June 30th, 2022 2:41 PM by Holly Ecimovic
Do you know what that interest rate will cost you?
Mortgage rates matter!
If you’re in the market for a house, you might think about the features the house has or the price, but how often do you think about the mortgage rate?
Many buyers don’t realize the importance of the mortgage rate, so we are here to clear the air so you can make an informed decision.
What is a mortgage rate?
The mortgage rate is the fee the lender charges you to borrow money. You borrow principal, or the amount of the loan, and the interest is the fee they charge you. Your monthly mortgage payment includes both the principal (loan amount) and interest (the bank’s fee).
How much of a difference does the mortgage rate make?
You might not think the mortgage rate makes that much of a difference. After all, if it’s just 1%, how much more could you pay?
The difference is tremendous, especially if you’re talking about a 30-year loan. When you borrow funds for 30 years, you keep the bank’s money for that time. This means they charge you interest over 30 years versus 10 or 15 years on a shorter-term loan.
Here’s an example:
You borrow $230,000 at 4% for 30 years. Your principal and interest payment are $1,098 and over the life of the loan, you’d pay $165,299 in interest.
That’s in addition to the $230,000 that you pay back (the money you borrowed).
Now, if you borrowed $230,000 at 5% for 30 years, your principal and interest payment would be $1,234 per month and over the life of the loan, you’d pay $214,488 in interest.
That’s a difference of $49,189! There’s probably a lot you’d rather do with that amount of money instead of paying the bank, right?
Your interest rate makes a big difference in your mortgage payment and even what house you can afford. Sometimes even an interest rate that ½ point higher can make you ineligible for a mortgage loan.
Don’t take a chance. Give us a call, and let's see what your options are. Call us at 407-834-3377.