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Interest Only Mortgage Calculator

Interest Only Mortgage Calculator

Calculator developed by
Michael Jensen
, Mortgage and Finance Guru
Edited by Harry Jensen

Use our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator to determine your initial monthly payment, projected payments and downside case for an interest only loan. Your interest rate and mortgage payment can increase significantly with an interest only mortgage and you can use our calculator to evaluate how your payment and interest expense can change over the course of your loan. We recommend that you use this calculator to run different cases to understand if an interest only mortgage is the right financing choice for you.

Watch our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator "How To" video

Inputs

Indicates the size of mortgage you would like to obtain
Please Enter Mortage Amount
The length, in years, of the mortgage. The most common mortgage term is 30 years
Please Select Mortgage Term (Years)
Initial time period for an interest only mortgage during which the interest rate is fixed and you only pay interest and no principal. The interest only period is typically 3, 5, 7 or 10 years
Please Select Interest Only Rate Period
The current interest rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage is approximately 5.750%
Please Select Interest Only Period Interest Rate
Determines how frequently your interest rate adjusts during the adjustable rate period of the mortgage. The adjustment period is typically every year (annual) or every six months (semi-annual)
Please Select Adjustment Period
The index is an underlying interest rate that is added to the margin to calculate your mortgage rate. Lenders typically use the 30 day average SOFR as the index for interest only loans after June 2020 and the 1 year LIBOR for loans prior to June 2020.
Please Select Interest Only Index
The current value of the index. The value of the index can change over the term of an interest only mortgage.
Please Enter Interest Only Index (%)
The second of two components used to calculate the fully-indexed rate. The margin is a set interest rate amount that does not change over the term of an interest only loan. The margin is typically 2.0% - 3.0%.
Please Select Interest Only Margin
A cap that limits the change in interest rate for the initial adjustment period following the interest only period
Please Select Initial Adjustment Cap
A cap that limits the change in the fully-indexed rate in any single adjustment period following the initial adjustment period
Please Select Adjustment Cap
A cap that limits the maximum increase in interest rate over the term of the mortgage
Please Select Life Cap

Outputs

Your monthly mortgage payment during the initial interest only period of the mortgage. Your payment during this period includes only interest and no principal

Current Fully-Indexed Rate Scenario

Current fully-indexed rate based on the current value of the interest only ARM index and margin. This is the value of the fully-indexed rate today, the value of the fully-indexed interest will likely change in the future
Initial mortgage payment during the adjustable rate period of the mortgage following the interest only period. Calculated based on the current fully-indexed rate
Total interest expense over the term of the mortgage based on using the current fully-indexed rate to calculate the monthly mortgage payment throughout the entire adjustable rate period of the mortgage
Worst Case Scenario
The maximum interest rate possible at the beginning of the adjustable rate period
Initial mortgage payment during the adjustable rate period of the mortgage; calculated based on the maximum interest rate possible at the beginning of the adjustable rate period
The maximum possible interest rate. Determined by the life cap of the mortgage
The first month when the maximum possible interest rate can be used to calculate the monthly mortgage payment. Determined by adjustment cap and life cap
Monthly mortgage payment based on the maximum possible interest rate over the life of the mortgage and the mortgage balance at that time
The worst case scenario -- total interest expense over the term of the mortgage calculated based on reaching the maximum interest rate as soon as possible
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How Our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator Works

Interest only mortgages have two phases: the interest only period and the adjustable period. The interest only period is when your interest rate and monthly payment are fixed and your payment is comprised of only interest and no principal, which means it is lower than the payment for an amortizing loan.  At the end of the interest only period, the loan starts to amortize, which means you are required to pay both principal and interest so your monthly payment typically increases. During this phase of the loan your interest rate is also subject to adjust on an annual or semi-annual basis, depending on your loan terms.  This is why interest only loans are also sometimes called interest only adjustable rate mortgages or interest only ARMs for short. Our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator captures all of these factors to help you evaluate your initial and potential future monthly payments.

Interest Only Period.  This is the length of the interest only period of the loan during which your payment is comprised only of interest and no principal.

Interest Only Period Rate. This is your mortgage rate during the interest only period.  The shorter the interest only period, the lower your interest rate.

Adjustment Period. This is how frequently your loan can adjust after the interest only period ends.  Interest only mortgages usually adjust every year or semi-annually.

