How much money will I save by choosing a 15-year loan rather than a 30-year loan?

A 15-year fixed rate mortgage gives you the ability to own your home free and clear in 15 years. And, while the monthly payments are somewhat higher than a 30-year loan, the interest rate on the 15-year mortgage is usually a little lower, and more important - you will pay less than half the total interest cost of the traditional 30-year mortgage.

Is comparing APRs the best way to decide which lender has the lowest rates and fees?

The Federal Truth in Lending law requires all financial institutions disclose the APR when they advertise a rate. The APR is designed to present the actual cost of obtaining financing, by requiring some, but not all, closing fees be included in the APR calculation. These fees, in addition to the interest rate, determine the estimated cost of financing over the full term of the loan. Since most people do not keep the mortgage for the entire loan term, it may be misleading to spread the effect of some of these up front costs over the entire loan term.

What is an adjustable rate mortgage?

An adjustable rate mortgage, or an "ARM" as they are commonly called, is a loan type which offers a lower initial interest rate than most fixed rate loans. The trade off is the interest rate can change periodically, usually in relation to an index, and the monthly payment will go up or down accordingly.

Against the advantage of the lower payment at the beginning of the loan, you should weigh the risk an increase in interest rates would lead to higher monthly payments in the future. It is a trade-off. You get a lower rate with an ARM in exchange for assuming more risk.

How are interest rates determined?

Interest rates fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including inflation, the pace of economic growth, and Federal Reserve policy. Over time, inflation has the largest influence on the level of interest rates. A modest rate of inflation will almost always lead to low interest rates, while concerns about rising inflation normally cause interest rates to increase. Our nation's central bank, the Federal Reserve, implements policies designed to keep inflation and interest rates relatively low and stable.

Why am I prompted to log out of my online account?

To help ensure your security, a warning message will pop up when use of the electronic banking system has exceeded the time limit. You will be automatically logged off, so please save your work. This is to protect your information should you unexpectedly get called away from your device and have not logged off.

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I can't see my menu options when I log into the Northfield Savings Bank Mobile app using my phone or tablet.