An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) has an interest rate cap. This article will explore how much an ARM mortgage can go up after the introductory fixed rate period is over. In general, the average maximum ARM adjustment up during the first year is 2%. Due to the limit in how much interest rates can go up, getting an ARM isn't as risky as it might seem.
I've been a fan of the Adjustable Rate Mortgage since I first bought property in 2003. More than 20 years later, I'm still a fan of the Adjustable Rate Mortgage. It helps homeowners save more on interest compared to a 30-year fixed.
Yes, mortgage rates went way up in 2022/2023 after the Fed started aggressively raising the Fed Funds rate. However, as long as mortgage rates revert back to its long-term declining trend while your ARM is still fixed, you're good to go.
What Is An Adjustable Rate Mortgage?
AnAdjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) is simply a mortgage that offers a lower fixed rate for 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. It then adjusts to a higher or stays flat after the initial fixed rate is over. I take out 5/1 ARMs because five years is the sweet spot for a low interest rate and duration security. there are even 5/5 ARMs.
Fear of an excessive interest rate increase after the fixed rate period is over is the main reason why mosthomeowners take out a 30-year fixed mortgages. The other reason 30-year fixed mortgages are morepopularis because bankshave more wiggle room to earn a higher profit margin.
What's important to realize is that there is a cap on how much the interest rate can increase during the initial adjustment period. There is also a lifetime cap on your mortgage interest rate if you decide to hold and not refinance. Finally, none of these caps may ever be realized if the 10-year Treasury bond yield or LIBOR doesn't increase.
I'm a believer that mortgage interest rates will stay low for a long time because US Treasury rates will stay low for a very long time. Interest rates have been steadily coming down since the late 1980s due to technological efficiencies and globalization.
Therefore, taking out a 30-year fixed mortgage where you pay a 1% – 2% higher interest rate is suboptimal. An adjustable rate mortgage is better than a 30-year fixed if you want to save money.
Remember,ARMs are different from negative amortization mortgages where the principal balance increases rather than decreases over time. Let me use my latest 5/1 ARM mortgage refinance to explain.
Example Of My ARM Refinance
What was refinanced: $981,000 mortgage at 2.625% with a monthly payment of $4,318. Principal portion of mortgage payment: $2,200. Interest portion: $2,218.
New mortgage: $850,000 at 2.375% with a monthly payment of $3,303.55. Principal portion of mortgage payment: $1,621.26. Interest portion: $1,682.29. I paid down a little over$130,000 in principal to qualify.
Study this chart below.
The Maximum Interest Rate Increase Of An Adjustable Rate Mortgage
Notice the maximum my payment can go up is to $4,098 from $3,303.55 in the 6th year (1st year of adjustment). $4,098 is equivalent to a 2% interest rate hike to 4.375%.
There's another 2% maximum increase in the seventh year, whereby my monthly payment rises to $4,955 based on 6.375%. Finally, the maximum lifetime interest rate increase is 5% from my initial base level, or 7.375%.
This 2%/2%/5% lifetime interest rate increase is pretty standard for all ARM holders. In other words, there is no such thing as endless interest rate risk to ARM holders. Simply ask your bank what your interest rate caps are and your index, and margin e.g. LIBOR + 2.25%.
If Mortgage Rates Go Higher After The Adjustment Period
I don't think we'll ever get to 7.375% again in our lifetimes for a 5/1 ARM. But even if we do, paying $5,400 a month is not that big of a deal. My mortgage used to cost $6,800 a month 10 years ago when my principal balance was greater and when my initial interest rate was closer to 5.25%. Anybody who has owned a home for at least 10 years knows this.
The continued decline in rates for the past 35 years has been a boon for all homebuyers and homeowners. The market is softening now. But if you can find a good deal, can afford the payments, and know you plan to stay there for 10+ years, I'd rather get neutral inflation by buying than renting.
Reasons why you shouldn't worry about hitting your interest rate caps:
1) Depending on your interest rate, after five yearsyou've paiddown about 10% – 12% of your original principal balance. 10 – 12% less in principal means 10 – 12% less interest to pay. Consider thisyour interest rate buffer.
2) You can always “save the difference” in interest or cash flow savings with your 5/1 ARM payment versus if you took out a 30-year fixed. After 60 months of saving the difference, you'll have a nice cash buffer in case you have to pay a higher interest rate. If I refinanced to a 30-year fixed at 3.625% instead of a 5/1 ARM at 2.375%, I'd be paying ~$82,000 more interest after five years. $82,000 equals20 months of mortgage payments I've saved up. That'san enormous leeway.
3) You can always pay down extra principal over the years. If you're not satisfied with the automatic monthly mortgage pay down, you can always come up with a plan to pay down extra principal each month, quarter, or year during your fixed rate period. And if you're really gung ho, you can just pay down the entire principal before the adjust period is over. I've always just lobbed an extra $1,000 – $5,000 after a particularly good month or a bonus. The extra payments add up nicely.
More reasons why an adjustable rate mortgage is better
4) You will likely have a chance to refinance at some point before the fixed rate period is over like I just did after four years and two months with my previous 5/1 ARM. There will always be market volatility, especially in a five year window. When the stock market is crashing, the bond market is rising, and interest rates are falling. These are the best times to take advantage.
5) You already know the worst case scenario for your monthly payments. Once you know the worst case scenario, you will no longer be surprised if it happens. You'll do things that will naturally protect you from downside risk.In fact, I might just start paying $5,400 a month (maximum payment at 7.375%)to get a feel of the worst case scenario now.
At $5,400 a month, $3,718 of that goes to paying down principal. After five years, I will have automatically paid down $223,000 in principal, leaving me with only $627,000 to refinance. Even if I was so unlucky as to face a 7.375% rate, my new mortgage would still be a manageable $4,331 a month.
An Adjustable Rate Mortgage Is The Way To Go
It's absolutely fine to refinance your 30-year fixed mortgage into a lower interest rate 30-year fixed mortgage. Taking advantage of this low interest rate environment is a wise move. But if you really want to save money, then I believe refinancing into a 5/1 ARM or purchasing a home with a 5/1 ARM is the way to go.
After 13 years of being an adjustable rate mortgage holder for various properties, I've saved around $500,000 in interest expenses so far. Each year that goes by I will probably save another $30,000 – 40,000 in interest expense by borrowing withan ARM than witha 30-year fixed mortgage. This is real money that can be used to live a more comfortable life or reinvest.
Despite taking out a 7/1 ARM in 2020 and seeing mortgage rates shoot higher in 2022, I have no regrets. I'm confident by the time my ARM adjusts in 2027, mortgage rates will be back down to trend. By then, I'm also confident property prices will be much higher that paying a higher payment won't be a big deal.
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