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When you*re shopping for a home loan there is an important decision to make before even starting to consider your options. You need to decide whether you will be looking for a loan with a fixed interest rate or an adjustable or variable interest rate.

In order to decide you need to know what the difference between these two types of interest is and what are the benefits and disadvantages of each one.

Fixed Interest Rate

If you choose a fixed rate mortgage you will be paying the same interest rate for the whole period of the loan and the debt will be paid in identical monthly installments. The main benefit you will get from this type of loan is that you will not need to worry about an increase on the monthly payments. Even if the rates charged for home loans vary in the market, you will be paying the same amount every month.

This are specially designed for those of a conservative nature that are not willing to control rates every month and those who have a fixed income and prefer to be safe by knowing the amount of money they will be paying for the home loan for the years to come.

If you do not like unexpected variations, or you fear that if the interest rate raises you will not be able to make ends meet, then you should definitely go for a fixed rate home loan as it is the most secure and predictable option.

Variable Or Adjustable Rate

An adjustable rate mortgage implies that the monthly payments will vary along with the interest rate variation that the market dictates. Thus, if the interest rate rises on the market, you will be paying a higher installment because the portion of the payment that's made of interests will increase.

At the time you apply for a loan, this type of loans will have a significantly lower interest rate. With time the interest rate may increase or it may go down even more. As the amount you will pay depends on the variations of the market, this kind of loan is for those who are used to planning, foreseeing future situations and preparing for them.

This kind of loans also let you apply for higher amounts and longer periods, that's why you must be prepared to face many variations on the monthly payments. In any case, if something happens that prevents you to keep up with this system you can always refinance your home loan and opt for a fixed rate.

Summing up, the decision of which type of home loan best suits your needs has to be answered according to your current financial situation, your expected income and your conservative or adventurous nature. You should also check what experts are predicting will happen with the market in the upcoming years. Nevertheless, you should always have some savings for unexpected events. The Best way to avoid a fall is to stay away from the edge. Having enough savings can let you take advantage of lower variable rates and save thousands of dollars while still being safe.