Introductory rate

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An introductory rate (also known as a teaser rate) is an interest rate charged to a customer during the initial stages of a loan. The rate, which can be as low as 0%, is not permanent and after it expires a normal or higher than normal rate will apply. [1]

Contents

The purpose of the introductory rate is to market the loan to customers and to seem attractive. They are commonly used for the application of balance transfers, and they may or may not apply to cash advances. [2]

In the United States, the Fair Credit and Charge Card Disclosure Act (FCCCDA) requires that the rate that will occur following the expiration of the introductory rate be clearly disclosed to the customer. [3]

When determining qualification for a loan

Sometimes, due to an introductory rate, an applicant can get approved for a mortgage based on payment history, when that applicant may have had a good payment history on the introductory rate, but may not be able to maintain such payments once this rate expires and rises. [4]

Teaser rate

A teaser rate is a low, adjustable introductory interest rate advertised for a loan, credit card, or deposit account in order to attract potential customers to obtain the service. [5] The teaser rates are normally too good to be true for the long term, and are far below the common realistic rate for the service. In a competitive market, many companies will compete with each other for the lower teaser rate. [6] Typically, the teaser rate is 0%.

The teaser rate is only temporary. After its expiration, the rate increases to a normal or much higher than normal rate, [7] and in some cases, the borrower cannot keep up with making payments.

Some consumers with good credit manage to take advantage of teaser rates by applying for a card, having their balances transferred to that card, and then maintaining payments on that card during the period of the teaser rate. Prior to its expiration, they obtain another card that they use for the same. They continue this technique continually in an attempt to keep money borrowed at low interest rates. Many credit card issuers who catch onto a consumer using this technique will be reluctant to offer the teaser rate to such consumers. [3]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fixed income</span> Type of investment

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The term annual percentage rate of charge (APR), corresponding sometimes to a nominal APR and sometimes to an effective APR (EAPR), is the interest rate for a whole year (annualized), rather than just a monthly fee/rate, as applied on a loan, mortgage loan, credit card, etc. It is a finance charge expressed as an annual rate. Those terms have formal, legal definitions in some countries or legal jurisdictions, but in the United States:

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In finance, negative amortization occurs whenever the loan payment for any period is less than the interest charged over that period so that the outstanding balance of the loan increases. As an amortization method the shorted amount is then added to the total amount owed to the lender. Such a practice would have to be agreed upon before shorting the payment so as to avoid default on payment. This method is generally used in an introductory period before loan payments exceed interest and the loan becomes self-amortizing. The term is most often used for mortgage loans; corporate loans with negative amortization are called PIK loans.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Credit card interest</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Line of credit</span> Arranged ability to borrow money

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Credit card balance transfer</span>

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Forbearance, in the context of a mortgage process, is a special agreement between the lender and the borrower to delay a foreclosure. The literal meaning of forbearance is "holding back". This is also referred to as mortgage moratorium.

Loan modification is the systematic alteration of mortgage loan agreements that help those having problems making the payments by reducing interest rates, monthly payments or principal balances. Lending institutions could make one or more of these changes to relieve financial pressure on borrowers to prevent the condition of foreclosure. Loan modifications have been practiced in the United States since the 1930s. During the Great Depression, loan modification programs took place at the state level in an effort to reduce levels of loan foreclosures.

Securitization is the financial practice of pooling various types of contractual debt such as residential mortgages, commercial mortgages, auto loans or credit card debt obligations and selling their related cash flows to third party investors as securities, which may be described as bonds, pass-through securities, or collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). Investors are repaid from the principal and interest cash flows collected from the underlying debt and redistributed through the capital structure of the new financing. Securities backed by mortgage receivables are called mortgage-backed securities (MBS), while those backed by other types of receivables are asset-backed securities (ABS).

References

  1. The complete idiot's guide to managing your money By Robert K. Heady, Christy Heady, Hugo Ottolenghi, page 235
  2. Truth in lending By Ralph J. Rohner, Frederick H. Miller, Robert A. Cook, Alvin C. Harrell, Elizabeth Huber, American Bar Association. Section of Business Law, page 510
  3. 1 2 Garman, E. Thomas; Forgue, Raymond (October 12, 2007). Personal Finance. Cengage Learning. ISBN   9780618938735 via Google Books.
  4. California Real Estate Practice By William H. Pivar, Lowell Anderson, Daniel S. Otto, page 354
  5. http://www.investorwords.com/4924/teaser_rate.html [ bare URL ]
  6. "teaser rate Definition | Business Dictionaries from AllBusiness.com". Archived from the original on 2007-10-31.
  7. "Mortgage Teaser Rates: Get a Low Start Rate on Your Home Loan".