Balloon Loan
A type of loan which does not fully amortize over its term. Since it is not fully amortized, a balloon payment is required at the end of the term to repay the remaining principal balance of the loan. Investopedia Says:
Balloon loans can be attractive to short-term borrowers because they typically carry a lower interest rate than a loan with a longer term. However, the borrower must be aware of refinancing risk and/or the risk that the loan will reset at a higher interest rate.
Some balloon loans, such as a five-year balloon mortgages, have a reset option at the end of the five-year term that allows for a resetting of the interest rate (based on current interest rates) and a recalculation of the amortization schedule based on a remaining term. If a balloon loan does not have a reset option, or frequently even when it does, it is expected that the borrower will sell the property or refinance the loan before the end of the original loan term. Related Terms:
Balloon Maturity
Balloon Option
Interest Due
Interest Rate
Mortgage
Refinance
Refinancing Risk
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