5.2.8 Payment types
- 5.2.1 What is a mortgage?
- 5.2.2 Down payment
- 5.2.3 Pre-approval
- 5.2.4 Home Buyers Plan
- 5.2.5 Amortization and term
- 5.2.6 Types of mortgages
- 5.2.7 Interest rates
- 5.2.8 Payment types
- 5.2.9 Fixed or variable interest rates
- 5.2.10 Video: Mortgage basics
- 5.2.11 Quiz: Mortgage terminology
- 5.2.12 Case study: Mortgage costs
- 5.2.13 Your mortgage payment
- 5.2.14 Payment options
- 5.2.15 Case study: Financing a mortgage
- 5.2.16 Summary of key messages
Fixed payments
With fixed payments, you pay one agreed amount with each payment, regardless of changes in the interest rate. If the interest rate goes down, more of the payment applies to the principal and you pay off the mortgage faster. However, if the interest rate goes up, more of the payment applies to interest, and less to the principal. This extends the length of time it will take to pay off your mortgage. You don't know in advance how much of the principal will be paid off at the end of the term.
Variable payments
With variable payments, your payment changes if the interest rate changes. If the interest rate rises, your payments also rise. It's more difficult to plan your mortgage payments over the term of the agreement, so you need to be sure you can adjust your budget to make higher payments. However, the amortization period stays the same. You can tell in advance how much of the mortgage will be paid off at the end of the term, because you pay whatever amount is needed to add up to the agreed amount.
Example
![Marina thinks about whether fixed or variable payments will work best for her.](/content/canadasite/en/financial-consumer-agency/services/financial-toolkit/mortgages/mortgages-2/9/_jcr_content/par/mwspanel/panPar/img_0_1_2_1_1_0_5_0_/image.img.jpg/1489774966754.jpg)
Aspects of a mortgage to consider | If no change | Fixed payments | Variable payments |
---|---|---|---|
Mortgage amount | $295,000 | $295,000 | $295,000 |
Interest rate | 4% | Varies | Varies |
Payments | $1,552 | $1,552 | Varies |
Interest paid after five years | $54,915 | Varies | Varies |
Principal paid after five years | $38,191 | Varies | $38,191 |
Total paid after five years | $93,106 | $93,106 | Varies |
Convertible, capped and hybrid mortgages
Variable interest rate mortgages may also be convertible. With a convertible mortgage, you can "convert" or change it to a fixed interest rate mortgage during the term. Usually there is no extra charge to do so, but conditions may apply, such as the time when you can make the conversion or the maximum interest rate.
Some variable interest rates can be capped—that is, your lender agrees that the interest rate will not rise above a certain level.
In addition, some lenders offer "hybrid" or combination mortgages—part of the mortgage is financed at a fixed rate and part is financed at a variable rate. This gives you partial protection from rising interest rates, and only partial benefits from falling rates. Hybrid mortgages may be complicated, especially if the two portions have different terms (for example, a two-year term for the variable portion and a three-year term for the fixed portion). They may be difficult to transfer if you negotiate a lower rate with a different lender.
Although these terms can offer more protection against high interest rates, they are usually more costly than a simple variable-rate mortgage. You pay a premium for the increased security.
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