Adjustable-rate mortgages, particularly those made in the late 1980's, account for many of the reported problems.

And most adjustable-rate mortgages are not based on the prime rate.

This, in turn, forces them to pay higher interest rates for the first years than with an adjustable-rate mortgage.

Adjustable-rate mortgages were introduced at the beginning of the 80's.

The main choice is between a fixed- or adjustable-rate mortgage.

Adjustable-rate mortgages in the region are currently about 9.6 percent for the first year.

Rates on adjustable-rate mortgages also have dropped - but not as much.

About 30 percent of the mortgage market is adjustable-rate mortgages.

Interest rates for adjustable-rate mortgages fell to 8.94 percent, down 4 basis points.

As expected, adjustable-rate mortgage funds have been the most conservative of the group.

Adjustable-rate mortgages, in which the interest rate becomes floating after a number of years.

Since March 2004, there has been a 59 percent increase in one-year adjustable-rate mortgages.

"But you may find that a convertible, adjustable-rate mortgage is a better deal."

Adjustable-rate mortgages have probably done the most to help marginal buyers.

The average adjustable-rate mortgage was 8.69 percent, unchanged from the previous week, the agency said.

This would be good news for the thousands of American households that have taken out adjustable-rate mortgages.

More than half are adjustable-rate mortgages, compared with just 18 percent for prime loans.

People with regular adjustable-rate mortgages have always had this option but it was expensive.

Great Western, which had profit of $248 million in 1988, also considers the adjustable-rate mortgage its main business.

Such cards are often made to seem like adjustable-rate mortgages, an attractive concept.

The difference in monthly payments is even smaller for adjustable-rate mortgages.

The bank had just cut the monthly payments due on his adjustable-rate mortgage.

The latter created losses for adjustable-rate mortgage funds during recent years.

Still, the recent rate increase seems to have already spurred many consumers to look hard at adjustable-rate mortgages.

Nevertheless, real estate experts say adjustable-rate mortgages are more popular than they have been in years.