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Homeownership can be both rewarding and a great financial decision for your future. But as anyone who has dipped their toes into the home-buying process knows, the pressure to find and secure the “right” mortgage loan can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re a first-time home buyer.

During the early stages of the home-buying process—perhaps while you’re researching neighborhoods and schools, shopping around for properties, and nailing down the details of your budget—it would serve you well to do some research into the types of mortgages available. That way, you’ll feel prepared when the time comes to put down an offer on the perfect home.

As you’ve likely noticed, there are quite a few mortgage loan types available to borrowers. Brace yourself, because the process definitely requires you harness your best inner comparison shopper. You’ll need to consider the ins and outs of each option alongside your personal and financial needs. To help make the decision a bit easier, we’ve compared the advantages and disadvantages of each mortgage type below.

Fixed-Rate Versus Adjustable-Rate Home Loans

First, it’s helpful to know that most home loans come with a fixed or adjustable interest rate. A fixed-rate mortgage means that your interest rate will never change. In other words, your monthly mortgage payment is locked in. Fixed-rate mortgages generally come in 15 or 30-year loans.

A 30-year fixed-rate loan is the most common, though you can save a lot in interest if you opt for a 15-year loan. Monthly payments on a 15-year loan will be much higher than for a 30-year mortgage, so it’s best to commit only if you’re confident that it works in your budget—even in the event of a financial emergency.

An adjustable-rate mortgage, called an ARM, has a fixed, usually lower rate for an initial period and then increases to a more expensive, floating rate tied to the market interest rate index. ARMs are often expressed in two numbers (like 5/1 or 2/28), although those numbers don’t follow one particular formula (they could represent years, months, number of annual payments, etc.). For example, a 5/1 ARM has five years of fixed payments and one change to the interest rate in each year thereafter.

It’s easy to be drawn to the lower initial rate offered on an ARM, but it very well could end up costing more in interest than a fixed-rate loan over the lifespan of your mortgage. An ARM might work best for someone who plans to pay off their mortgage in five years or less, or is committed to refinancing prior to the ARM’s rate increase.

Rate increases in the future could be dramatic although there are limits to the annual and life-of-loan adjustments, often leaving adjustable-rate mortgage-holders with much higher monthly payments than if they had committed to a fixed-rate mortgage.

Types of Government Home Loans

The government does not actually lend money to home buyers. Instead, “government home loans” is a catchall for loans that are insured or guaranteed by various government agencies in the event the borrower defaults. This makes the loan less risky for lenders, and allows them to provide mortgages at reasonable rates.

Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Loans:

FHA loans are one of the most popular government loan types for first-time home buyers, because they have the more lenient credit score requirements and down payment requirements. With a 580 credit score, you might qualify with a 3.5% down payment. For more, check out the FHA’s lending limits in your state.

Pros: Because FHA loans are ubiquitous and have lower down payment and credit score requirements, they are one of the most accessible loans. FHA loans give potential homeowners a chance to buy without a big down payment. Additionally, FHA loans allow a non-occupant co-signer (as long as they’re a relative) to help borrowers qualify.

Cons: Historically, the requirements for FHA mortgage insurance have varied over the years. Currently, an FHA loan requires both an up-front mortgage insurance premium (which can be financed into your loan amount) and monthly mortgage insurance. The monthly mortgage insurance has to stay in place until your loan-to-value ratio reaches 78%.

USDA loans:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides home loans in rural areas to borrowers who meet certain income requirements. USDA loans offer 100% financing—so no down payment is necessary—and require lower monthly mortgage insurance (MI) payments than an FHA loan. This type of mortgage loan is offered to “rural residents who have a steady, low or moderate income, and yet are unable to obtain adequate housing through conventional financing.” To find out if you qualify, visit the USDA income and property eligibility site .

Pros: USDA loans come with low monthly MI, and they are accessible loans for low-moderate income borrowers in rural areas.

Cons: You need a credit score of at least 640 to qualify. These loans, like an FHA loan, also require an upfront fee which can be financed into your loan. If you are obtaining a loan with no down payment, this could result in a loan balance higher than your loan amount.

VA loans:

The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs provides loan services to members and veterans of the U.S. military and their families. If you are eligible , you could qualify for a loan that requires no down payment or monthly mortgage insurance.

Pros: You don’t have to put any money down or deal with monthly MI payments, which could save borrowers thousands per year.

Cons: These loans are great to get people in homes, but are only available to veterans.

