Can you get a 20 year fixed-rate mortgage?
A 20-year fixed mortgage may be a good option for you if you find the monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage low but the monthly payment on a 15-year mortgage too high. Visit our fixed-rate loan calculator to estimate your 20-year fixed mortgage monthly payment.
A 20-year mortgage is a fixed-rate mortgage with a repayment period of 20 years. As with all fixed-rate mortgages, this means the interest rate will remain stable over time and you lock in a regular payment for 20 years.
- General minimum 3% - 3.5% down payment.
- Minimum 580 - 620 FICO® Score depending on loan type.
- What you need to qualify depends on loan type, but we generally recommend a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of no more than 45%.
- 3% - 6% of the purchase price to cover closing costs.
While 5 year fixes once seemed long term, you can now fix for 10, 15, and even up to 40 years. A long term fixed rate mortgage means that the interest rate you agree to today will still be yours long into the future, but this greater security means you'll be paying a bit more in interest now.
However, one disadvantage is that the monthly payments on a 20-year mortgage are higher than those on a longer-term loan, which could strain your cash flow and budget. The higher monthly payments may also limit the amount of money you have available for other investments or savings goals.
Product | Interest Rate | APR |
---|---|---|
20-Year Fixed | 7.24% | 7.29% |
10-Year Fixed | 6.80% | 6.88% |
15-Year Fixed | 6.86% | 6.93% |
30-Year Fixed | 7.34% | 7.39% |
25-year mortgage terms are generally only used by a specific type of investor that needs long-term certainly for their repayments, regardless of the mortgage rate.
Income to afford a $200K house
This rule basically states that it's best to limit your housing costs to no more than 28 percent of your income, while spending no more than 36 percent on your debt overall (including housing). Let's apply the 28/36 rule to $46,800 in annual income.
If you follow the 2.5 times your income rule, you divide the cost of the home by 2.5 to determine how much money you need to earn annually to afford it. Based on this rule, you would need to earn $100,000 per year to comfortably purchase a $250,000 home.
If a borrower has no other debt obligations, a conforming loan for a $250,000 property with 10% down in a 7% rate environment would require a gross monthly income of approximately $3,870, factoring in a 50% debt ratio.
Will interest rates drop in 2024?
Interest rates have been in a holding pattern for months. Forecasters had projected the first rate cut in June, and a total of three decreases in 2024. Now, they predict just one cut, in September.
Will mortgage rates go down in 2024? In Fannie Mae's April rate forecast, the government-sponsored enterprise said it expects 30-year fixed rates to end 2024 at 6.4%. The Mortgage Bankers Association also predicts the rate will drop to 6.4% by the end of the year.
The average 30-year fixed rate reached an all-time record low of 2.65% in January 2021 before surging to 7.79% in October 2023, according to Freddie Mac.
To O'Leary, debt is the enemy of any financial plan — even the so-called “good debt” of a mortgage. According to him, your best chance for long-term financial success lies in getting out from under your mortgage by age 45.
The 15-year mortgage has some advantages when compared to the 30-year, such as less overall interest paid, a lower interest rate, lower fees, and forced savings.
Since 40-year loans don't meet the CFPB's guidelines, they can't be backed by the government (as opposed to VA loans, FHA loans, USDA loans) and these loans can't be sold by the lender to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. This makes 40-year mortgages riskier for lenders and potentially more expensive for borrowers.
- Home Point Financial, 4.19%
- Freedom Mortgage, 4.21%
- Flagstar Bank, 4.28%
- Caliber Home Loans, 4.46%
- U.S. Bank, 4.54%
- AmeriHome Mortgage Company, 4.61%
- Pennymac, 4.67%
- NewRez, 4.68%
Product | Interest Rate | APR |
---|---|---|
10-Year Fixed Rate | 6.80% | 6.88% |
5-1 ARM | 6.72% | 7.95% |
10-1 ARM | 7.36% | 8.11% |
30-Year Fixed Rate FHA | 7.11% | 7.15% |
- BrioDirect High Yield Savings Account: 5.35% APY.
- Ivy Bank High-Yield Savings Account: 5.30% APY.
- TAB Bank High Yield Savings: 5.27% APY.
- UFB Secure Savings: Up to 5.25% APY.
- EverBank Performance℠ Savings: 5.15% APY.
- Bask Interest Savings Account: 5.10% APY.
A homeowner can obtain a $250,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at a rate of 6.0% with zero points or at a rate of 5.5% with 2.25 points.
What's the oldest you can be to get a 25 year mortgage?
Summary: maximum age limits for mortgages
Plenty of lenders are happy to offer standard lending terms and competitive rates for borrowers up to age 60. Many lenders impose an age cap at 65 - 70, but will allow the mortgage to continue into retirement if affordability is sufficient.
