How much down payment for interest-only loan?
You usually have to have a significant down payment (probably 30% minimum) and the interest only period generally is for a set number of years (5–10) and after that period either the loan balloons due in full or you make fully amortized payments for 20–30 years.
Each lender has its own rules surrounding who qualifies for an interest-only mortgage. But in general, requirements are more stringent than for other types of mortgages. You'll probably need at least a 20% down payment and 700 credit score, and your debt-to-income ratio should be low.
Typically, lenders offer up to 75% of the property's value for an interest-only mortgage. This means that you'll need a deposit of at least 25%. As interest-only mortgages pose more of a risk for lenders than repayment mortgages, many lenders ask for a much higher deposit, such as 40% or 50%.
To qualify for an interest-only mortgage, you'll need to prove to your lender that you have a solid repayment plan. Your lender will factor your payments into this plan in the affordability criteria they use.
Mortgage type | Minimum down payment |
---|---|
Conventional mortgage | 3% to 5% |
VA loan | 0% |
USDA loan | 0% |
FHA loan | 3.5% if your credit score is 580 or above |
To calculate interest-only loan payments, multiply the loan balance by the annual interest rate, and divide it by the number of payments in a year. For example, interest-only payments on a $50,000 loan with a 4% interest rate and a 10-year repayment term would be $166.67.
If you'd prefer not to release equity from your home and have no savings or investments available, you may decide to sell your property to pay off your interest-only mortgage. However, you'll need to think carefully about what kind of property you'll be able to afford next, and what sort of location is right for you.
To qualify for an interest-only mortgage you'll need to meet some strict criteria, but you should be eligible if you: Have a deposit of at least 25%
Overpayments are in addition to your contractual monthly payment. The more you overpay, the more you save in interest charges.
How it works. You'll make interest only payments towards your mortgage for six months, with no impact on your credit score.
Why would anyone want an interest-only mortgage?
For first-time home buyers, an interest-only mortgage also allows them to defer large payments into future years when they expect their income to be higher. However, just paying interest also means that the homeowner is not building up any equity in the property—only the repayment of principal debt does that.
- You'll usually pay more interest overall than with a repayment mortgage, because the amount you pay interest on doesn't decrease during the term.
- You're only paying off interest each month, so you'll still owe full the full amount at the end of the term.
Common candidates for an interest-only mortgage are people who aren't looking to own a home for the long-term — they may be frequent movers or are purchasing the home as a short-term investment. If you're looking to buy a second home, you may want to consider an interest-only loan.
To purchase a $200,000 house, you need a down payment of at least $40,000 (20% of the home price) to avoid PMI on a conventional mortgage. If you're a first-time home buyer, you could save a smaller down payment of $10,000–20,000 (5–10%). But remember, that will drive up your monthly payment with PMI fees.
Eligible borrowers typically include those with debt lower than 41 percent of income, a fairly good credit score above 620, no previous home ownership in the last 36 months, primary residence intent for the property being bought, and the overall financing is 97 percent maximum.
A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) Mortgage has a minimum down payment of only 3.5%. It's available to all qualified buyers, regardless of income level.
250K Interest Only Mortgage | ||
---|---|---|
2% | 5% | |
10 years | £417 | £1041 |
15 years | £417 | £1041 |
20 years | £417 | £1041 |
This means that for six months you will pay the interest each month, but none of the capital. Remember, this is a temporary arrangement – after six months your account will change back to a repayment mortgage. Then, your monthly payments will increase again, and they will be higher than before.
At its most basic, an interest-only mortgage is one where you only make interest payments for the first several years—typically five or 10—and once that period ends, you begin to pay both principal and interest.
How long can you stay on an interest only mortgage? A typical interest only mortgage lasts between five and 25 years.
What happens if you can't pay off your interest-only mortgage?
If you have an interest-only mortgage, you need to make plans to repay the capital (the amount you borrowed). If you don't, you will have a large amount to pay at the end of your mortgage term and may need to sell your home to repay it.
If apply for a 90% mortgage, you'll need a deposit worth 10% of the property's value. The lender loans you the remaining 90%, which you repay over the full term of the mortgage deal, alongside interest.
