An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) is a mortgage loan where
the interest rate on the note is periodically adjusted based
on a variety of indexes.[1]. Among the most common indexes
are the rates on 1-year constant-maturity Treasury (CMT) securities,
the Cost of Funds Index (COFI), and the London Interbank Offered
Rate (LIBOR). A few lenders use their own cost of funds as
an index, rather than using other indexes. This is done to
ensure a steady margin for the lender, whose own cost of funding
will usually be related to the index. Consequently, payments
made by the borrower may change over time with the changing
interest rate (alternatively, the term of the loan may change).
This is not to be confused with the graduated payment mortage,
which offers changing payment amounts but a fixed interest
rate. Other forms of mortgage loan include interest only mortgage,
fixed rate mortgage, negative amortization mortgage, and balloon
payment mortgage. Adjustable rates transfer part of the interest
rate risk from the lender to the borrower. They can be used
where unpredictable interest rates make fixed rate loans difficult
to obtain. The borrower benefits if the interest rate falls
and loses out if interest rates rise.