To afford a $500,000 house, you need to make a minimum of $91,008 a year — and probably more to make sure you're not house-poor and can afford day-to-day expenses, maintenance and other debt, like student loans or car payments. One good guideline to follow is not to spend more than 28 percent of your income on housing.
A mortgage on 200k salary, using the 2.5 rule, means you could afford $500,000 ($200,00 x 2.5). With a 4.5 percent interest rate and a 30-year term, your monthly payment would be $2533 and you'd pay $912,034 over the life of the mortgage due to interest.
A $100K annual salary breaks down to about $8,333 per month. Applying the 28/36 rule, 28 percent of $8,333 equals $2,333. That's notably less than our estimated monthly home payment on a $600,000 house, $3,700, so no, you probably cannot reasonably afford a home purchase of that amount on your salary.
Quick Rule Of Thumb: Multiply Your Annual Salary By 2.5 or 3
The quickest way to work out how much house you can afford is to multiply your annual pre-tax salary by 2.5 or 3. If you want a conservative estimate, use 2.5. If you want a more aggressive estimate, use 3.
References
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/h/housepoor.asp
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/20-year-mortgage-rates
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/income-needed-for-200k-home/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/how-much-down-payment-for-a-house
- https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/mortgage-refinance-rate-changes-2024-6c6901fc
- https://www.credible.com/personal-loan/high-risk-loans
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-income-do-you-need-to-buy-a-250000-home/
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/10-year-refinance-rates/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-soon-can-i-refinance-my-mortgage/
- https://www.cnet.com/personal-finance/mortgages/advice/refinance-mortgage-rate-forecast/
- https://www.rate.com/resources/how-can-i-afford-a-400k-house
- https://www.cainmortgageteam.com/how-much-house-can-i-afford-with-a-60k-salary/
- https://money.usnews.com/loans/mortgages/articles/historical-mortgage-rates
- https://www.quickenloans.com/home-loans/20-year-fixed
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/what-is-a-40-year-mortgage/
- https://www.upstart.com/credit-score/735-credit-score
- https://www.ellisandco.co.uk/news/long-term-mortgages
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/042015/pros-and-cons-15year-mortgage.asp
- https://www.investopedia.com/average-credit-scores-by-age-5214511
- https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/becoming-a-home-owner-hardest-easiest-home-loans-to-get
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/15-year-mortgage-rates/
- https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/money/15-vs-30-year-mortgage
- https://www.callawaybank.com/faq/how-much-money-will-i-save-by-choosing-a-15-year-loan-rather-than-a-30-year-loan/
- https://wallethub.com/credit-score-range/720-credit-score
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/how-mortgage-affects-credit-score/
- https://money.usnews.com/loans/rates/mortgages/mortgage-refinance
- https://www.foxroach.com/blog/house-affordability-calculator/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/should-you-refinance-your-home-in-2024-what-some-experts-say/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/pros-cons-15-year-mortgage
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/15-year-refinance-rates/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/i-make-45k-a-year-how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://stairsfinancial.com/blog/i-make-25k-a-year-can-i-buy-a-house
- https://www.thestreet.com/real-estate/down-payment-on-house-14686280
- https://themortgagereports.com/51755/should-i-refinance-for-quarter-percent-lower-refinance-rates
- https://www.wsj.com/buyside/personal-finance/mortgage-rates-tips-01653595262
- https://money.com/how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/how-much-can-i-borrow-with-a-700-credit-score-1000508-2140806873/
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/this-is-the-average-age-most-americans-become-mortgage-free
- https://newsilver.com/the-lender/how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://themortgagereports.com/46587/guide-to-buying-a-house-in-your-20s
- https://capitalbankmd.com/home-loans-101/20-vs-30-year-mortgage-which-one-is-right-for-you/
- https://www.finder.com/mortgages/200000-mortgage
- https://www.interest.com/calculator/15-years-vs-30-years-calculator/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/why-daves-against-30-year-mortgages
- https://themortgagereports.com/79220/15-vs-30-year-mortgage-pros-cons
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/5-risky-mortgage-loans.asp
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/average-credit-score
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/income-needed-for-600k-home/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/is-70000-a-good-salary/
- https://www.usbank.com/home-loans/mortgage/adjustable-rate-mortgages/5-1-arm-rates.html
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/pros-and-cons-of-fha-loans
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/720-credit-score-is-it-good-or-bad
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/income-needed-for-500k-home/
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/pros-and-cons-15-year-mortgage/
- https://www.veteransunited.com/valoans/refinancing-to-a-shorter-mortgage-term/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/do-you-lose-home-equity-when-you-refinance-your-mortgage/
- https://www.cainmortgageteam.com/20-down-payment-on-a-300-000-house/
