A hybrid mortgage is a mortgage loan with a fixed interest rate for a specified period of time, after which the rate is adjusted periodically for the remaining term of the loan. These limits vary from program to program and from lender to lender, and are very important to consider when considering a VA hybrid ARM. Other traditional ARMs that are not backed by the VA usually change several times a year and can increase by up to two percent a year. For some, saving a down payment, going to a lender, and getting a conventional mortgage loan is a relatively easy process.
If you're willing to consider refinancing in the future, starting with a hybrid branch may allow you to get a home more quickly. The initial interest rate is a characteristic of hybrid branches (which is what most people think of when they hear the term ARM loan), in which the interest rate remains constant until the date of the first reinstatement. At this point, the interest limit comes into effect and this is the P+I payment you'll have to pay for the duration of the mortgage, unless rates drop again. The borrower should carefully consider their time horizon when choosing a hybrid branch and recognize the risks associated with the reinstatement date or the expiration of the fixed interest rate period.
Annual limits indicate the annual increase at worst, and lifetime limits determine the worst-case increase over the life of the loan. During the entire life of the loan, the rate cannot increase more than five percent from the initial fixed rate. If you're looking for a starter home and plan to sell and move to a larger home, then it makes sense to have a lower-paying mortgage for the first few years. Some traditional ARMs are also quite secure, but the VA hybrid ARM is the cream of the crop when it comes to adjustable rates.
In addition to having limits that dictate how much and how quickly your mortgage can increase, most hybrid ARMs also have a low interest rate limit, called a flat. Initial adjustment limits, periodic adjustment limits and lifetime limits constitute the limit structure of an adjustable-rate mortgage and are generally represented by three numbers.
