Home owners have two rate options when refinancing their home loan, fixed rate mortgages and adjustable rate mortgages, often referred to as ARMs. ARMs are attractive in today's economy because they offer very low introductory rates but due to financial market instability these rates can jump quickly and homeowners may find themselves paying more than they had bargained for. Adjustable rate mortgages are not always unpredictable though. Homeowners who know the length of time they plan to stay in their home may secure an ARM for that specific amount of time, which will save the homeowner money and avoid rising payments. If you plan on keeping your home for several years, you may want to convert to a fixed rate now - apply online to get more information from a licensed Mortgage Broker that is part of Nationwide.