{"id":2883,"date":"2021-02-02T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/?p=2883"},"modified":"2021-02-22T21:34:36","modified_gmt":"2021-02-23T01:34:36","slug":"types-of-mortgages-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Mortgages Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Mortgages, in my opinion, have an objective definition and a subjective one. Enjoy this journey into the dry for some, fascinating for others types of mortgages explained one by one until we get all twenty-seven of them done!<br \/>\nThe objective definition of \u201cmortgage\u201d is a financial tool that enables first-time homebuyers and investors, like you and me, to purchase real estate using only a small portion of their own money.<br \/>\nThe subjective definition of \u201cmortgage\u201d is relative to the person you are speaking with.<br \/>\nTo a first-time homebuyer, a mortgage is a 30-year fixed FHA loan with a 97% loan to value and close to the lowest interest rate that the market offers.<br \/>\nTo a real estate investor, a mortgage can be a 5\/1 adjustable-rate mortgage with a rate that changes every 12 months along with the market and converts to a fixed rate after the fifth year.<br \/>\nThe reason mortgages are subjective is because there are so damn many types of them! If you have clicked the link to this article, you\u2019ve come to the right spot to learn about them all.<br \/>\nHere is a list of the 27 different types of mortgages that are out there.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this Article:<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#1_Conventional\" >1: Conventional<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#2_FHA\" >2: FHA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#3_USDA\" >3: USDA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#4_VA\" >4: VA<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#5_Adjustable-Rate_Mortgage_ARM\" >5: Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#6_151_ARM\" >6: 15\/1 ARM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#7_101_ARM\" >7: 10\/1 ARM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#8_51_ARM\" >8: 5\/1 ARM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#9_31_ARM\" >9: 3\/1 ARM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#10_Fixed\" >10: Fixed<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#11_Purchase\" >11: Purchase<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#12_Cash-Out_Refinance\" >12: Cash-Out Refinance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#13_Rate-and-Term_Refinance\" >13: Rate-and-Term Refinance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#14_Home_Equity_Loan_HEL\" >14: Home Equity Loan (HEL)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#15_Home_Equity_Line_of_Credit_HELOC\" >15: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#16_Commercial\" >16: Commercial<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#17_Balloon\" >17: Balloon<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#18_Interest_Only\" >18: Interest Only<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#19_Jumbo\" >19: Jumbo<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#20_Non-QM\" >20: Non-QM<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#21_Medical_Professional\" >21: Medical Professional<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#22_Debt_Service_Coverage_Ratio_DSCR\" >22: Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#23_Open-End\" >23: Open-End<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#24_Closed-End\" >24: Closed-End<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#25_Construction_to_Perm\" >25: Construction to Perm<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#26_Seller_Take-Back\" >26: Seller Take-Back<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/types-of-mortgages-explained\/#27_Assumption_Loan\" >27: Assumption Loan<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Conventional\"><\/span>1: Conventional<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Conventional mortgages are home loans that are sold to mortgage-purchasing conglomerates, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Fannie and Freddie, as they are referred to within the industry, were created by the government to increase homeownership by making mortgages accessible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Conventional loans are popular for\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/millennials-hardly-own-any-real-estate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">first-time homebuyers<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0who can put 20% down or as little as 3% down on a property. Conventional and FHA loans are two of the most popular types of mortgages because\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">they help borrowers of all income levels and savings purchase a home<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_FHA\"><\/span>2: FHA<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">FHA stands for Federal Housing Administration. The FHA was also created by the government to make it easier for everyone to buy homes using a mortgage. With as little as a 3% down payment,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">FHA loans are known for having mortgage insurance, which tacks on an additional payment to your monthly mortgage bill<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">While conventional mortgages that are over 80% loan to value also have mortgage insurance, a key difference between FHA and conventional mortgages is that FHA mortgage insurance is attached to your monthly payment for the life of the loan (until you pay it off).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Mortgage insurance on conventional mortgages, on the other hand, goes away once you reach 80% loan to value.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_USDA\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">3: USDA<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">USDA stands for United States Department of Agriculture, and they incentivize homebuyers to purchase real estate that is in a rural area.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The incentive is pretty significant, considering you can finance 100% of the purchase price, meaning you don\u2019t need to put down any down payment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">To see if the area you\u2019re looking in meets their eligibility requirements,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/eligibility.sc.egov.usda.gov\/eligibility\/welcomeAction.do\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">click here<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_VA\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">4: VA<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">VA stands for Veterans Affairs, and they offer mortgages to service members, veterans, and eligible surviving spouses. Similar to USDA loans,\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">VA loans also offer 100% financing<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, making them an excellent opportunity to take advantage of if you qualify.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">VA guarantees a portion of your loan to the lender that gives it to you, allowing the lender to offer favorable pricing compared to other mortgage types.