Mortgage Interest Rates: Factors Affecting Your Interest Rate

The interest rate you qualify for is affected by a amount of factors. Before you shop for a mortgage it is foremost to understand mortgage interest rates. Doing your homework will enable you to qualify for a better interest rate and save you money; here are tips to help you qualify for a better mortgage interest rate.

In the United States, interest rates are controlled by the Federal Reserve. The Fed raises and lowers interest rates to control the tempo of the economy. When this happens everything from the yield on your savings list to the interest rate on your adjustable rate mortgage is impacted. Inflationary concerns in the market have a direct impact on mortgage interest rate. The Federal Reserve's job is to control inflation; you can see why the actions of the Fed impact mortgage interest rates.

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Timing mortgage interest rates is nearly impossible. There are too many factors to consider and your time is better spent researching mortgage offers than trying to predict which way mortgage interest rates are headed. (You'd probably guess wrong anyhow) There are aspects of the mortgage you choose that directly work on the interest rate you will qualify for. These aspects contain term length, the reduction points you agree to pay, your credit, and the loan-to-value ratio of your home.

Each of these factors influences your risk level for the lender. Mortgage lenders are all about risk; they limit their possible for losses by evaluating how much of a risk you are based on your financial information. Most of the factors evaluated are under your control. If you have bad credit, clean it up. If you need to pay points in order to qualify for a better mortgage interest rate, save your money. If the loan-to-value ratio in your home is too high, save up more for a down payment or build more equity in your home before refinancing.

You can learn more about your mortgage loan options, together with common homebuyer mistakes you need to avoid, by registering for a free mortgage guidebook: "Five Things You Need to Know About Your Mortgage."

Mortgage Interest Rates: Factors Affecting Your Interest Rate