Mortgage calculator

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. When referring to mortgages, APR represents the total cost of borrowing money for a mortgage over the course of a year, including interest, points, broker fees, and other charges expressed as a percentage. It acts a standardized way of comparing the cost of mortgages from different lenders as it considers not only the interest rate but also the fees and other charges associated with the loan. This allows borrowers to better understand the true cost of obtaining a mortgage and make more informed decisions when comparing loan offers.

Represented as a percentage of your total loan amount, or principle and refers to the amount of money you pay a lender in return for borrowing from them. The lower the interest rate, the cheaper the loan will be.

Loan term refers to the length of time over which a borrower agrees to repay a mortgage loan. It is essentially the duration of the mortgage agreement. It can also be referred to as the mortgage amortization term, or simply the mortgage term. In the Cayman Islands this can range from 15-30 years depending on residency status. Typically, we see 15 years being offered to foreign investors, 20 years for residents and 30 years for Caymanians.

Also known as a down payment, a deposit refers to the amount of money you will be transferring upfront. This again, can vary depending on residency status and minimum requirements are specified by the lender. Caymanians are typically required to put down between 5%-10%, whilst residents may be required to put down up to 20% and foreign investors up to 35%.

The loan amount refers to the total sum of money that a lender agrees to lend to a borrower. In the context of mortgages, the loan amount is the principal amount borrowed by the borrower to purchase a property or refinance an existing loan. This loan amount is determined based on various factors, including the purchase price of the property, the borrower’s down payment amount, the borrower’s income, credit history, and debt-to-income ratio.

In the Cayman Islands your mortgage term, or loan term can range from 15-30 years depending on residency status. Typically, we see 15 years being offered to foreign investors, 20 years for residents and 30 years for Caymanians.

In Cayman, there are no restrictions on non-residents when purchasing a property.

As of September 2023 Caymanians purchasing their first property are eligible for either a full abatement of stamp duty, or partial (reduced stamp duty rate). This is based on the value of the property (or land), as long as it falls under certain thresholds. To see a full breakdown, head to The Cayman Islands Government Application for Stamp Duty Concession Form

Chattels are the furnishings included in the sale price of the property and most Caymanian banks can lend on the total purchase price, inclusive of Chattels.