What Does "Interest" Mean In Real Estate?"
When you receive a loan of any kind, it is more than likely you will pay interest. The term “interest” can be defined as the cost of borrowing money and is usually expressed as a yearly percentage that is paid as part of your monthly loan payment.
Mortgage loans come with an interest rate. Interest rates change on a daily basis depending on what the current market looks like. However, once a borrower has “locked in” an interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage loan, that interest rate will not change. It will remain the same for the entire length of the loan.
How are interest rates determined? There are three different factors taken into consideration when determining what your interest rate will be. The first of these factors is the Federal Reserve Discount interest rate. This is something that is completely out of your control. It is the interest charged to your lender when your lender borrows money from the Federal Reserve Banks. This rate is determined by the Federal Reserve Bank.
The next factor considered is your credit report and credit score. This is something that is in your control, and you need to take care of it to get the best interest rate available. Your credit report and credit score show your lender how responsible you are with your finances. If you pay your bills on time every month and you have never
defaulted on a loan payment, more than likely you will have a high credit score. If you have hit hard times, been late or missed payments, your credit score will reflect this and will be lower. The higher your credit score is, the lower your interest rate will be.
The last factor in figuring your interest rate is the lender’s business. Lenders are in the business of lending money to make money. It is a very competitive business. This is why it is important to shop around to find the best interest rates available to you. However, you do not want several lenders pulling your credit report because this will force your credit score down due to too many inquiries. If you find one or two lenders who have interest rates that look promising, you should start with them.
If the interest rate seems fair to you and is not too high, it is recommended that you lock in that rate. It is possible that if you do not lock in the rate, the rate will increase and you will be stuck with a larger-than-necessary mortgage payment every month.
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