FHA 203k rehab loans:

FHA 203k loans are home renovation loans for “fixer upper” properties, helping homeowners finance both the purchase of a house and the cost of its rehabilitation through a single mortgage. Current homeowners can also qualify for an FHA 203k loan to finance the rehabilitation of their existing home.

Many of the rules that make an FHA loan relatively convenient for lower-income borrowers apply here. An FHA 203k loan does not require the space to be currently livable, but it does generally have stricter credit score requirements. Many types of renovations can be covered under an FHA 203k loan: structural repairs or alterations, modernization, elimination of health and safety hazards, replacing roofs and floors, and making energy conservation improvements, to name a few.

Pros: They can be used to buy a home and fund renovations on a property that wouldn’t qualify for a regular FHA loan. And they only require a 3.5% down payment.

Cons: These loans require you to qualify for the price of the home plus the costs of any planned renovations.

Conforming Home Loans

Conforming home loans are a type of mortgage offered by private lenders. They are not insured by the government, but meet standards set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government sponsored agencies). As of 2018, the conforming loan limit is $453,100 in most of the U.S. and goes up to $679,650 in certain higher-cost areas.

Conventional Home Loans:

Conventional loans are the single most popular type of mortgage used today. These are slightly more difficult to qualify for a conventional loan than a government-backed loan. However, borrowers can obtain conventional loans for a second home or investment property.

Conventional loans typically require a minimum of a 620 credit score and a down payment between 5% and 20%. Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) ) if you put 20% down. If you put less than 20% down, PMI is required but you have options. PMI can be paid monthly or can be an upfront premium that can be paid by you or the lender. Monthly PMI needs to stay in place until your loan-to-value ratio reaches 78%.

Pros: Pretty much any property type you’re considering would qualify for a conventional mortgage. And you have greater flexibility with mortgage insurance if you are putting down less than 20%.

Cons: Conventional loans tend to have stricter requirements for qualification and require a higher down payment that government loans.

Conventional 97 Mortgage:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s conventional 97 loan was made to compete with FHA loans. It requires a 3% down payment or 97% loan-to-value ratio, besting the FHA’s 3.5% down payment requirement. A conventional 97 loan also requires that at least one borrower be a first-time homeowner, which they define as someone who hasn’t owned a property in the past three years. Participants in this program will need to have good credit scores and the standard 43% debt-to-income ratio.

Pros: You only need to put down 3%.

Cons: Only single-unit properties qualify, and one of the borrowers must be a “first-time buyer.”

Non-Conforming Loans

If you need a loan that exceeds the limits of both a conforming loan and a government-backed loan, you’ll need a non-conforming loan. A non-conforming loan exceeds the limits set forth by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Jumbo Loans:

Because of their size, jumbo loans tend to have even stricter requirements than regular, conforming loans. Most jumbo loans require a minimum credit score above 700 and a down payment of at least 15%.

Super Jumbo Loans:

For financing of $1 million or more, you are going to need to take out what is called a super jumbo loan. These loans require excellent credit and can provide up to $3 million in financing.

Those looking to fund an expensive property purchase will likely have little choice but to use a jumbo or super jumbo loan. If that’s you, it might require taking some time to get your credit score in good shape.

The process of finding and securing the right mortgage loan requires a little bit of investigation and a whole lot of patience. Happy hunting!

Ready to do some comparison shopping? SoFi offers mortgages with competitive rates, a fast & easy application, and no hidden fees.

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The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi Mortgages not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See SoFi.com/eligibility-criteria#eligibility-mortgage for details.

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Mounting credit card debt can sometimes feel impossible to get out from under. Emergencies come up, things happen, and sometimes it’s easiest to reach for a credit card to cover unexpected expenses. Yet when you carry debt on your credit card, even if you make the minimum payments each month, interest still accrues and adds to what you owe.

If you’re struggling to pay off credit card debt, you’re far from alone. Revolving consumer credit rose to over $1 trillion in January, according to the Federal Reserve , and credit card debt has become the form of debt most widely held by families in the U.S . Fortunately, there are a few good solutions to getting rid of your credit card debt for good.

When faced with high-interest credit card debt, it can make sense to pay it off with either a balance transfer credit card or a personal loan. Both can consolidate all your credit card debt into one place at a lower interest rate, which can save you money and helps you deplete your balance without racking up high-interest charges.

