Can Your Mortgage Go Up On A Fixed Rate admin, January 24, 2024January 24, 2024 You’ve been diligent about your mortgage payments, ticking off month after month with ease. You’ve opted for a fixed-rate mortgage, making budgeting simpler and reducing worry about fluctuating rates. But suddenly, your mortgage payment has increased. It’s a scenario that can leave many homeowners scratching their heads – isn’t the whole point of a fixed-rate mortgage that the payments stay the same? Well, yes and no. While it’s true that the interest rate on your loan is locked in for the duration of the term, several other factors can cause your monthly payments to increase. Let’s take an in-depth look at what these factors might be. ContentsThe Role of EscrowPrivate Mortgage Insurance AdjustmentAdjustable-Rate Mortgage ConversionRefinancing Your LoanHome Equity Line of CreditMistakes or Changes in Loan ServicingEscalating Costs of Home InsuranceChange in Property Tax AssessmentFalling into Negative EscrowIncrease Due to Loan ModificationAddition of Delinquent PaymentsIntroduction of HOA Fees The Role of Escrow An escrow account is commonly set up by most mortgage lenders. This account is used to pay property taxes and homeowner’s insurance premiums, which are lumped into your monthly mortgage payment. Although your fixed rate loan keeps your mortgage interest rate stable, the escrow portion of your payment can change. If your property taxes or insurance premiums go up, so will your escrow payment. The inverse is also true; if these costs decrease, so will your escrow payment. Private Mortgage Insurance Adjustment If you bought your home with less than a 20% down payment, chances are you’re paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI protects the lender if you stop making payments on your loan. The amount you pay for PMI can change over time. It’s calculated based on the remaining balance of your loan and the value of your home – both of which can change over time. If you’ve been paying for a while and have built up enough equity in your home (usually 20%), you may be able to petition to cancel PMI, which would decrease your monthly payment. Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Conversion If you initially took out an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with the intention to switch to a fixed-rate mortgage later, you might see your monthly payments increase. This is because fixed-rate mortgages often have higher interest rates than adjustable-rate mortgages. The rate on an ARM is usually lower for the first few years, but then it can increase significantly. If you decide to convert to a fixed-rate mortgage, you may end up with a higher interest rate than you had with your ARM. Refinancing Your Loan Refinancing can be a great way to lower your monthly payment or reduce the term of your loan. But, if you refinance and don’t get a lower interest rate, or if you choose to cash out some of your home equity, your monthly payment could increase. See also What Is A Mortgage Buy BackCashing out equity increases the amount of money you owe on your home, hence increasing your mortgage. If the new rate isn’t considerably lower than your old one, it’s likely that your monthly payment will be higher after refinancing. Home Equity Line of Credit A home equity line of credit (HELOC) allows homeowners to borrow against their home’s equity. This money can be used for anything from home improvements to paying off high-interest debt. Although it might seem like a smart move, adding a HELOC to your mortgage could potentially increase your monthly payments. This is because you’re essentially taking on more debt that needs to be repaid, which increases the overall loan amount. Mistakes or Changes in Loan Servicing Sometimes, simple errors in data entry or changes in loan servicing companies could cause an unexpected increase in your mortgage payment. If you notice a sudden and unexplained change in your monthly payments, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your mortgage servicer for clarification. It’s also possible that the terms of your loan have changed. This could happen if you have an adjustable-rate mortgage and the adjustment period has started, or if there’s been a change in the mortgage insurance required by your lender, among other things. While it’s easy to assume that a fixed-rate mortgage means your payment will stay the same, it’s crucial to remember that other factors can lead to changes in your monthly payment. By understanding these potential causes, you can better anticipate any changes and manage your budget accordingly. Escalating Costs of Home Insurance Another reason your mortgage payment might increase is due to a rise in the cost of homeowner’s insurance. Insurance premiums can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including the age and condition of your home, the local weather patterns, and any changes in the underwriting requirements of your insurance company. If your home insurance premium increases, your lender will need to adjust the amount collected for escrow accordingly. This means your monthly mortgage payment could rise to cover the extra expense. Change in Property Tax Assessment Property taxes are another major component of your mortgage payment that can vary from year to year. These taxes are based on the assessed value of your home and the tax rate in your area. If either of these increase, so will your property tax bill. For instance, if your home’s assessed value increases due to improvements made or a rise in local real estate values, your property taxes will go up. Similarly, if your local government raises property tax rates to cover additional community expenses, this will also result in a higher tax bill for you. See also What States Allow Felons To Have Real Estate LicenseFalling into Negative Escrow A negative escrow balance can occur when there are unexpected increases in your property taxes or homeowners insurance premiums. If your escrow account does not have sufficient funds to cover these costs, you may be required to make up the difference. Your lender will typically offer you the option to pay this lump sum upfront or spread it over several months via increased mortgage payments. If you choose the latter option, this would result in a temporary increase in your monthly payment until the negative balance is paid off. Increase Due to Loan Modification A loan modification alters the terms of your mortgage with the aim of making payments more manageable, typically in response to financial hardship. While a loan modification can lead to lower interest rates or extended loan terms, it could also result in higher monthly payments. For example, if you had previously been in a forbearance program where some payments were deferred to the end of the loan term, this could now be spread out over the remaining payments, resulting in higher monthly amounts. Addition of Delinquent Payments If you’ve missed mortgage payments in the past and have not yet caught up, these delinquent amounts could be added to your current mortgage payment. This is one way lenders attempt to recover missed payments and bring your account back into good standing. This may significantly increase your monthly payment and continue until the delinquent amount is fully repaid. It’s important to communicate with your lender if you’re struggling with repayments, as they may be able to offer some form of assistance or alternative arrangements. Introduction of HOA Fees If your property falls within a Homeowners Association (HOA), you may be required to pay monthly or yearly dues. These fees cover maintenance and improvements within the community. Although not directly linked to your mortgage payment, if you set up an automatic payment for your mortgage and decided to include HOA fees, any increase in these dues would result in a higher overall payment from your account. It’s essential to keep track of all housing-related expenses—both those included in mortgage payments and those paid separately—to not get caught off guard by unexpected increases. Related posts: Can Your Mortgage Go Up On A Fixed Rate How To Beat Balloon Payment Can You Get A Reverse Mortgage On A Mobile Home What Is Amortization In Real Estate Eco-Friendly Homes Financing and mortgages