When it comes to buying their dream houses, people often turn to financing. But it’s not easy to look for a nice home, get a loan to buy it, then spending the next several years paying off the mortgage. Don’t get swayed into a false sense of security even when banks and moneylenders give you very low interest rates — you’ll still need to do your homework.

It is best to also shop around for the different kinds of loans available. People buy homes for different reasons and you should evaluate your own as well as your needs and preferences to make sure you choose the right housing loan.

Are you a low-income house hunter?

If you’re having problems getting a loan because your income doesn’t qualify you for it, then maybe a temporary buydown is best for you. A temporary buydown is a loan that’s meant for low-income people who are expecting an increase in income soon.

The most popular types of temporary buydowns are the 3-2-1 buydown loan and the two-to-one buydown mortgage. In a 3-2-1 buydown, the interest rate increases by one point each year for the period of three years. After that, the rate becomes fixed throughout the life of the loan. The same is the case for two-to-one buydowns except you lower the interest rates for a period of two years.

These types of loans need the borrower to spend a bit more money at the early part of the loan duration. These little sacrifices are needed for you to be awarded the credit.

For those looking for temporary housing

Do you want to acquire a house but are not certain on permanently settling in a specific place? If yes, try having the delayed adjustable rate loan (Delayed Adjustable Rate Mortgage or Delayed ARM). This is suitable for people who are always moving from one place to another or those who are planning to sell the house after paying it off.

In delayed ARMs, borrowers pay fixed monthly payments for a longer period of time before the loan starts to adjust. For example, if you take out a 5-1 ARM then the interest rate on your loan stays the same for the next five years. The interest rate starts to adjust on year six and every year after that for the rest of the term. How much your interest changes will depend on market conditions.

For those looking to settle down

If you’re planning to settle down somewhere for good, then a fixed-rate mortgage is best for you. Fixed-rate mortgages have interest rates that won’t change for the lifetime of the loan, meaning you’ll be paying a fixed amount every single month. Getting a fixed-rate mortgage with low interest rates is a great idea, since you won’t have to pay more even when market rates rise.

Fixed-rate mortgages come in 30 or 15 years. Both will have you pay the same amount, but the longer one will charge you a lesser monthly fee.