What Is a 10/1 ARM and How Does It Work?

Whether you’re buying your first home or you’re already a homeowner, no mortgage experience is quite the same. With a wide variety of mortgages to pick from – each its own type, with specific terms and rates – it’s no surprise that shopping for a mortgage can feel overwhelming.

Knowing what you need in a loan may help reduce your stress – and narrow your options. 

You’ll likely hear a lot of talk about fixed-rate loans, but a 10-year adjustable-rate mortgage (aka 10/1 ARM) can benefit some home buyers. Keep reading to learn more about 10/1 ARMs, including how they work – and how to know if they’ll work for you.

What Is a 10/1 ARM?

A 10/1 ARM is a type of adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) with a fixed interest rate for the first 10 years of the loan. After 10 years, the interest rate becomes a variable rate that changes annually for the remainder of the loan.

You can also find ARMs with different terms, like the 5/1 ARM or 5/6 ARM, but 10/1 ARMs are among the most popular ARM loans.

How Does a 10/1 ARM Work?

To know how a 10/1 ARM works, you need to know what “10/1” means. 

Like all ARMs, the first number tells you how many years the interest rate will remain fixed at the introductory rate (also known as the initial rate and often mistakenly as the “teaser rate”). The second number tells you how often the rate will adjust after the introductory period. 

A 10/1 ARM has a fixed rate for 10 years (the 10 in “10/1”). After that, the interest rate will adjust every year for the rest of the loan’s term (the 1 in “10/1”). If interest rates change (think: go up or down) when it’s time to reset the loan’s rate, your monthly mortgage payment will adjust accordingly.

It works the same for other ARM loans, by the way: 

• A 5/1 ARM has a fixed rate for 5 years, then the rate adjusts annually after that. 
• A 5/6 ARM has a fixed rate for 5 years, then the rate adjusts every 6 months.

10/1 ARM rates 

Your lender looks at federal interest rate benchmarks and financial markets to set your variable interest rate each year. They add the current market rate and a stated margin amount, resulting in your mortgage rate and payment for that year.

Lenders want you to keep making monthly mortgage payments even as your rate increases, so they protect you with interest rate caps. Interest rate caps keep your mortgage payments from getting too costly. The most common caps apply to different periods of the loan term:

• Initial adjustment: The first interest rate adjustment at the end of the introductory fixed term.
• Subsequent adjustment: The maximum adjustment allowed each year after the initial adjustment.
• Lifetime: The total lifetime interest rate cap based on your initial rate.

Interest rate cap example

Let’s look at one of the more common caps – the 2/2/5 cap – as an example. 

Each number represents the initial, subsequent and lifetime caps: 

• The first 2 means your initial adjustment can’t exceed 2% of your original rate.
• The second 2 means subsequent adjustments can’t exceed 2% of the previous rate.
• The 5 is the lifetime cap. The interest rate may never exceed 5% of your initial rate.

10/1 ARM vs. Fixed-Rate Mortgage 

The main differences between a 10/1 ARM and a fixed-rate mortgage are in their names. 

The interest rate on a fixed-rate mortgage stays the same for the entire term of the loan. A 10/1 ARM’s initial interest rate doesn’t change for 10 years, but once the intro period ends, the rate will adjust until the mortgage is paid off.

Fixed-rate mortgages typically have a straightforward repayment and amortization schedule. But ARMs are subject to adjustments based on market interest rates, making it harder to predict your payments after the fixed-rate term ends.

Fixed rates are especially advantageous during fluctuating markets, especially if you manage to lock in a low rate. But if mortgage interest rates are trending higher, a 10/1 ARM might be a better way to get a lower interest rate and save more money over the lifetime of your loan than you would with a fixed-rate mortgage.

Examples of a 10/1 ARM, 15-year and 30-year mortgage

Let’s say you want a $300,000 mortgage and your options are:

• A 10/1 ARM with a 2.5% APR (interest rate combined with fees) and 2/2/5 rate cap over 30 years
• A 15-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.2% APR
• A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4% APR

With a 10/1 ARM, your initial monthly payments would be about $1,185.36. But you could pay up to $1,779.99 a month if the interest rate maxes out at 7.5% under the 2/2/5 cap. At the 7.5% rate cap, you may pay as much as $263,585 in interest for the remainder of the 30-year term.

You’ll pay less in total interest with a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, guaranteeing much lower overall interest paid at only $78,130. But your monthly mortgage payment would be around $2,100.72, which may be too expensive for many borrowers.

With a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, your amortized payments would work out to about $1,297.40. You’d pay $247,220 in interest over the loan’s 30-year term, though you could reduce your total interest payment amount by making extra payments on the mortgage.

Pros and Cons of a 10/1 ARM 

As with all mortgages, 10/1 ARMs have pros and cons. 

What To Consider Before Getting a 10/1 ARM

As tempting as 10/1 ARMs may sound because of their potential savings and benefits, you probably need a bit more information before you jump in. 

We’ve compiled some answers to common questions about 10/1 ARMs. 

How do 10/1 ARM rates compare to fixed mortgage rates?

Although the introductory 10/1 ARM interest rate is typically lower than a fixed rate, sometimes the difference between the two isn’t significant enough to justify the ARM’s unpredictable variable-rate period. 

Even if you enjoy lower payments at first, you could pay more interest with a 10/1 ARM after the rates adjust than you would with a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage.

Can you pay off a 10/1 ARM early? 

Yes, you can pay off a 10/1 ARM early. Some borrowers take advantage of the fixed-rate period and put extra cash toward the principal amount. 

Before you pay off your mortgage early, check if your mortgage agreement includes a prepayment penalty clause. If the penalties are steep enough, it may not be a worthwhile exercise to pay off your mortgage early. 

How long do you plan on owning the property?

If you plan to hang on to the property for less than 10 years, a 10/1 ARM may be a great choice. If you can sell before the variable period begins, you can avoid a potentially higher interest rate and give yourself time to build equity in the home. 

Can you refinance a 10/1 ARM?

You can refinance your 10/1 ARM after the fixed-rate period. 

If you earn a lower interest rate after refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage or to another ARM, you could lower your monthly mortgage payments and reduce interest payments over the life of the loan. But don’t forget to factor in the closing costs to refinance. They could reduce your potential savings.

Is a 10/1 ARM Loan for You?

The sheer variety of mortgages might feel overwhelming, but it has advantages. Not every loan fits every circumstance – and a 10/1 ARM isn’t for every home buyer. A 10/1 requires a higher risk tolerance than a 15-year or 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. 

But if you know how to take advantage of the loan – plan to make extra payments, sell within 10 years or refinance – a 10/1 ARM loan could be a great mortgage option. Whether it’s a 10/1 ARM or another loan, before deciding on a mortgage, it’s a good idea to get preapproved. A preapproval can help provide a road map for your home buying journey.