Can you buy a house and keep the same interest rate?
Finding a new home doesn't necessarily mean that you need to give up your current mortgage deal. By porting your mortgage, you could take your interest rate and the same mortgage terms with you to your new property.
Porting a mortgage essentially means transferring your mortgage to a new house. This will include the current terms of your loan, such as the interest rate and payment schedule. But you can't simply take your loan and plop it onto your new home.
How a transfer of mortgage works. When you transfer a mortgage, another person assumes the financial responsibility of repaying the outstanding loan balance, under the same terms and conditions. The monthly payment, loan length and interest rate will remain the same once the mortgage is transferred to the new borrower.
There are two basic types of mortgages: fixed-rate, which means the interest rate stays the same, and adjustable-rate, which means the interest rate changes over time. Over time, the interest you need to repay each month decreases, and more of your mortgage payment goes toward paying off the principal.
Not all mortgages are created equally. Some offer a fixed interest rate, which remains the same throughout the life of the loan. Others have adjustable rates, which can change based on a schedule. Some mortgages need to be paid off within 15 years, and others give you 30 years to pay.
You'll typically only be able to transfer your mortgage if your mortgage is assumable, and most conventional loans aren't. Some exceptions, such as the death of a borrower, may allow for the assumption of a conventional loan. If you don't have an assumable mortgage, refinancing may be a possible option to pursue.
You could: Ask your lender about a “float down option.” You'll pay an additional cost at closing in return for getting lower current market rates. Cancel your loan application and switch lenders. You abandon your current lender and start the entire loan process over with a new lender that can offer you a lower rate.
Product | Interest rate | APR |
---|---|---|
30-year fixed-rate | 6.553% | 6.634% |
20-year fixed-rate | 6.352% | 6.454% |
15-year fixed-rate | 5.761% | 5.898% |
10-year fixed-rate | 5.622% | 5.805% |
Once the loan has closed, the terms of the Note may not be changed. However, the terms may state that the interest rate is adjustable, or the payment changes from interest-only option to fully-amortized after, say, 10 years, or something similar — these are common features of loans.
A mortgage transfer is when you transfer your existing home loan—including its current interest rate and terms—to another person. This allows the other person to assume responsibility for the home and the lender's lien on it without needing to get a new mortgage.
Will mortgage rates ever go back down to 3?
Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, agrees that “there will be no return to the 3% rates we had during the pandemic“. She says that “while mortgage rates likely will come down some in the second half of the year, they will remain above 6% for most borrowers“.
Ideally, you'll be able to buy when both interest rates and home prices are low. If that's not possible, calculate both the short- and long-term costs of a lower interest rate versus a lower purchase price. Make your move when the numbers make the most sense.
Annual Percentage Rate (APR) | Monthly payment (15 year) | Monthly payment (30 year) |
---|---|---|
7.00% | $898.83 | $665.30 |
7.25% | $912.86 | $682.18 |
7.50% | $927.01 | $699.21 |
7.75% | $941.28 | $716.41 |
In today's market, a good mortgage interest rate can fall in the high-6% range, depending on several factors, such as the type of mortgage, loan term, and individual financial circ*mstances. To understand what a favorable mortgage rate looks like for you, get quotes from a few different lenders and compare them.
After its December 2023 meeting, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) predicted making three quarter-point cuts by the end of 2024 to lower the federal funds rate to 4.6%. Inflation has started to recede, but the committee has signaled it wants to see more positive data before pulling the trigger.
Product | Interest Rate | APR |
---|---|---|
30-Year Fixed Rate | 6.99% | 7.04% |
20-Year Fixed Rate | 6.82% | 6.88% |
15-Year Fixed Rate | 6.49% | 6.57% |
10-Year Fixed Rate | 6.43% | 6.52% |
If you're planning on moving home, and have a mortgage on your existing property, you might be wondering whether you can take your current mortgage with you. Lots of mortgages are portable, which means you can move them across to a different property, but it's important to weigh up the pros and cons first.
While you can't stop the sale of your mortgage, you have rights under the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) that require both your current and new servicer to provide you with notices and information about the transfer.
When you pass away, your mortgage doesn't suddenly disappear. Your mortgage lender still needs to be repaid and could foreclose on your home if that doesn't happen. In most cases, the responsibility of the mortgage will be passed to the beneficiary of the home if there is a will.
For example, if your mortgage rate is locked in at 7% for 60 days, that's the interest rate you'll pay on the mortgage even if rates jump to, say, 7.5% before the loan closes. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Let's say mortgage rates drop to 6.5% within that 60-day window. You'll be stuck with 7%.
What is the best time to close on a mortgage?
An end-of-the-month closing keeps a lid on the amount of interest you'll have to pay at closing but also means means your first full monthly mortgage payment comes sooner. An early-in-the-month closing flips that script; interest due at closing is higher but your first full monthly payment comes later.
When you lock the interest rate, you're protected from rate increases due to market conditions. If rates go down prior to your loan closing and you want to take advantage of a lower rate, you may be able to pay a fee and relock at the lower interest rate. This is called “repricing” your loan.
The average 30-year fixed rate reached an all-time record low of 2.65% in January 2021 before surging to 7.79% in October 2023, according to Freddie Mac.
- CFG Bank – 5.25% APY.
- North American Savings Bank – 5.24% APY*
- Upgrade – 5.21% APY.
- EverBank (formerly TIAA Bank) – 5.15% APY.
- RBMAX – 5.15% APY.
- Bread Savings – 5.15% APY.
- Popular Direct – 5.15% APY.
- Western State Bank – 5.15% APY.
- BrioDirect, 5.35% APY (read full review), funds insured by FDIC. ...
- Capital One 360, 4.35% APY (read full review), Member FDIC. ...
- CIBC U.S., 5.01% APY (read full review), Member FDIC. ...
- CIT Bank, 5.05% APY (read full review), Member FDIC.
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