What Is A Good Interest Rate On A Mortgage Loan?
Posted by @TopMortgageRate
What makes an interest rate "good" varies with the type of loan, and it changes over time. At different points in the 21st century, for instance, the average interest rate for a mortgage has been as high as 8.05 percent and as low as 3.66 percent. The basic principles for deciding when a rate is good don't change, however, shop around
Good interest rates are defined by the overall economy, the market for particular loans and the borrower. If you have a credit score of 790 and an annual income of $50,000, for example, a good rate for you will be lower than if your score is 560 and you earn minimum wage. Suppose you want a new credit card. If you receive offers in the mail to sign up for a new card, compare them. Each offer should give you the interest rate for the card. If the rate is 17 percent, say, a $1,000 balance would earn $170 in interest over a year. If you're in the market for a mortgage or a personal bank loan, call multiple lenders in your area. Ask for a rate quote, and then ask if that's the lowest the lender can go. Rates fluctuate constantly, and you might not get the lowest rate unless you ask for it. A rate quote this early in the process isn't legally binding, but it can help you narrow your search. Look at the Details When you compare interest rates, be clear about what you're really looking at. The Discover Card website lists several details that can make one rate very different from another:
Likewise, an adjustable-rate mortgage will start out low, then eventually rise -- sometimes steeply. It's important to find out how often it can rise and what the maximum interest rate is. Other CostsSome interest rates are low because the lender is able to recoup money by assessing other fees. A credit card can have annual fees, late payment fees, balance-transfer fees and fees for foreign transactions. Bank loans come with fees. Mortgages are rife with fees -- closing costs, broker fees, title insurance and prepaid interest on the loan. A good interest rate is just part of the picture. Negotiating DownIt's possible that a good interest rate when you start calling around isn't as good as you can get if you negotiate. If you call and ask a credit card company to lower your rate, you may get a yes. The same is true with mortgage lenders. If a competitor has already offered you a better rate, definitely mention that. |
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