Florida Mortgage Rates Guide

Comparing Florida Mortgages

You'll have to get organized if you want to find the lowest rate mortgage in the Sunshine State. With so many mortgage options available out there, the process of comparing them can be tedious. Your first step should be to decide what type of cost savings is most important to you: Do you want the lowest possible payment? The best interest rate? Low overall interest expenses?

As a Florida resident, you can achieve any one of these objectives, whether you're purchasing that home with the Atlantic Ocean view, or just refinancing it. Your options include adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs), fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs), home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), and home equity loans. MortgageLoan.com has many tools to help you find and assess these mortgages. You can browse mortgage rates, use mortgage calculators to compare payments and review amortization schedules, and find Florida brokers and lenders in our broker directory.

Different rates, different types of Florida mortgages

Do you know how the rates for different types of Florida mortgages compare? For FRMs, the interest rate and payment amount remain the same throughout the life of the loan. These mortgages commonly mature in 30 years, but lower rate, 15-year programs are also popular. ARMs begin with a low rate-and low monthly payment-but are subject to rate increases or decreases later. Second mortgages, also known as home equity loans and HELOCs, can have a fixed or adjustable interest rate. Typically, the rates on second mortgages are higher than those on refinance mortgages.

Updating your Florida mortgage with a refinance

If you already have a mortgage, you can lower your payment, raise cash, or consolidate higher cost debt with a refinance. Refinancing to a lower interest rate, or a longer loan maturity, will lower your monthly payment. You can also cash out or consolidate, as long as you have enough equity built up in the home. Equity is created through an increase in the home's market value, or through a decrease in the mortgage loan balance.

Comparison Shopping in Florida

Thorough comparison shopping is key to finding the best rate for your mortgage or mortgage refinance. Once you know the different options available in Florida, you can start reviewing rates and gathering lender quotes. Use a lender's advertised rate as a guideline, but don't get too excited about it; these are reserved for borrowers with strong credit histories. You can also review Florida rates by credit quality and loan type here (link), if you're uncertain as to how your credit will affect your rate.

The process of finding the best mortgage rates in Florida can be summarized into four steps:

1. Contact lenders and brokers to request quotes

2. Browse Florida lenders and brokers

3. Calculate mortgage payments and amortization tables for different loan types

Lastly, remember to compare your mortgage loan quotes on an equivalent basis. For example, some rates might be quoted with points, while others might be quoted without them.