Interest Rates: Fixed vs Variable

Fixed Interest Rates

Interest Rates: Fixed vs Variable. Fixed rates are often viewed as the safest choice – no surprises. You can rest easy knowing exactly how much interest you are paying and that regardless of fluctuations in the prime rate (for better or worse), you interest will remain unchanged.

Fixed interest rate can be taken on 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and even 10 year terms. Note the distinction between term and amortization, term is when your mortgage is up for renewal while amortization is the total time it will take to payoff your debt.

Now, say you committed to a 5 year term, but three years in you want to take advantage of a different lenders product. To do this, you will need to beak your mortgage. THERE WILL BE A PENALTY. The size of penalty varies depending on the lenders current rate, the rate you held, the length remaining on your term, and balance outstanding. Lenders charge a penalty using the greater of the Interest Rate Differential (IRD) or three months interest.

Variable Interest Rates

For those of us that are comfortable with uncertainty, Variable rates provide potential for interest saving and term flexibility.

Variable rates are based on a lenders prime rate; plus or minus a set premium of discount. These rates are mostly available on 5 year terms. However, unlike fixed interest rate, the penalty is only a 3 months interest calculation. With this in mind, breaking the mortgage will likely be significantly less costly in understanding Interest Rates: Fixed vs Variable.