An Interest Only loan typically lasts for which period before converting to a fully amortized loan?

An Interest Only loan typically has a period where only interest payments are made, which often lasts for 5 to 10 years. This structure allows borrowers to pay only the interest during the initial phase of the loan, leading to lower initial monthly payments. Once this interest-only period ends, the loan usually converts to a fully amortized loan, meaning that the borrower will begin to repay both principal and interest over a set amortization period, which can lead to a significant increase in monthly payments.

This timeline is common in many mortgage products, providing flexibility for borrowers who may expect their income to increase or plan to sell the property before the principal repayment begins. Other options, such as 1-2 years or 3-4 years, are typically shorter than the standard interest-only period, while durations of more than 10 years extend beyond typical offerings, making the 5-10 year range the most accurate and widely applicable timeframe for an interest-only loan.