Interest Only Index.  This is an interest rate such as treasury yield that is one of two components that are used to calculate the fully-indexed rate, which is your interest rate after the interest only period, when the mortgage also amortizes.  The interest only index is dynamic and changes based on economic conditions.

Interest Only Margin.  This is a set percentage rate that is added to the interest only index to determine your fully-indexed rate.  The interest only margin is fixed and does not change over the course of your loan.

Loan Caps.   Interest only mortgages have adjustment and life caps that restrict how much your mortgage rate can change at each adjustment period and over the course of the loan but, as our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator demonstrates, your rate and payment can still spike.  The interest only period rate plus the life cap equals the maximum mortgage rate for an interest only loan.

Our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator enables you to understand the following information:

Interest Only Payment.  This is your monthly payment during the interest only phase of the loan and is calculated using the interest only period rate.  You continue making this payment for a fixed number of years, depending on the length of the interest only period. The lower your initial rate, the lower your payment.  This monthly payment is also lower because it does not include principal.

Payment After the Interest Only Period.  Following the interest only period, your mortgage amortizes which means you are required to pay both principal and interest.   During this phase of the loan your interest rate is also subject to adjust on an annual or semi-annual basis, depending on your mortgage terms.  The rate during this phase of an interest only mortgage is called the fully-indexed rate and is calculated by adding the index to the margin. For example, if the index is 3.000% and the margin is 2.500%, then the fully-indexed rate used to calculate your payment is 5.500%.  Our calculator shows you the current fully-indexed rate and monthly payment based on the information you inputted. The fully-indexed rate changes over time but this scenario allows you to evaluate what your payment may be when the mortgage begins to amortize. You can also understand the total interest expense for an interest only loan based on applying the current fully-indexed rate for the remainder of the mortgage.

Downside Case.  The final scenario our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator shows you is the downside case, when your interest rate and monthly payment increase as much as possible as quickly as possible.  In short, this is what could happen if your interest rate spikes when you are required to start paying principal. This scenario demonstrates the potential payment shock for borrowers accustomed to making a lower interest only payment.  This case represents the significant downside of an interest only mortgage as compared to a fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage. While this case is improbable the calculator enables you understand all of the possible scenarios -- good and bad -- for an interest only loan.

What Borrowers Should Know About an Interest Only Mortgage

1

Interest Only Mortgage Basics

With an an interest only mortgage you pay only interest and no principal during the first three, five, seven or ten years of the loan, which is called the interest only period, and then loan converts into an amortizing mortgage and you pay both principal and interest for the remainder of the mortgage, which is called the adjustable rate period because your interest rate is subject to change.  Interest only mortgages are often referred to as 3/1, 5/1, 7/1 or 10/1 Interest Only ARMs (IO ARMs) with the first number indicating the length of the interest only period and the second number indicating how frequently the interest rate can change during the adjustable rate period.  For example, with a 5/1 interest only mortgage, you pay only interest at a fixed interest rate for the first five years of the loan and then you pay both interest and principal plus your mortgage rate is subject to change and potentially increase on an annual basis for the remaining 25 years of the mortgage.

2

Interest Rate for an Interest Only Mortgage

The interest rate for an interest only mortgage during the interest only period is set by the lender based on market conditions and negotiations with the borrower.  The interest only period interest rate is usually less than the rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage but higher than the rate for a comparable adjustable rate mortgage (ARM).  The interest rate during the adjustable rate period is called the fully-index rate and is determined by adding the index to the margin.  The margin is a set interest rate, usually between between 2.0% and 3.0%, that does not change over the course of your mortgage.  The index is an underlying interest rate, such as SOFR, LIBOR or the treasury rate, that fluctuates based on economic factors.  Because you add the index to the margin to determine your mortgage rate, if the index increases, your mortgage rate increases but if the index decreases, your rate goes down.  If the fully-indexed rate increases, your mortgage payment increases as well.  Additionally, when your mortgage converts from an interest only loan to an amortizing loan, your mortgage payment typically increases because you start paying both principal and interest plus your interest rate can increase which would cause your payment to increase even more.  Our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator shows you how the monthly payment based on the fully-indexed rate and including principal increases as compared to the initial payment.

