During the initial period, which is year one through year five, the rate holds steady at 2.75%.

But in year six, the start rate (which had been fixed) disappears and the rate becomes the sum of the index and margin (1.25 + 2.25 = 3.5%).

In year seven, we pretend the index increases by another .50%, raising your mortgage rate to 4%. In year eight, a big jump in the index increases your rate another two percentage points to 6%.

This is where ARMs can get scary in a hurry, and why most homeowners prefer fixed rates instead.

Tip: You can look up current SOFR rates here to find your index. Most of today’s ARM are tied to SOFR.

Your ARM Rate Could Reset Lower Too

Of course, this is just one scenario – the rate could also go down or stay the same, and even remain lower than comparable fixed-rate mortgages.

So it certainly goes both ways, it’s just that you’re taking a risk with an ARM as opposed to a fixed-rate product that never changes. That’s why you get a mortgage rate discount initially.

It is equally important to note both the index and margin when selecting a mortgage program from your bank or mortgage broker.

Many consumers overlook the margin, or simply don’t even realize it’s an active component of the adjustable-rate mortgage.

But as you can see, it plays a major role in the pricing of an ARM. Margins can vary by over 1% from lender to lender, so it can certainly affect you mortgage payment in a major way.

If you want a lower interest rate, inquire about the margin and try to find a bank offering a lower one.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Interest Rate Caps (ARM Caps)

• ARMs feature caps to limit interest rate movement throughout the life of the loan
• This way borrowers won’t face payment shock if their ARMs adjust higher
• There are initial, periodic, and lifetime caps on ARMs
• While caps are intended to keep payments from spiraling out of control, they still allow for big payment swings

The good news is adjustable-rate mortgages carry adjustment caps, which limit the amount of rate change that can occur in certain time periods. There are three types of caps to take note of:

Initial: How much the rate can change at the time of first adjustment. In the examples above, it would be the initial adjustment after the first 5 years of the loan.

Periodic: The amount of rate change during each period, which in the case of a 5/6 ARM is every six months, or just once annually for a 5/1 ARM.

Lifetime: Total rate change during the life of loan. So throughout the full 30 years, it can’t exceed this amount, or drop below this amount.

Typically, you might see caps structured like 6/2/6. This means the rate can change a full 6% once it first becomes adjustable, 2% periodically (with each subsequent rate change), and 6% total throughout the life of the loan.

So if the start rate were 2.75%, it could jump to 8.75% upon first adjustment, but it wouldn’t be able to move any higher because that’s also the lifetime cap.

Or it could go from 2.75% to 4.75%, then up to 6.75% at the first periodic adjustment.

And remember, the caps allow the interest rate to go both up and down. So if the market is improving, your adjustable-rate mortgage can go down!

But again, it would be limited by the caps, so your rate will never swing higher or lower more than the caps allow.

Additionally, many lenders put in interest rate floors that often coincide with the initial rate, meaning your rate will never go below its start rate.

[Check out the top adjustable-rate mortgage lenders in the country based on loan volume.]

Hybrid Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

• Many of today’s ARMs are actually both fixed and adjustable
• They feature a period of time where the interest rate doesn’t change
• Which can range from as little as six months to as long as 10 years
• Followed by an adjustable-rate period for the remainder of the loan term

Nowadays, most adjustable-rate home loans are hybrids. This means they carry an initial fixed period followed by an adjustable period.

They are also usually based on a 30-year amortization, meaning they last 30 years like fixed mortgages and are paid off similarly.

For example, you may see mortgage programs advertised like a 5/25 ARM or 3/27 ARM, just to name a couple.

A 5/25 ARM means is a 30-year mortgage, with the first five years fixed, and the remaining 25 years adjustable.

Same goes for the 3/27, except only the first three years are fixed, and the remaining 27 years are adjustable.

You may also see programs such as a 5/6 ARM. The interest rate is fixed for the first five years, variable for the remaining 25 years, and will adjust every six months.

If you see a 5/1 ARM, it is exactly the same as the 5/6 ARM, except it changes only once a year after the five-year fixed period.

Types of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages

• There are a dozen or more ARM choices available to homeowners today
• But not all banks and lenders may offer each type of ARM
• The 5/1 and 7/1 tend to be the most common these days, along with the 3/1 and 10/1
• You may find many additional choices if you take the time to shop around

There are many different types of adjustable-rate mortgages, ranging from one-month ARMs to 10-year ARMs.

Obviously this represents quite a range of risk, so be careful when comparing different loan products.

1-month ARM: First adjustment after one month, then adjusts monthly
6-month ARM: First adjustment after six months, then adjusts every six months
1-year ARM: First adjustment after one year, then adjusts annually
2/2 ARM: First adjustment after two years, then adjusts every two years
3/1 ARM: First adjustment after three years, then adjusts annually
3/6 ARM: First adjustment after three years, then adjusts every six months
5/1 ARM: First adjustment after five years, then adjusts annually
3/3 ARM: First adjustment after three years, then adjusts every three years
3/5 ARM: First adjustment after three years, then adjusts every five years
5/5 ARM: First adjustment after five years, then adjusts every five years
5/6 ARM: First adjustment after five years, then adjusts every six months
7/1 ARM: First adjustment after seven years, then adjusts annually
7/6 ARM: First adjustment after seven years, then adjusts semi-annually
10/1 ARM: First adjustment after 10 years, then adjusts annually
10/6 ARM: First adjustment after 10 years, then adjusts semi-annually
15/15 ARM: First and only adjustment after 15 years

Which Adjustable-Rate Mortgage Is Best?

