There’s good news for those shocked by rising payments on interest-only and adjustable-rate mortgages. It’s possible an insurance product may help eliminate some of the stress.
Interest-only loans and adjustable-rate mortgages, made popular when interest rates dipped below 5 percent, made low monthly payments possible even when borrowers put little or no money down.
However, many homeowners are now seeing payment increases as low introductory rates increase and interest-only periods end.
Experts believe the increases are contributing to rising foreclosures-up 45 percent in January, according to foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac.
“One trillion dollars worth of mortgages will reset to new interest rates next year-we could be facing a major crisis,” said Bill Ruh, Government Affairs Director of the California-based Citrus Valley Association of Realtors. “Buyers may think they can only purchase a home using a short-term or fancy combo loan, but the reliable 30-year-fixed mortgage is an attainable and secure option.”
While many have tried to avoid it in the past, new types of private mortgage insurance...