Variable Rate
Definition
- A floating or non-fixed percentage value or interest rate that fluctuates based on certain economic conditions or rate index. For example, variable rates in reference to mortgage loans rely heavily on the Bank of Canada's prime lending rate. These types of rates can go up or down at any time, therefore are considered variable.
Synonyms
non-fixed, shifting, adjustable rate, floating
Alternate Spellings
floating rate
Related Terms and Acronyms
- Level Payment — Definition,
- A method of repayment where periodical payments of principal and interest are made in a certain way so the payment amount remains constant.
- Level-Premium Insurance — Definition,
- Insurance where the premiums the policyholder pays are guaranteed to remain the same for an agreed upon period of time.
- Mortgage Rate — Definition, Very Important,
- The interest rate on a mortgage loan.
➥ You can compare mortgage rates using this website by clicking 'Rates' above. - Prime Lending Rate (PLR) — Acronym, Very Important,
- The rate of interest charged on loans by chartered banks to their most creditworthy customers.
➥ Bank of Canada's prime (best) lending rate. - Prime Rate — Definition,
- The rate suggested by the Bank of Canada on which most banks base their prime mortgage lending rate.
- Rate Index — Definition,
- A table of yields or interest rates being paid on debt (such as Treasury notes or bank deposits) that is used to determine interest-rate changes for adjustable-rate mortgages and other variable-rate loans.
- Variable Interest Rate — Definition,
- Percentage that a borrower pays for the use of money, and which moves up or down periodically based on changes in other interest rates.
- Variable Rate Mortgage (VRM) — Acronym, Very Important,
- Home loan in which the interest rate is changed periodically based on a standard financial index. Also called an "Adjustable-rate Mortgage."
➥ A type of mortgage loan offered by brokers and lenders.