As you can see, an ARM can give you as long as 15 years of fixed-rate payments, or as little as one month. Then you’re looking at adjustable rates from there on out.

The biggest discounts should be on the shortest-term ARMs, such as a 1-month or 6-month ARM.

And the smallest discount on products like the 10/1 or 10/6 ARM.

Note that there are other types of ARMs out there, and they may be advertised differently.

For example, you might see a 2/28 ARM, or a 3/27 ARM, which are fixed for two and three years, respectively, before becoming adjustable. These might adjust every six months as opposed to annually.

ARM Interest Rates Should Be Lower

• The main draw of an ARM is the lower interest rate compared to a fixed-rate mortgage
• Discount depends on both the type of ARM and how competitive the lender is who is offering the product
• Timing can also come into play since spreads between ARMs and FRMs may widen or contract based on market conditions
• Take the time to shop around because ARM rates can vary considerably from one lender to the next

Pretty much the only reason homeowners take out ARMs is for the initial interest rate discount.

Yes, they are priced lower than fixed-rate mortgages, all else being equal.

So homeowners can save some money and pay off their home loans a bit faster if the associated rate is lower.

While it depends on the ARM in question, you should see a substantial discount on ARM mortgage rates versus fixed rates.

For example, a 30-year fixed might be priced at 6% on a given day, while a comparable 5/6 ARM is priced at 5.5%.

This spread will depend on the lender in question. Some may be more or less competitive on certain types of loan products. And spreads can change over time based on wider economic issues.

As a rule of thumb, the longer the initial fixed-rate period on the ARM, the lower the interest rate discount.

A 7/6 ARM might be priced at 5.625%, and a 10/6 ARM at 5.75%, relative to the rates discussed above.

Conversely, a 3/6 ARM might be priced closer to 5.25%, and a one-year ARM could be priced even lower.

Of course, that means there’s a lot more risk of a mortgage rate adjustment in the very near future. As such, those products are really only good for a homeowner who needs short-term financing.

How to Calculate an ARM Loan

• To calculate an ARM once it goes adjustable
• Simply combine the preset margin and the current index price
• Then multiply it by the outstanding loan amount
• Be sure to use the remaining loan term in months to determine the correct payment

Now that you’ve seen the many ARM loan options available, you might be wondering how to calculate an ARM adjustment.

After all, there’s a chance you might face a rate adjustment if you hold onto your mortgage beyond the fixed period.

Fortunately, it’s not too difficult to calculate, you just need a few key pieces of information.

This includes the fully indexed rate (index+margin), the outstanding loan balance, and the remaining loan term.

For example, if you took out a 5/1 ARM with a rate of 2.5% and a loan amount of $200,000, the monthly payment would be $790.24 for the first 60 months.

After 60 months, the principal balance (remaining mortgage amount) would be $176,150.87.

Now let’s assume your margin is 2.25 and the index is 1.50. Together, that’s a new rate of 3.75%

We then have to apply that new rate of 3.75% to the remaining balance of $176,150.87 over the remaining term, which would be 300 months (25 years).

That results in a monthly payment of $905.65, at least for the 12 monthly payments during year six.

The loan will then re-amortize again at the start of year seven, and the monthly payment will be generated using the new outstanding balance and interest rate at that time. And so on down the line…

It’s good to know the math so you can compare your notes to your loan servicer’s to ensure everything is as it should be.

Why Choose an Adjustable-Rate Mortgage?

• The number one reason is to obtain a lower interest rate
• Which can save you money each month via less interest
• And decrease your monthly payments (more affordable)
• But it’s not without risk if interest rates rise significantly

You might be wondering why anyone would get an adjustable-rate mortgage. Well, the main advantage of an ARM is the lower mortgage rate relative to a fixed-rate home loan.

This spread can differ over time and might be wider if fixed rates are high, making ARM rates more attractive to homeowners.

There aren’t really many pros and cons to adjustable-rate mortgages outside the interest rate offered.

Most homeowners get into adjustable-rate mortgages for the lower initial payment, and then usually refinance the loan when the fixed period ends.

At that time, the interest rate becomes variable, or adjustable, and the homeowner would likely refinance into another ARM or a fixed mortgage, pay off the mortgage entirely, or sell the home outright.

They can also just stick with the ARM if the rate and payment are favorable after the initial fixed-rate period ends.

ARMs Can Be a Good Short-Term Solution

Some homeowners may also choose an adjustable-rate mortgage if the home is simply a short-term investment, or if they don’t plan on owning the home for more than say five years.

However, note that home buyers can’t qualify for a larger mortgage amount due to the lower rate on the ARM because lenders use a fully-indexed or even higher rate for qualification purposes.

For the record, a home equity line of credit (HELOC) is also considered an adjustable-rate mortgage because it’s tied to prime, and that can change whenever the federal funds rate changes.

Keep in mind that all adjustable-rate mortgages carry risk as the monthly payments can change, sometimes sharply if the timing isn’t right.

At the same time, ARM interest rates can increase or decrease once adjustable, so it won’t always necessarily be bad news.

And the savings realized during the fixed-rate period can eclipse any subsequent payment increases, at least for a while.

In summary, make an interest rate plan before you purchase real estate.

Decide what you want to do with the home over the next five years, and from there, you’ll be able to decide if an adjustable-rate mortgage is right for you.