Friendly Help
Anderson,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, July 30, 2008
Usually interest rate changes are spelled out with terms like ''the interest rate will be adjusted once every year'' or ''the interest rate will be adjusted once every two years'' . Then they will include something like the interest rate can be changed 1% point each time up to a maximum increase of 6% points. A 40% increase could mean you had a 5% teaser rate that is now 7%. Or you had an initial rate of 7% and now you pay 9.8%. But the biggest giveaway is when the mortgage is described as being an ARM, ''Adjustible Rate Mortgage''. These supposedly let you buy more house, but usually it will be more house than you should buy. Then you get into trouble when you get Strong-ARM-ed. Solution: Next time get a FIXED RATE MORTGAGE. Then you will know what you will pay. But be sure you read it carefully and get all the trusted assistance you need to understand what you are agreeing to.