Should I consider an adjustable-rate mortgage?
An ARM usually starts with a lower fixed period and then adjusts on a schedule within caps. It can fit a short expected time in the loan, and it carries the risk that payments rise later.
Interest Rates · Written by Anil Aggarwal, Realtor® | Mortgage Loan Officer · Updated August 8, 2026
Understand the fixed period, the index and margin, how often it adjusts and the caps on each adjustment and over the life of the loan.
If your plan depends on refinancing before the first adjustment, remember that future rates and your future qualification are unknown.
Fixed-rate loans cost more upfront in exchange for certainty. Which is better depends on your horizon and tolerance for change.
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