Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) are loans with interest rates that change. ARMs may start with lower monthly payments than fixed-rate mortgages, but your monthly payments could change & go up -- sometimes by a lot; they may not go down much, or at all -- even if interest rates go down; you could end up owing more money than you borrowed; & if you want to pay off your ARM early to avoid higher payments, you might have to pay a penalty. The handbook explains how ARMs work & discusses some of the issues that borrowers may face. It includes ways to reduce the risks & gives some pointers about advertising & other ways you can get info. from lenders. This handbook can help you ask the right questions & figure out whether an ARM is right for you. Illus.Leonard, Barry is the author of 'Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages', published 2007 under ISBN 9781422317532 and ISBN 1422317536.