Definition Of Graduated Payment Mortgage (GPM) In Real Estate

Definition of "Graduated payment mortgage (GPM)"

Donna Nicholson, Real Estate Agent Baird & Warner Real Estate

A special kind of fixed rate mortgage (conventional mortgage) in which the monthly payments are less in the beginning years and more in the later years. After five years it usually levels off for the remainder of the loan payment. Under the level annuity, fully-amortized mortgage, each month's payment is the same. For some purchasers the required monthly payment is so high that a lender will not make the loan simply because the borrower's income is insufficient. With a GPM, monthly mortgage payments start at an amount less than would be required under a level annuity payment and increase periodically over the life of the mortgage. Therefore, the borrower can fiance a larger purchase than if the monthly payment were level throughout the life of the mortgage.