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Adjustable-Rate_Mortgage_ARM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">5: Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An adjustable-rate mortgage is a mortgage that \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 has an adjustable-rate attached to it. The adjustable-rate is typically seen in a 3\/1, 5\/1, 7\/1, or 10\/1 offering. This simply means that the adjustable-rate changes once every year for up to 3, 5, 7, or 10 years depending on the option you select.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ARMs are great if you see yourself holding property for only a short time.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">ARMs can also be advantageous in a rising-rate environment because the base rate for ARMs is typically linked to an index like the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which usually has rates much lower than a 15- or 30-year mortgage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">After the adjustable-rate period ends, your mortgage rate is then switched to a fixed-rate wherever the market is at that time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_151_ARM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">6: 15\/1 ARM<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A 15\/1 adjustable-rate mortgage is a loan that offers a fixed \u201cteaser\u201d interest rate for the first 15 years and then converts to an amortized 15-year loan to total a 30-year term. During the last 15 years, the interest rate changes every year (15\/1).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Generally, ARMs offer lower rates than the market for fixed-rate mortgage products.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The trouble is that, depending on the interest rate environment, the interest rate can go up or down.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_101_ARM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">7: 10\/1 ARM<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A 10\/1 ARM is the same as a 15\/1 ARM, except the fixed-rate lasts for the first 10 years and then is amortized over 20 years with an interest rate that changes every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_51_ARM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">8: 5\/1 ARM<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A 5\/1 ARM is the same as a 15\/1 ARM, except the fixed-rate lasts for the first five years and then is amortized over 25 years with an interest rate that changes every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_31_ARM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">9: 3\/1 ARM<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A 3\/1 ARM is the same as a 15\/1 ARM, except the fixed-rate lasts for the first three years and then is amortized over 27 years with an interest rate that changes every year.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Fixed\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">10: Fixed<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">On the flip side of ARMs are fixed-rate mortgages. This is your standard \u201c30-year fixed-rate mortgage.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The interest rate that you lock in at the time you close on the mortgage and get the keys to your home is the interest rate you will have for the life of the loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In 2020,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/profit-from-the-latest-covid-19-low-interest-rates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">interest rates hit all-time lows<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, and many people refinanced their current mortgage to get a lower monthly payment with a fixed rate for 30 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"11_Purchase\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">11: Purchase<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A purchase mortgage is a mortgage that is used to purchase a home. Of course, you need a purchase contract that states the current owner agrees to sell you, the buyer, their home for an agreed-upon purchase price.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Purchase mortgages can take longer to close than a refinance because there are more people involved in completing the transaction<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">: one buyer, one seller, typically two real estate agents, typically two mortgage companies (one providing the buyer a mortgage and one that is being paid off if the current owner has an outstanding mortgage), and a title company.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"12_Cash-Out_Refinance\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">12: Cash-Out Refinance<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A refinance is simply changing the parameters of your current mortgage to make it more effective for your financial situation. A cash-out refinance allows homeowners to access the equity in their homes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Let\u2019s say your home is worth $500,000 and your outstanding mortgage balance is $100,000 \u2014 you have $400,000 in equity! How do you access it? By using a cash-out refinance.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Cash-out refinances allow you to go up to 75% loan to value<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which means that you can take out up to 75% of your home\u2019s value. In the $500,000 home example, you could take a new mortgage out up to $375,000. This new mortgage would pay off your old mortgage ($100,000), leaving you with $275,000 cash in hand to do with what you please \u2014 I suggest\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/book-review-the-brrrr-rental-property-investment-strategy-made-simple\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">buying more real estate<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"13_Rate-and-Term_Refinance\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">13: Rate-and-Term Refinance<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A rate-and-term refinance is as simple as changing the rate and term of your current mortgage in an effort to reduce your monthly mortgage payment. Rate-and-term refinances hit all-time highs in 2020 due to historically low-interest rates.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Homeowners with a 4.5% interest rate on their 30-year, $300,000-dollar mortgage are paying $1,520 per month in principal and interest. In 2020, rates were around 2.5% for a high-credit borrower.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you refinanced to 2.5%, you would knock $335 off your monthly payment, saving you over $4,000 a year and over $40,000 over the first 10 years of your new loan.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rate-and-term refinances can be done rather quickly if the borrower is on top of clearing underwriter conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"14_Home_Equity_Loan_HEL\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">14: Home Equity Loan (HEL)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A home equity loan is taken out in the form of a second mortgage on your home. They typically come with a higher interest rate because they go into a second lien position on your home.