A temporary mortgage rate reduction strategy allows borrowers to lower their initial interest payments for a set period. Specifically, the interest rate is reduced by 3% in the first year, 2% in the second year, and 1% in the third year, before returning to the original note rate for the remainder of the loan term. As an illustration, consider a borrower with a note rate of 6%. With this approach, they would pay 3% interest in the first year, 4% in the second year, and 5% in the third year.
This mechanism offers several advantages, particularly for individuals anticipating income growth or those seeking to manage cash flow during the initial years of homeownership. It can make homeownership more accessible by reducing the initial financial burden. The concept isn’t new; variations have been employed in real estate markets to stimulate sales or assist buyers during periods of high interest rates or economic uncertainty.