Balloon Mortgages
Balloon mortgages have a note rate that is fixed for
an initial period of time, and then the remaining principal
balance is due at the end of the term. When the final
balloon payment is due at the end of the term, the borrower
can either refinance into another mortgage or pay off
the balance. The balloon loans do not have any penalties
for paying off the loan earlier than it is due. You
would be able to refinance the loan at any time during
the term. The two different terms a balloon loan can
have are typically 5 or 7 years. For example if you
had a 7 year balloon mortgage with an interest rate
of 7.5%, your rate would remain constant for the full
term and at the end of 7 years, the remaining principal
balance would become due.