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With a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate and the mortgage portion of your monthly payment stay the same every month. However, your total monthly payment could change if your taxes or insurance costs change.

With an adjustable-rate mortgage, your monthly payment may change over time. Your interest rate is linked to an economic index, so it adjusts up or down as the index changes. If your rate goes up, then your monthly payment also goes up. If your rate drops, you’ll have a lower monthly payment.

Your down payment depends on several factors, such as the price of your new home and the type of loan you want. Many people put 20% down, but it can also be possible to buy a home with a lower down payment.

If your down payment is less than 20%, you’ll need to get private mortgage insurance, which protects the lender if you default on your mortgage.

With a down payment of 20%, you might qualify for a lower interest rate. And the larger your down payment, the lower your monthly mortgage payment will be. A higher down payment can also give you a competitive advantage over other buyers, especially in a competitive market.

If you want to buy a home within the next few months, then it’s a good idea to get preapproved. Preapproval shows the seller that you’re serious about buying and you have the funds you need to make a purchase. If you’re searching for a home in a competitive market, preapproval makes your offer more attractive to sellers and gives you a critical advantage over other potential buyers.

While many lenders cancel their preapprovals after 90 days, there’s no expiration date on ours. If any of the documents in your credit approval file are out of date, we’ll offer you the opportunity to update them so that you can keep your preapproval in place.

Your credit score affects the interest rate you qualify for when you apply for a mortgage. With a higher credit score, you can usually qualify for a lower interest rate, which lowers your monthly payment and reduces the overall cost of your loan.

If you’re not sure what your credit score is, you can request a free copy of your credit score every 12 months from https://www.freecreditreport.com/. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like it to be, here are some tips for improving your credit.