
  • 40-year Amortized Payment
  • 15-year Amortized Payment

Its low introductory start-rate allows you to make very low initial mortgage payments and low qualifying rates enable you to qualify for more home.

Calculating the monthly payment: The payment during the first five years starts by calculating the payment using the initial low introductory rate, usually 1 percent to 2 percent. That will be your payment rate. Each year the payment will increase 7.5 percent for the first five years.

Minimum Payment Changes:
Year 1 $1000.00 = Base of Minimum Payment
Year 2 $1075.00 = Year1 $1000.00 + 7.50%
Year 3 $1155.63 = Year2 $1075.00 + 7.50%
Year 4 $1242.30 = Year3 $1155.63 + 7.50%
Year 5 $1335.47 = Year4 $1242.30 + 7.50%

In year six, the payment will then be calculated using the index rate plus the margin rate, and amortized over the remaining term of the loan. On a thirty-year loan, the remaining term is twenty-five years, and on a forty year loan the remaining term is thirty-five years.

The note rate is the interest rate the bank will charge you each month. Some programs will use the introductory rate as the note rate for the first three months. After that introductory period, the note rate will then adjust to the index rate plus the margin rate.

EXAMPLE: COFI index 3.626
Margin 2.250
Index + Margin 5.876
Payment Calculation:
Year 1 use Introductory Rate 1.000%
Term 30 years
Initial Loan Amount

Year 6 Index + Margin 5.876
Term 25 years
Loan Amount plus Deferred Interest

Deferred Interest: The minimum payment option can help keep your monthly payments affordable. If the minimum monthly payment is not sufficient to pay the monthly interest due, you will then have deferred interest. That is, the interest that was not paid will be added to the principal loan balance. Your loan balance increases each month. This is where the term negative amortized loan comes from. The balance increases, instead of decreases like in a normal loan. You can always avoid deferred interest by choosing the interest-only payment option.

Payment Options: With the option ARM, you generally have at least two fully amortized payment choices, leading to a quicker loan payoff. If you prefer to pay off your loan on schedule, you can make the fully amortized payment based on a thirty- or forty-year loan, or you can choose the fifteen-year payment option for the fastest equity buildup.

Option ARM loan programs are right for you if you'd like to own your property only for a short time, and prefer affordability and flexibility in your monthly payment. However, if you select the minimum payment option in the early years, you should be prepared for possible sudden increases in your monthly payments thereafter.

Four types of payment options:

Minimum Payment
With the minimum payment option, your monthly payment is set for twelve months at your initial interest rate. After that, the payment changes annually.

Interest-Only Payment
With the interest-only payment option, you can avoid deferred interest, when the minimum payment is not enough to pay the monthly interest due. This payment option does not result in your principal reduction. The interest-only payment will change every month based on changes in the ARM index used to determine your fully indexed rate.

Fully Amortized Fifteen-, Thirty- or Forty-year Payment
Fully amortized means you have equal monthly payments for the entire term of the loan, and have a zero balance at the end. With fully amortized payments, you pay both principal and interest. Your payment is calculated each month based on the prior month's fully indexed rate, loan balance and remaining loan term.

Index plus Margin
The index is the base rate used to determine your interest rate. Most people are familiar with the Prime rate, T-bill or Cofi. Option ARM programs are is usually based on one of the following indexes:

  • Monthly Treasury Average (MTA)
  • London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR)
  • 11th District Cost Of Funds Index (COFI)
  • Cost of Savings Index (COSI)

The Margin is the number of percentage points (for example, 2.75) the lender adds to the index rate to calculate the ARM interest rate, or note rate, at each adjustment. The margin is fixed at the time the loan is funded.

The interest rate you will be charged is the index rate plus the margin.

The Payment Option ARM goes by several different names: Option ARM, PayOption, Pick-a-Payment, Neg Am Variable, Negative Amortized loan.

Compare advantages of other Loan Programs

Calculate my payments with an Option ARM Loan




Tony Botchev - 821 Kirkland AVE, Suite 100 - Kirkland, WA 98033
Office Phone: (425) 605-1177 Fax: 877-200-6002 Cell Phone: (425) 753-1424


Whether you're buying or refinancing a home, we have a full range of products and programs to help meet your needs, not to mention great rates and service that's second to none. Call, e-mail, or complete an on-line application today to get things started…We'll have your dream come true or refinancing in no time. One Step Closer To Your Dream!!! Licensed Mortgage Broker/Banker in all 50 states. 

License 510-LO-39765

tony@seattlesbestmortgage.com

 

 



Equal Housing Lender Equal Housing Opportunity NAMB - National Association of Mortgage Brokers

© 2008 Myers Internet, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Powered by: Myers Internet, Inc. | Admin Login