3

Benefits of an Interest Only Mortgage

Benefits of an interest only mortgage include a lower initial monthly mortgage payment as compared to a fixed rate mortgage or adjustable rate mortgage.  The lower monthly mortgage payment typically means that you can afford a larger mortgage amount with an interest only loan.  Use our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator to determine the lower monthly payment during the initial several years of the loan.  Additionally, interest only loans offer borrowers the flexibility to pay down their mortgage balance when they want to.   Borrowers can pay down their mortgage balance by any amount at any time over the course of the loan which is especially beneficial to borrowers who generate a significant portion of their income from a bonus.  Interest only mortgages can also be a good option for borrowers in a high interest rate environment.  In that scenario you pay a lower monthly payment initially and then you also benefit when your interest rate declines in the future.  Predicting interest rates is highly challenging and exposes borrowers to significant risk.

4

Negatives of an Interest Only Mortgage

Negatives of an interest only mortgage include the possibility that your monthly payment and interest rate jump in the future.  When your mortgage converts from an interest only loan to an amortizing loan, your mortgage payment typically increases because you start paying both principal and interest plus your interest rate can increase which would cause your payment to increase even more.  With some interest only mortgages your mortgage rate can increase by 50% or more at any adjustment period which causes your monthly payment to increase significantly.  In general, interest only mortgages are better suited for borrowers with a higher risk tolerance or who are going to sell their homes before the end of the interest only period.  Our Interest Only Mortgage Calculator enables you to understand the negatives of an interest only loan by showing you the monthly payment and total interest expense using the maximum mortgage rate.  Borrowers who value certainty and peace of mind should avoid the potential payment shock associated with an interest only mortgage.

5

You May Need to Shop Around to Find an Interest Only Mortgage

After the real estate market collapsed most lenders stopped offering interest only mortgages due to regulatory issues and other concerns.  As the real estate and mortgage markets have recovered over the past several years more lenders have started offering interest only loans again but most lenders still do not offer them.  You may need to contact multiple lenders to find one that offers interest only mortgages.  Because they are less common, there tends to be a wider discrepancy in loan terms plus qualification requirements can vary.  For example, one lender may charge a significantly higher interest rate and require a higher down payment than another lender.  Borrowers should always shop multiple lenders to find the best mortgage  terms but the relative market scarcity makes this especially important for interest only loans.    

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Current Mortgage Rates in Ashburn, Virginia as of March 19, 2024
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Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by ICB, a division of Mortgage Research Center, NMLS #1907, Equal Housing Opportunity. Payments do not include taxes or insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Read through our lender table disclaimer for more information on rates and product details.
While we pride ourselves on the quality and breadth of the FREEandCLEAR mortgage calculators please note that they should be used for informational purposes only. Our calculators rely on assumptions by us and inputs and assumptions provided by you, which may be inaccurate. The outputs from our calculators are estimates only and should not be used as the sole basis for making any financial decisions. Always consult multiple financial professionals when determining the mortgage size and program that is appropriate for you.

More FREEandCLEAR Mortgage Resources

Mortgage Guides

How an Interest Only Mortgage Works

Review our comprehensive explanation of how an interest only mortgage works including key program terminology, reasons to select an interest only mortgage and informative examples

Programs

Downsides of an Interest Only Mortgage

Understand the key risks of an interest only mortgage including potential payment shock when borrowers are required to start paying both principal and interest

Interest Rates

Interest Only Mortgage Rates

Review interest only mortgage rates in your area based on interest only period rate, credit score and other inputs.  Comparing interest only mortgage rates from multiple lenders is the best way to find the mortgage with the lowest rate and fees

Ask a Mortgage Expert

Ask an Expert

Got mortgage questions? We love answering them. Submit your mortgage questions and receive an informative response within 24 hours

Resources

Pros and Cons of an Interest Only Loan

Understand the benefits and risks of an interest only mortgage to determine if it meets your financial and personal objectives 

Sources

"What is an "interest-only" loan?” CFPB. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, February 22 2017. Web.

About the calculator developer

Michael Jensen, Mortgage and Finance Guru

Michael is the co-founder of FREEandCLEAR. Michael possesses extensive knowledge about mortgages and finance and has been writing about mortgages for nearly a decade. His work has been featured in leading national and industry publications. More about Michael

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