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A lien is a debt against your home. Should you go into foreclosure,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/how-liens-work-how-to-profit-with-them\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">liens get paid off first<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. A first mortgage, the main mortgage on your home, is always in the first lien position. A second mortgage, or home equity loan, is placed underneath a first mortgage and is at risk of not being paid off if the borrower goes into foreclosure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For these reasons (and considering the low-rate environment we have been in for the past decade), you do not see many home equity loans. Home equity lines of credit are more popular.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"15_Home_Equity_Line_of_Credit_HELOC\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">15: Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A home equity line of credit acts like a credit card against the value of your home. Let\u2019s say you have a mortgage of $250,000 and your home is worth $600,000. A HELOC will allow you to access up to 75% of your home with an adjustable-rate (typically much lower than fixed-mortgage rates) \u2014 and here\u2019s the kicker \u2014\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">when you need it<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">That\u2019s right, a HELOC is not given to you right away.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">You can access the money as you need it and, when you do finally use it, then you start paying interest on it.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">HELOCs were very popular during the 2005-2009 housing boom because home values kept going up. People were accessing their home equity with extremely low borrowing costs (interest rates) and buying more homes with it. For this reason, people still have a bad taste in their mouth when HELOCs are brought up, but that is starting to reverse course.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">If you have a plan,\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/funding-for-real-estate-flips\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">HELOCs can be very advantageous<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"16_Commercial\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">16: Commercial<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">All of the mortgages we have been discussing are for residential properties \u2014 that is, properties that are built for people to live in. Commercial mortgages are generally for\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/breaking-into-commerical-real-estate-post-covid-19\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">commercial properties<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, which are properties that generate income from the businesses that occupy them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For this reason, commercial loans are typically underwritten based on the cash-flow analysis instead of the borrower\u2019s financial circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">I say \u201cgenerally used for commercial properties\u201d because most bank and non-bank lenders limit the number of residential mortgages that one person can have. Right now, that limit is 10. Savvy real estate investors can only use 10 residential mortgages to purchase property, so what happens when they find an eleventh? They use a commercial loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"17_Balloon\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">17: Balloon<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A balloon mortgage is typically an interest-only mortgage with a balloon payment at the end of it. This means that you have a really low monthly payment because it is interest-only (no principal), but in the end, you are stuck with the entire bill.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">It is common to see borrowers refinance into a 30-year mortgage at the end of a balloon loan to avoid paying the entire balloon with cash out of pocket.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"18_Interest_Only\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">18: Interest Only<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Interest-only (or IO mortgages) can be something to take advantage of as an experienced investor. They are typically offered through a 15\/1, 10\/1, 7\/1, and 5\/1 term. This means that the first 15, 10, 7, or 5 years of the loan are interest-only payments, depending on the term you select.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">These are great for investors as\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">they can drastically reduce your monthly mortgage payment on investment property<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">, allowing you to increase cash flow and leverage that into another property!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"19_Jumbo\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">19: Jumbo<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A jumbo mortgage is a loan that exceeds \u201cconforming\u201d loan limits. Conforming loan limits are set by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) each year, which makes anything that exceeds conforming loan amounts a jumbo loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Qualifying for a jumbo loan tends to be a lot more rigorous than conforming loans. It is a larger loan amount, meaning that the lender is at more risk. To offset that risk, it is tougher to qualify and can come with a slightly higher interest rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"20_Non-QM\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">20: Non-QM<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Non-QM stands for a non-qualifying mortgage. Most of the mortgage products discussed above fit into the qualifying mortgage status, which was defined after the financial crisis as loans that prove an ability to repay (ATR).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Non-QM are loans that fit outside of the QM mold.\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Non-QM is a broad category of loans with many subcategories of different mortgage products.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For example, a self-employed borrower\u2019s income changes on a monthly basis and looks a lot different than a W2-earner\u2019s income, which is very consistent and reliable.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In an effort to help self-employed people and other people who have unique forms of income, lenders started accessing the non-QM side of the market.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"21_Medical_Professional\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">21: Medical Professional<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Medical professional mortgage loans are made for a specific group of workers \u2014 any guesses?