What are the terms of an interest only mortgage Is it equivalent to a 30-year fixed with additional principal payments?

Answer 1

With an interest only mortgage, the borrower pays only the interest due on the money that is borrowed. There is no money allotted in the payment amount that is reducing the principle. Interest only mortgages therefore have much lower payments but can result in negative amortization. 30-year fixed rate mortgages have money (albeit a very small amount to begin with) figured into the payment which is paying off the principle from the very first payment. Making additional payments toward the principle not only reduces the total amount of the loan, but also the amount of the total interest that will be paid to the lender. The amount of the payment may be much higher, but the result is equity (ownership). An interest only loan never leads to equity other than appreciation.