Interest-only mortgages exist when the mortgagee (borrower) is only required to pay interest on the loan for a certain period of time. The capital is repaid in one lump sum or in installments at the specified time.

What is an interest rate mortgage?

Interest-free mortgages come in many forms. There is an option to pay interest for a specific period of time or for the entire loan term. Some lenders may include a clause that allows them to pay interest only to specific borrowers.

Most interest-only mortgages only pay interest over a period of time—usually 5, 7, or 10 years. Thereafter, the loan is converted to a traditional plan (also known as a fully amortized basis), and the borrower's payments increase, including interest and a portion of the principal balance.

Interest-only loans typically have an interest-free ARM structure, which is a floating-rate mortgage. You only pay interest at a fixed rate for a certain number of years (called an induction period). When the promotional period ends and interest rates fluctuate, the borrower begins to repay the principal and interest.

Fixed-rate only mortgages are uncommon; they are mostly seen on 30-year loans.

Interest-free mortgage repayment

At the end of the interest-free mortgage term, borrowers have several options. After the interest-free period expires, some borrowers may refinance the loan, which may create new terms and potentially reduce the cost of interest on the principal balance. Other borrowers may choose to repay the loan by selling the mortgaged home. On the other hand, other borrowers may choose to make a one-time payment when the loan is due, saving money by not paying principal over the years.

Interest-Only Mortgage: Special Considerations

An interest-linked mortgage feature may allow you to pay only interest in certain circumstances. For example, if the home is damaged and there is a large alimony payment, the borrower may only be able to cover the interest portion of the loan. In other cases, the borrower may only have to pay interest over the life of the loan, requiring a one-time lump sum payment.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Interest Rate Mortgages

Homebuyers benefit from improved cash flow and more help managing monthly bills. Interest-only mortgages help first-time homebuyers defer big payments into later years as their incomes are expected to rise. By omitting the main component of the payment, interest-linked mortgages minimize the monthly amount required by the mortgagor.

However, paying interest doesn't cause the homeowner to build up home equity; only repaying the principal can do that. Payments also get higher when the principal is included. This can be a problem when accompanied by financial setbacks, such as B. unemployment or unforeseen medical needs.

Borrowers should double-check their projected future cash flow to ensure they can meet their larger monthly debt and repay the loan when it comes due. While interest-free mortgages can benefit for a number of reasons, they can also increase the likelihood of default.