Is a fixed or an adjustable rate mortgage better?
It depends. Because interest rates and mortgage options change often, your choice of a fixed or adjustable rate mortgage should depend on: the interest rates and mortgage options available when you’re buying a house your view of the future (generally, high inflation will mean ARM rates will go up and lower inflation that they will fall), and how willing you are to take a risk. When mortgage rates are low, a fixed rate mortgage is the best bet for most buyers. Over the next five, ten or thirty years, interest rates are more apt to go up than further down. Even if rates could go a little lower in the short run, an ARM’s teaser rate will adjust up soon and you won’t gain much. In the long run, ARMs are likely to go up, meaning most buyers will be best off to lock in a favorable fixed rate now and not take the risk of much higher rates later. Keep in mind that lenders not only lend money to purchase homes; they also lend money to refinance homes. If you take out a loan now, and several yea
