RESEARCH & LEARN

Fixed Rate Mortgages

Explore the Mortgage101 Library

Find a
Real Estate Agent


Mortgage Newsletter

Check Local Mortgage Rates

Today's Average 0.00%

Calculators

FEATURED CALCULATOR

Loan Program Choices

Use our calculator to find out your estimated monthly payment in advance: Enter the loan amount, interest rate, and length of mortgage.
Try our Mortgage Payment Calculator

MORTGAGE CALCULATORS


TERMINOLOGY

The most common type of mortgage program where your monthly payments for interest and principal never change. Property taxes and homeowners insurance may increase, but generally your monthly payments will be very stable.

Fixed rate mortgages are available for 30 years, 20 years, 15 years and even 10 years. There are also biweekly mortgages which shorten the loan by calling for half the monthly payment every two weeks. (Since there are 52 weeks in a year you make 26 payments or 13 "months" worth every year.)

Fixed rate fully amortizing loans have two distinct features. First the interest rate remains fixed for the life of the loan. Secondly the payments remain level for the life of the loan and are structured to repay the loan at the end of the loan term. The most common fixed rate loans are 15 year and 30 year mortgages.

During the early amortization period a large percentage of the monthly payment is used for paying the interest. As the loan is paid down more of the monthly payment is applied to principal. A typical 30 year fixed rate mortgage takes 22.5 years of level payments to pay half of the original loan amount.