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Yup, medical professionals! Medical professionals often have a large amount of student debt, and this can hold them back from qualifying and obtaining a mortgage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Medical-profession borrowers are qualified on their future income, meaning they need to have proof that they<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"22_Debt_Service_Coverage_Ratio_DSCR\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">22: Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR)<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A DSCR loan falls into the non-QM bucket. It is a unique loan that is similar to a commercial loan but for a residential property.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A DSCR loan is strictly for\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/home-inspection-investment-property\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">residential investment properties<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. What makes this loan unique is that\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the property is what ends up being underwritten (how much cash flow will the property produce?), not the borrower<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The debt service coverage ratio is simply how much of the debt is serviced by the monthly income that the property generates. For example, a property that produces $5,000 of monthly income with a debt service payment of $4,000 has a 1.25 DSCR.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Rates tend to be higher on these products as they are offered to investors with multiple properties and debt-to-income ratios that may exceed conforming loan limits.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"23_Open-End\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">23: Open-End<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An open-end loan is a loan that allows the borrower to access the loan amount over time. An example of this is a HELOC. As previously mentioned, a HELOC does not need to be used all at once. Instead, the borrower can access the funds when they need them and then pay interest on the amount borrowed. The opposite of an open-end loan is a closed-end loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"24_Closed-End\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">24: Closed-End<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A closed-end loan is a loan that is given to the borrower in a lump sum at the time of loan closing. The borrower receives the entire loan and uses it at their disposal.<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0A mortgage is a closed-end loan because the borrower uses it to buy the home from the seller.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The seller receives the difference between their outstanding mortgage balance, and the buyer pays back the mortgage company that gave them the money.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"25_Construction_to_Perm\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">25: Construction to Perm<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">A construction-to-perm (standing for permanent) loan is for a new construction property or a\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/rehabbing-a-fix-flip-a-beginners-overview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">renovation of a current property<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. The borrower is given a loan for the construction to begin and, once the home is complete, the loan is rolled into a permanent loan to avoid further closing costs and extra confusion.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Without a construction-to-perm loan, funding the construction and then financing the actual property can be a strenuous process with many people and moving parts. Lenders now offer a construction-to-perm loan that removes a lot of the headaches in obtaining construction financing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"26_Seller_Take-Back\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">26: Seller Take-Back<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">For seller take-back loans, the seller acts as the bank and collects payments from the buyer once the buyer takes occupancy.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">What makes these types of loans especially advantageous is that\u00a0<\/span><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">the terms can be specifically catered to the buyer\u2019s and seller\u2019s needs<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">. If the seller knows the buyer and doesn\u2019t need a lot of income, the seller can offer a low-interest rate and longer term to pay back the loan. If the seller is looking for more income, a higher rate will make more sense.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The seller take-back is a great way to find deals and make an offer stand out to a seller, especially if you can\u2019t qualify for a mortgage at a bank or non-bank lender.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"27_Assumption_Loan\"><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">27: Assumption Loan<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An assumption loan is a loan that can be assumed by someone other than the original mortgage borrower. They are only an option on certain mortgage products like a VA loan.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Lenders do not like assumption loans for obvious reasons. One big one is that the new borrower (who assumes the loan from a seller) picks up right where the seller left off. Say the seller gives the assumable loan to the buyer. If the seller had a 30-year loan at 3.5% and owned the home for five years, then the current mortgage has 25 years left on it with a market interest rate of five years ago.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Not only could the lender be making more if interest rates have risen, but they also do not know the buyer like they do the seller.<\/span><\/strong><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0These are more complicated mortgage products but something to be on the lookout for!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">And there you have it! Did you know that this number of mortgage options existed?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mortgages, in my opinion, have an objective definition and a subjective one. Enjoy this journey into the dry for some, fascinating for others types of mortgages explained one by one until we get all twenty-seven&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[182,15,17,16,304,315,67,245],"class_list":["post-2883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-real-estate-investing-articles","tag-beginners","tag-borrowing","tag-financing","tag-heloc","tag-mortgage","tag-mortgages","tag-real-estate","tag-refinance"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2883","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2883"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2883\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2986,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2883\/revisions\/2986"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2883"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2883"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/propertyonion.com\/education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2883"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}