But which of those two options makes sense for you? To answer that, you need to know what a balance transfer credit card is and how a balance transfer works. And you need to know the ins and outs of personal loans. Let’s get into it.

What is a Balance Transfer Credit Card?

A balance transfer credit card is when you transfer all your existing high-interest credit card debt to a new credit card. Generally, when selecting to do a balance transfer to a new credit card consumers will a apply for a new card with a lower interest rate than they currently or a card with an introductory 0% APR.

This introductory period can last anywhere from six to 21 months, and varies by lender. By opening a new card that temporarily charges no interest, and then transferring your high interest debt onto that card, you can save money because your balance will no longer accrue interest charges as you pay it off.

You can transfer debt from one credit card or multiple credit cards onto your new interest-free card. Paying off your credit card debt can be easier without the compounding interest, because you can pay off your balance without it growing every month during the introductory-rate period.

But you need to hear one crucial warning: After the introductory interest-free or low-APR period ends, the interest rate generally jumps up. That means if you don’t pay your debt off during the introductory period, it will start to accrue interest charges again, and your balance will grow.

How do Balance Transfers Work?

It’s easy to understand, in theory, what a balance transfer credit card does, but how do balance transfers actually work? The logistics can be a little more complicated.

There are a number of types of balance transfer credit cards out there, varying in their interest-free introductory periods, credit limits, rewards, transfer fees, and interest rates after the introductory period. You’ll want to compare the fees and credit limits, to figure out which balance transfer card works best for you.

Related: Personal Loan vs. Credit Card

Once you apply and are approved, then you can transfer your existing credit card debt onto your new card. You can only transfer as much debt as is covered by your credit limit onto the new balance transfer card.

It typically takes one to two weeks for your new credit card company to contact your existing cards and transfer the balances. Until the transfer is complete, you’ll need to make any payments you have due, so you don’t incur missed payment penalties. You’ll also still need to close out your old credit cards once the debt is transferred and they have a zero balance.

What’s the Difference Between a Balance Transfer Card and a Personal Loan?

Another option to pay off high-interest credit card debt is to use a personal loan. A balance transfer card transfers credit card debt onto a new credit card at a low or nonexistent interest rate—but the interest rate rises at the end of the introductory period.

A personal loan, however, can be used to pay off a wider range of existing personal debt, credit card or otherwise. And when you can choose a fixed interest rate, which means the interest rate you sign on for is the one you’ll have for the duration of the loan—it won’t go up.

You can usually take out a personal loan for a wide range of amounts (SoFi offers personal loans from $5,000 to $100,000). Depending on your credit, financial situation, and the state you live in, interest rates, terms, and the amount you can borrow may vary.

The application process typically requires a credit check and a look at your financial history and current employment. Once you’re approved, you can use your personal loan to pay off your high-interest credit card debt.

Basically, you use the personal loan to pay off your credit cards, and then you just have to pay back your personal loan in manageable monthly installments. A personal loan can allow you to pay much less interest on your debt; Credit cards charge an average of 16% interest, whereas

Choosing Between a Balance Transfer and Personal Loan

Both a personal loan and a balance transfer essentially help you pay off existing debt by consolidating what you owe into one place. The difference comes in how each works and how much you’ll ultimately end up paying (and saving).

Balance transfer credit cards can require a high credit score to qualify, which can be a challenge if your current credit card debt is affecting your credit score. Most balance transfer credit cards also charge a balance transfer fee, typically 3% to 5% of the balance you’re transferring, which adds up if you’re transferring a large amount of debt. Some balance transfer credit cards will offer an introductory period without transfer fees and with 0% APR, but you’ll want to do the math on how much you’ll save in interest versus how much you’ll pay in transfer fees.

For many people, a balance transfer credit card also comes with the additional concern of starting a new cycle of credit card debt. If you don’t pay off the debt on the new card, then it could hurt your credit score.

Additionally, if you fail to pay off the debt during the no-interest period, you could be back where you started; your balance will start to accrue compound interest based on the new card’s APR.

With personal loans, however, you can choose to have a fixed interest rate that doesn’t balloon. You will agree to a repayment term with your lender, which could be up to a few years. All you have to do with a personal loan is make the monthly payments.

Additionally, while personal loans can come with origination fees, and other fees some personal loans don’t have origination fees or prepayment penalties. And you won’t have to worry about transfer fees at all with a personal loan. Personal loans can also be used for personal expenses, which means you can pay off other higher-interest debt (like a car loan) by bundling it into the personal loan amount you request.