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-mortgage-rates-ever-fall-to-3-again/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/income-considered-middle-class-2024-160007340.html
- https://wallethub.com/answers/cs/how-can-i-raise-my-credit-score-150-points-in-30-days-1000026-2140832311/
- https://selfi.com/why-your-lender-wants-you-to-refinance/
- https://www.quora.com/Can-I-get-a-mortgage-on-a-400k-house-with-a-780-credit-score-and-monthly-income-of-only-2-700
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/estimated-monthly-payment-on-100000-personal-loan-1000450-2140763857/
- https://fortune.com/recommends/mortgages/how-much-salary-to-buy-400000-home/
- https://better.com/faq/refinancing-your-mortgage/how-will-a-refinance-affect-my-monthly-mortgage-payments
- https://themortgagereports.com/70827/70k-per-year-salary-how-much-house-can-i-afford
- https://smartasset.com/mortgage/15-yr-fixed-mortgage-rates
- https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/score/articles/-/learn/what-is-a-good-credit-score/
- https://www.investopedia.com/mortgage/refinance/should-you-refinance-mortgage-when-interest-rates-drop-rise/
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/how-much-can-i-borrow-with-a-720-credit-score-1000508-2140806892/
- https://www.investopedia.com/mortgage/mortgage-rates/fixed-versus-adjustable-rate/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/pros-and-cons-of-refinancing-home/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/mortgage-rates/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/how-often-can-you-refinance-your-home
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/100000-mortgage-payment/
- https://www.habito.com/hub/article/long-term-fixed-rate-mortgages
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/what-to-do-if-denied-mortgage-refinance/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/will-mortgage-rates-go-down-in-2024
- https://themortgagereports.com/74024/cost-to-refinance-a-mortgage
- https://www.usbank.com/home-loans/mortgage/first-time-home-buyers/credit-score-for-mortgage.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0711/4-reasons-not-to-refinance-your-home.aspx
- https://www.kiplinger.com/article/real-estate/t010-c000-s001-the-pros-and-cons-of-fixed-rate-loans.html
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/042015/comparison-30year-vs-15year-mortgage.asp
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/monthly-cost-350000-mortgage/
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/refinancing-into-a-15-year-mortgage/
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/15-vs-30-year-mortgage/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/mortgage-rates-today-tuesday-april-30-2024-100030668.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/raise-credit-score-fast
- https://www.whathouse.com/mortgages/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-having-a-mortgage/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/i-make-36k-a-year-how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates/15-year-fixed
- https://www.uslendingcompany.com/blog/who-can-get-a-no-down-payment-home-loan-in-california/
- https://stairsfinancial.com/blog/how-much-house-can-i-afford-on-40k-a-year
- https://www.bankrate.com/home-equity/do-i-lose-home-equity-after-refinancing/
- https://myhome.freddiemac.com/refinancing/costs-of-refinancing
- https://themortgagereports.com/30891/should-i-refinance-or-just-pay-down-the-principal
- https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/15-vs-30-year-mortgage
- https://www.pymnts.com/real-estate/2023/record-high-share-of-americans-have-paid-off-their-homes/
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/mortgage-rates
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/banking/savings/best-high-yield-savings-accounts/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/20-year-mortgage-rates
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/average-credit-score-to-buy-a-house/
- https://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/should-you-get-a-long-or-short-term-mortgage
- https://www.onemainfinancial.com/resources/loan-basics/5000-personal-loan
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/15-vs-30-year-mortgage
- https://themortgagereports.com/75530/down-payment-300000-house
- https://homework.study.com/explanation/a-homeowner-can-obtain-a-250-000-30-year-fixed-rate-mortgage-at-a-rate-of-6-0-with-zero-points-or-at-a-rate-of-5-5-with-2-25-points-if-you-will-keep-the-mortgage-for-30-years-what-is-the-net-present-value-of-paying-the-points-to-the-nearest-dollar.html
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/20-year-refinance-rates/
- https://themortgagereports.com/54100/how-soon-can-i-refinance-after-i-close-on-my-mortgage
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-to-pay-off-your-mortgage-early/
- https://www.ratehub.ca/best-mortgage-rates/25-year/fixed
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-house-can-i-afford-on-a-50000-salary/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/pros-and-cons-refinancing-you-home/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/how-does-refinancing-work
- https://www.themortgagehut.co.uk/expert-articles/ask-the-expert/218/maximum-age-for-mortgage
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/05/01/fed-meeting-may-interest-rate-decision-live-updates/73512761007/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/what-credit-score-is-needed-to-buy-a-house
- https://themortgagereports.com/65972/the-best-mortgage-rates-lender-rankings
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/when-to-refinance/
- https://www.jvmlending.com/blog/what-salary-do-you-need-to-afford-a-250000-home/
- https://themortgagereports.com/22502/how-to-buy-a-home-50000-per-year-income
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/whats-exact-credit-score-need-buy-home