Where is the money going? If you have a repayment mortgage, make sure your overpayments go towards paying off your overall balance, not just the interest. If you are overpaying on an interest-only mortgage, all your payments go on your mortgage interest.
If you make $70K a year, you can likely afford a home between $290,000 and $310,000*. Depending on your personal finances, that's a monthly house payment between $2,000 and $2,500. Keep in mind that figure will include your monthly mortgage payment, taxes, and insurance.
A bigger loan: Putting down less upfront means borrowing more to make the purchase, which makes for higher monthly payments and more interest paid over time. Higher costs: Your mortgage interest rate and loan costs could be higher if you put down less upfront.
References
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/income-needed-for-800k-house/
- https://www.experian.co.uk/consumer/mortgages/guides/interest-only.html
- https://stairsfinancial.com/blog/how-much-house-can-i-afford-on-40k-a-year
- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-much-house-can-i-afford-on-a-50000-salary/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/average-down-payment-on-a-house/
- https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/what-credit-score-do-i-need-to-buy-a-house/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2-000-month-gets-mortgage-090000999.html
- https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/credit-score/900-credit-score
- https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/what-kind-of-house-can-you-buy-for-1500-a-month
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/i-make-36k-a-year-how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://newsilver.com/the-lender/how-much-house-can-i-afford/
- https://mortgagesbymcateer.co.uk/interest-only-mortgage-expiring/
- https://www.hrbs.co.uk/mortgages/existing-customers/switching-to-interest-only-for-six-months/
- https://www.chase.com/personal/mortgage/education/financing-a-home/what-is-interest-only-mortgage
- https://www.respectmortgages.co.uk/guides/mortgage-repayments/250000-loan/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/income-needed-for-200k-home/
- https://www.fca.org.uk/publication/documents/interest-only-mortgages-act-now.pdf
- https://www.quora.com/How-much-income-do-I-need-to-buy-a-250-000-house
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/managing-wealth/042516/how-interestonly-mortgages-work.asp
- https://www.comparethemarket.com/mortgages/interest-only/
- https://www.uswitch.com/mortgages/90-ltv/
- https://www.trinityfinance.co.uk/mortgage-services/interest-only-mortgages-explained/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/buying-a-house-700-credit-score/
- https://www.jvmlending.com/blog/what-salary-do-you-need-to-afford-a-250000-home/
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/best-easy-home-mortgages-to-qualify-for/
- https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/what-kind-of-house-can-you-buy-for-3-500-a-month
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/what-credit-score-is-needed-to-buy-a-house
- https://www.foxroach.com/blog/house-affordability-calculator/
- https://www.lloydsbank.com/mortgages/existing-customers/interest-only-mortgages/overpayment-calculator.html
- https://www.money.co.uk/mortgages/should-i-overpay-on-my-mortgage
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/mortgages/whats-exact-credit-score-need-buy-home
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/250000-mortgage-payment/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/20-percent-down-payment-for-house/
- https://www.gocompare.com/mortgages/interest-only/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/personal-loans/how-to-calculate-loan-payments/
- https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/interest-only-mortgage
- https://restless.co.uk/mortgages/mortgage-basics/how-do-i-pay-off-my-interest-only-mortgage/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/tips-to-pay-off-mortgage-in-5-years/
- https://themortgagereports.com/70827/70k-per-year-salary-how-much-house-can-i-afford
- https://www.uslendingcompany.com/blog/who-can-get-a-no-down-payment-home-loan-in-california/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/how-much-down-payment-do-you-need
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/what-is-considered-an-excellent-credit-score/
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/interestonlymortgage.asp
- https://www.usbank.com/home-loans/mortgage/first-time-home-buyers/down-payment.html
- https://themortgagereports.com/22502/how-to-buy-a-home-50000-per-year-income
- https://www.halifax.co.uk/mortgages/existing-customers/mortgage-support/interest-only-payments.html
- https://wallethub.com/answers/pl/how-much-can-i-borrow-with-a-720-credit-score-1000508-2140806892/