Financing Options
There are many types of financing options available to home buyers.  Here are some of the most common:

Fixed Rate Mortgage
The interest rate on a fixed rate mortgage stays the same throughout the term of the loan, usually 15 or 30 years.  This means the principal interest portion of your payment remains the same. Payments are stable but initial rates tend to be higher than adjustable rate loans and often cannot be assumed by a subsequent buyer.

Balloon Mortgage
A balloon mortgage is a loan that must be paid off after a certain period. The advantage they offer is an interest rate that is lower than a mortgage that is made for 30 years.

Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM)
This interest rate is linked to a financial index, such as a Treasury security or a cost of funds, so your monthly payments can vary up or down over the life of the loan, usually 25 to 30 years. Interest rates can change monthly, annually, or every 3 or 5 years. Some ARM's have a cap on the interest rate increase, to protect the borrower.

Other terms relating to adjustable-rate mortgages:
Adjustment period: The length of time between interest rate changes. An example would be one year ARM-interest changes annually.
Cap: The limit on how much an interest rate or monthly payment can change at each adjustment or over the life of the loan.
Conversion clause: A provision in some loans that enables you to change an ARM to a fixed rate loan, usually after the first adjustment period. This may require additional fees.
Index: A measure of interest rate changes used to determine changes in the loan's interest rate over the term of the loan.
Margin: The number of percentage points a lender adds to the index rate to calculate the ARM's interest rate at each adjustment.

VA Loan
The Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae) recently announced that it has eliminated the $417,000 home loan limit on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mortgage loans. This policy change is designed to make it easier for lenders to help veterans and servicemembers use their VA Home Loan benefit to finance homes in higher priced housing markets. For more information, read the article at Military.com.

FHA Loan
FHA does not lend money or make a loan; rather, it insures loans. The down payment can be as low as 2.25%. Either buyer or seller may pay discount points. FHA charges a 2.25% up front Mortgage Insurance Premium (or as little as 2% for a first time home buyer) that can be financed in the mortgage amount or paid in cash (no premium is required for condominiums). The borrower must also pay an annual Mortgage Insurance Premium or 0.5%, which is collected monthly.

Seller Assisted Second Mortgage
The seller of the house lends the buyer enough to make up the difference between the purchase price and the down payment plus first-mortgage balance (a commercial lender may also make this kind of loan). The terms including the interest rate are based on buyer/seller agreement. It is often a short-term (5 to 15 year) loan; sometimes "interest only" payments until the term date when the balance is due in full. A buyer can then refinance the home.

Assumable Mortgage
Buyer "takes over" or assumes the mortgage obligation of the seller (with concurrence of the lender). The interest rate doesn't change and is sometimes lower than current rates. Often the loan fees are less as well.