If you have high-interest credit card debt that you’re ready to get rid of, check out SoFi personal loans today.

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Disclaimer: Many factors affect your credit scores and the interest rates you may receive. SoFi is not a Credit Repair Organization as defined under federal or state law, including the Credit Repair Organizations Act. SoFi does not provide “credit repair” services or advice or assistance regarding “rebuilding” or “improving” your credit record, credit history, or credit rating. For details, see the FTC’s website .

External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.

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Thinking of buying a home this year? With interest rates, rents and housing prices all on the rise, this could be an opportune time to make it happen – and an interest-only mortgage loan might be the thing that makes it possible.

How Does it Work?

While not for everyone, an interest-only mortgage offers a host of advantages for some borrowers. As the name suggests, these loans allow you to pay only the accrued interest on the loan each month for a period ranging from 5 to 10 years.

Because you make lower monthly payments during this timeframe, you enjoy increased financial flexibility (meaning you can invest the difference or choose to pay principal in conjunction with a bonus or other cash influx).

After the interest-only period expires, the loan converts to a more standard structure where both principal and interest are paid on a monthly basis. At this point, you’ll see your mortgage payment go up – sometimes substantially.

Because of this, interest-only loans are typically better for borrowers who expect to be able to cover those higher payments in the future – for example, if you believe your income will increase before the interest-only period is up.

A Checkered Past

Interest-only mortgages have been around for decades, but for the most part they weren’t attractive to the masses. Typical borrowers were often affluent homeowners who viewed their homes as part of an investment portfolio: interest-only mortgages provided the opportunity to seek better returns with the capital that would otherwise have been used to make a higher mortgage payment.

Then came the housing bubble of 2004 – 2006, when lenders started approving interest-only loans for unqualified borrowers who wanted to keep mortgage payments low while trying to flip houses as quickly as possible.

After the bubble burst in 2008, the market for interest-only loans went dormant for several years – and these products were left with a less-than-favorable reputation.

The Opportunity Today

Between the current economic environment and the advent of new interest-only loan products, this type of loan is once again worth considering for some borrowers.

Again, the main stipulation is that you’re not biting off more than you can chew – meaning you expect to be able to handle the increase in payments once the interest-only period is up.

If you meet those criteria, here are a few advantages to consider:

1. Lower Upfront Monthly Payments

Because you only pay the interest that is accruing on the mortgage, initial monthly payments are substantially lower than if you were also paying the principal.

For example, on a $1 million, 30-year, 4% fixed mortgage, the initial monthly payment would be $4,774 – with about $1,440 of that going to principal. On an interest-only mortgage with the same criteria, the monthly payment would be $3,333.

2. Tax-Deductible Payments

Generally speaking, you can deduct 100 percent of your interest-only mortgage payments,as long as the total deduction is on debt less than $1 million.

On the other hand, mortgage payments that include payments on both principal and interest are only deductible for the amount of interest paid. In the example above, for each month’s payment of $4,774, only the interest portion ($3,333) would be deductible.

3. Rent vs. Own

As rents continue to skyrocket in metropolitan areas, many people would rather put that monthly check toward a home of their own. For example, the median monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco is about $3,500.

With interest-only mortgage rates currently hovering around 4 percent, payments on a $1 million mortgage would be less than the cost of renting. Factor in the tax deduction benefit, and buying a home becomes even more attractive.

4. Seek Higher Returns

There are situations where paying down the balance of a mortgage may not be the most efficient use of capital, specifically when funds can be allocated to higher-yielding investments.

Much like the savvy borrowers in the early days of interest-only loans, you can take advantage of the flexibility afforded by lower mortgage payments to seek investments with higher returns. This advantage makes an interest-only mortgage a compelling choice for long-term wealth building.

The Takeaway

Forecasts for 2016 and beyond include rising interest rates, increasing housing prices and the continuing escalation of the cost to rent.

These factors make 2016 look like an opportune time to buy a home. If the structure of a traditional mortgage has prevented you from buying a home, an interest-only mortgage may provide a solution that helps make that happen in the near future.

Download the SoFi Guide to First Time Home Buying to get valuable tips on these topics and more. Our guide also demystifies modern mortgage myths around down payments, the pre-approval process, student loans, rising interest rates, and more.

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The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
SoFi Mortgages not available in all states. Products and terms may vary from those advertised on this site. See sofi.com/eligibility-criteria for details.

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