Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An IO mortgage, also known as an interest-only mortgage, is a type of mortgage where the borrower only pays the interest on the loan for a certain period of time, usually 5-10 years. At the end of this period, the borrower must pay the full principal amount in a lump sum or refinance the loan.
For example, if a borrower takes out a $200,000 IO mortgage with a 5-year term and a 4% interest rate, they would only have to pay $667 per month in interest for the first 5 years. After 5 years, they would have to pay the full $200,000.
IO mortgages can be risky for borrowers because they may not be able to afford the lump sum payment or refinance the loan when the interest-only period ends. However, they can be beneficial for borrowers who expect to have a higher income in the future or plan to sell the property before the end of the interest-only period.