Janis Peterson, GRI, ABR, CSP Realtor®
Philadelphia Main Line Homes and Real Estate
Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester Counties
Relocation Specialist
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Telephone: (610) 642-3744 Pure Gold Award Real Estate Web Page e-certified Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors Real Estate
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E-mail: jp4re@pahomes.com
Home page: www.pahomes.com

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Subject: What Do Rising Interest Rates Mean To Buyers?

Answer: Rising rates do mean higher monthly payments. But, how high? Often the increase isn't as significant as buyers fear. A quick calculation will give you an idea of the impact.

For instance, with a fixed loan of $100,000, a quarter percent means roughly an additional $18 per month; half a percent is twice that, or about $36.

Gauging the impact of rising interest rates for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) is not quite as straightforward because the rate a borrower pays will fluctuate as interest rates go up and down over the life of the loan. For this reason, a buyer comparing ARMs with different lenders should look at the initial rate (often guaranteed for a year) as well as the cap, or maximum rate, that the loan could go to.

When rates are going up, it benefits the borrower to ask for a "rate lock," which is an assurance that the rate for the loan being applied for will not increase during the period in which the loan is being reviewed and approved.

For instance, if you secured a rate lock at 7.5% for a $100,000 loan, the payment would be $699.21. If you were not able to secure a rate lock and the interest rate increased to 8%, the payment increases to $733.76 (an increase of $34.55).

To give you an idea of how interest rates impact your payment, examine the following chart for a 30-year fixed-rate $100,000 loan:
 

Interest Rate

Monthly Payment

Change in Payment

7.5%

$699.21

 

8.0%

$733.76

$34.55

8.5%

$768.91

$35.15

9.0%

$804.62

$35.71

9.5%

$840.85

$36.23

10.0%

$877.57

$36.72



"Real Service in Real Estate." For a personal consultation on buying or selling real estate, Janis Peterson, GRI, ABR, CSP Realtor® can be reached at (610) 642-3744, e-mail: jp4re@pahomes.com. Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors® is an independently owned and operated member of The Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

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