What is a Balloon Home Loan?

A balloon loan is a type of mortgage that doesn’t fully amortize over the life of the loan, leaving a large “balloon payment” due at the end of the mortgage. Home loans with balloon payments have lower monthly payments in the years leading up when the balloon payment is due, but the size of many of these payments often makes it difficult (or impossible) for borrowers to pay them off. For example, many balloon loans have a term of 5 to 7 years (after which the balloon payment is due), while the regular, monthly mortgage payments are based off a 30-year loan term.

What is a Partially Amortizing Loan?

Many of us are familiar with amortization and fully amortizing loans. But not all amortized loans are fully amortizing. There are actually a subset of loans that are partially amortizing. These loans are not especially common in the home loan market, but they do exist.

What is the Meaning of Amortization?

Amortization refers to a type of payment schedule that some home loans utilize. The payment schedule is made up of equal payment amounts that are stretched over a designated amount of time (the loan term). For the purpose of an amortization schedule, each payment is divided into two portions. There is a portion that is made up of interest (the cost of the loan), and a portion that is made up of principal (the value of the borrowed sum).

Amortized Loans in Relation to Home Loans

Amortized home loans have been the mainstream payment method for mortgages for a long time. They were introduced to the housing market thanks to intervention from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which led to the formation of a fully amortizing 30-year fixed rate home loan.

Home Loans, Home PurchaseHome.LoansApril 17, 2018Home.Loans, LLC Amortization, Amortized Loans, Home Loans, Home loan

A Complete Guide to Balloon Mortgages

Balloon loans are usually short-term and only a small portion of the principal will be paid by the end of the term. They look something like this, a $400,000 loan is to be amortized over 30 years but due in 5 years. The borrower will make payments like they are on a 30-year amortized payment plan, but the loan will be due in 5 years. The amortized payments will pay for mostly interest and a small portion of the principle, the balloon payment is likely to be close to the principal.

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