What Calls to ARMs? International Evidence on Interest Rates and the Choice of Adjustable Rate Mortgages

John Campbell
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Tarun Ramadorai

No 10117, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

Abstract: The relative popularity of adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) and fixed-rate mortgages (FRMs) varies considerably both across countries and over time. We ask how movements in current and expected future interest rates affect the share of ARMs in total mortgage issuance. Using a nine-country panel and instrumental variables methods, we present evidence that near-term (one-year) rational expectations of future movements in ARM rates do affect mortgage choice, particularly in more recent data since 2001. However longer-term (three-year) rational forecasts of ARM rates have a weaker effect, and the current spread between FRM and ARM rates also matters, suggesting that households are concerned with current interest costs as well as with lifetime cost minimization. These conclusions are robust to alternative (adaptive and survey-based) models of household expectations.

Keywords: Adjustable-rate; Fixed-rate; Household finance; Interest rate; International; Mortgage choice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G21 N20 R21 R31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-08
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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Related works:
Journal Article: What Calls to ARMs? International Evidence on Interest Rates and the Choice of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (2018)
Working Paper: What Calls to ARMs? International Evidence on Interest Rates and the Choice of Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (2014)
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