Definition of "Effective Rate"

The interest rate adjusted for intra-year compounding. Because interest on a mortgage is calculated monthly, a 6% mortgage actually has a rate of .5% per month. If there were no principal repayments the first year, $100 invested in a 6% mortgage would actually earn $6.17 of interest during the year because of reinvestment of monthly interest. The 'effective rate' is thus 6.17%, while 6% is termed the 'nominal' rate. Similarly, a 6% bond on which interest is paid quarterly has an effective rate of 6.14%.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Mortgage Terms

The highest rate possible under an ARM contract; same as 'lifetime cap.' It is often expressed as a specified number of percentage points above the initial interest rate. ...

The process of determining whether a prospective borrower has the ability to repay a loan. Qualification Versus Approval: To be approved for a loan, a prospective borrower must ...

Advice on where to go to get a mortgage. A borrower can always select a loan provider by throwing a dart at the Yellow Pages. A referral is of value if it raises the probability of a ...

A contract provision that adjusts the payment on an ARM periodically to make it fully amortizing. ...

The option to convert an ARM to an FRM at some point during its life. ...

A documentation requirement where the applicant's assets are not disclosed. ...

A mortgage lender that sells all the loans it originates in the secondary market. ...

Rates and points quoted by loan providers. You cannot safely assume that mortgage price quotes are always timely, niche-adjusted, complete, or reliable. Timeliness: Most mortgage lenders ...

On an ARM, the assumption that the interest rate rises to the maximum extent permitted by the loan contract. ...

Popular Mortgage Questions