What Is A 30-Year Fixed Mortgage? Your Guide To Loan Options, Rates And More

The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is as American as white picket fences. Like apple pie, the 30-year fixed mortgage has been fueling the American Dream for decades.

 

With all the different types of mortgages and potentially confusing lingo, first-time home buyers may have trouble figuring out which home loan will work best for them, or what the heck a 30-year mortgage even is.

 

Is a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage a good fit for you? Here’s the lowdown.

What Is a 30-Year Fixed Mortgage?

Let’s break this down: “30-year” refers to the term of the loan, meaning you’ll make monthly payments for 30 years. After that, you’ll own your house. Sounds like a long time, right? These mortgages are good for people who plan on staying in their home long-term or who want a lower minimum monthly mortgage payment.

 

“Fixed rate” refers to the interest rate. With some mortgages, your interest rate will change after a predetermined number of years. With a fixed-rate mortgage, you never have to worry about the interest rate rising.

What Goes Into A 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage?

When you take out a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, the amount you pay to your lender every month will be determined by a number of components. A 30-year fixed rate mortgage payment will include the following:

Types Of 30-Year Fixed Mortgages

There are several options when it comes to types of loans for a 30-year fixed mortgage. Each offers its own benefits and drawbacks, so make sure you understand your options so that you can find the best loan for your situation.

Conventional 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

A conventional 30-year fixed mortgage is one that’s not backed by the government. Conventional loans typically have stricter requirements to qualify than government-backed loans. For example, most lenders want a credit score of at least 620 to qualify for a conventional loan.

FHA 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

FHA 30-year fixed mortgages are backed by the Federal Housing Administration. They typically involve lower down payments and more lenient requirements than that of other loan types, often making them a good choice for first-time home buyers.

VA 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

VA 30-year fixed mortgages are government-backed loans offered to military servicemembers, veterans and surviving spouses. The VA has no set credit requirements, though most lenders do. 

30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rates

There are several factors that can influence 30-year fixed mortgage rates. External factors such as market conditions have a major impact on mortgage rates. Additionally, several aspects of your personal finances can also affect the mortgage rate you receive. These include:

15-Year Vs. 30-Year Fixed Mortgages

Next to a 30-year mortgage, a 15-year mortgage is another popular loan choice among homeowners. Which one is right for you? It depends on your situation. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage is good if you want to pay off your mortgage faster. The 15-year has a higher monthly payment, but you’ll pay much less in interest than with a 30-year term – not only does a 30-year have a higher interest rate than a 15-year, but you’ll also accrue more interest because the loan takes twice as long to pay off.

Fixed-Rate Vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

You also might consider an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM). ARMs are 30-year loans that can offer lower payments and fixed interest rates for the first few years of the loan. Then, after a specified amount of time, your rate will change every 6 months to a year based on the market, with caps in place for the maximum rate you can have.

ARMs can be good for people who don’t think they’ll stay in their home long-term, but they might feel like a bit of a gamble, as it’s hard to know whether your rate will go up or down after the fixed period has passed.

How Do I Know What’s Right for Me?

All the different choices you’ll have to make when you’re in the market for a home loan can make your head spin. Luckily, doing a little bit of research can help narrow down your choices.

Do you only plan on staying in your home for a few years? Do you have a big financial event coming up, like a kid going to college? If so, you might want to look at an ARM or a 15-year fixed.

Is paying off your house quickly important to you, even if it means you have to shoulder a higher monthly payment? Again, a 15-year fixed could be a good fit for you.

Pros And Cons Of A 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

A 30-year fixed-rate might be just right for your particular financial situation. Just consider the pros and cons:

Pros Of A 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

 

Cons Of A 30-Year Fixed Mortgage

The Bottom Line

30-year fixed-rate mortgages offer a solid, conservative option for cautious or long-term borrowers who want to be certain they can make every payment. Ultimately, it’s going to be up to what works best for your financial situation, goals and future plans. Knowing the basics can help take some of the headaches out of the home buying process.