Mortgage Time-Bomb

Mortgage Time-Bomb

Mortgage rates have been trending down, but that won't do much to benefit those who signed up for low-teaser-rate adjustable-rate mortgages in the past few years.

An ARM charges an initial discounted rate for a period of time, after which it adjusts to market levels. When some types of ARMs with teaser rates of 2 percent or less reset, the rates are likely to jump to more than 6 percent - and even as high as 9 percent.

That can mean a doubling in monthly payments owed for those homeowners saddled with the loans.

The jump in payments could be EVEN bigger for some people.