'Risks Differ in 30+ Amortizations'

Mortgage products with amortization terms of more than 30 years present "markedly" different risk profiles for different product types, according to a recent study by Fitch Ratings."The main risks associated with a longer amortization schedule are the higher payment increases, increased adverse selection risk, and slower equity build-up," said Suzanne Mistretta, senior director at Fitch. The report looks at the performance of 40-, 45-, and 50-year option adjustable-rate, hybrid, and fixed rate mortgages. Fitch can be found on the Web at http://www.fitchratings.com.