For most people, home ownership is a major part of the American dream. For many people the purchase of a home is generally the single largest financial transaction of their lives. This being so, the financing of their homes is amongst the most important financial decisions in their lives. In order to purchase property, one of the most popular options that people generally opt for is mortgage financing.

Mortgage financing essentially means getting a mortgage loan to purchase your property. A mortgage loan is essentially a lien on a property that has to be paid over a specified period of time. Once you have paid up your loan, you own the property free and clear. In general, a mortgage represents a contract between a lender and a borrower. A lender or creditor finances the purchase of your property with you repaying the debt over a preset time period with certain interest on the loan. Since the lender provides you with the financing, it has got the legal right to recover the debt secured by the mortgage. If you are unable to make timely payments, the lender can foreclose on the property. This is because the financing offered to you by the lender is secured by your home and hence a mortgage loan is considered a "secured loan".

There is a wide range of home mortgages available in the market today and each type of mortgage may have its own advantages and disadvantages. In order to make sure that you select the mortgage that is right for you and your particular financial situation, it may be a good idea that you do your preparation prior to applying for a mortgage loan. With different combinations of loan terms, applicable types of interest rates and payment options, there can be quite a few options available to you and selecting one type of loan over another can make a large difference in your monthly payments.

There are basically two types of mortgages- fixed rate mortgage loans and adjustable rate mortgage loans. Within the general theme of these types of loans, you may have different mortgage options each with their unique sets of benefits and drawbacks. Some mortgages may provide you with the option of paying more than the minimum monthly payment or even paying off the loan in its entirety. These options may come in handy if you are thinking of mortgage refinancing sometime in the future hoping to secure a lower rate. Additionally, it may also be a good idea to evaluate what your mortgage cost is going to be before you commit yourself to a particular option. You may realize that in many cases, you may actually be paying off the interest on the loan before you start paying off the principal. You may like to look at the monthly allocation of your payments in your loan's amortization schedule, in order to know the exact breakdown.

It can always be a good idea to do your research before applying for a loan. Mortgage rates can vary from one lender to another and hence it may be wise to be in the lookout for the best mortgage rates. A mortgage is a pretty long commitment and over time the interest on your mortgage may represent a significant amount of money. It may therefore, be a good idea to check out the various mortgage calculators that may help you determine your budget and ascertain which loan type will work best for your situation.