# Balloon Payment: What It Is, How It Works, Examples, Pros and Cons

## What Is a Balloon Payment?

A balloon payment is a large, one-time sum due at the end of a loan term, following smaller periodic payments that typically cover primarily or exclusively interest costs. This structure, often found in balloon loans, allows borrowers to maintain lower monthly payments initially. Such loans gained popularity in the years leading up to the [2007-2008 financial crisis](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/financial-crisis-review.asp) as part of home mortgages, enabling homebuyers to afford a mortgage in the short term.

Today, balloon payments are more common in business loans, where minimal initial payments cater to short-term financing needs until projects begin generating a return. While beneficial for some, balloon payments carry significant risks, particularly if future financial circumstances do not align with the borrower’s ability to pay off the principal in one large sum.

### Key Takeaways

*   A balloon payment is a large one-time payment due at the end of a balloon loan, following smaller monthly payments that often cover primarily interest rather than principal.
*   This loan structure is commonly used in mortgages, auto loans, and business loans, allowing borrowers to apply for lower monthly payments with the expectation of future income—or refinancing—to cover the final lump sum.
*   Balloon payments present both opportunities and risks; they offer lower initial costs but can lead to financial difficulty if property values fall or refinancing options are unavailable.
*   Balloon loans can be advantageous for businesses managing short-term costs, but they require careful planning to handle the large payment due at the loan's term end.
*   Homeowners using balloon mortgages are particularly vulnerable in declining housing markets, as they might struggle to sell the property at a value sufficient to cover the balloon payment.

![Balloon Payment](https://www.investopedia.com/thmb/k0-TO9qdxw61-JvRthGcqwPWVis=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/balloon-payment.asp-FINAL-1-81d896d1eb4a4aa2a943b486b77a5a40.png)

*— Investopedia / Joules Garcia*

## How Balloon Payments Work and Common Uses

As the term "balloon" suggests, the final payment on this type of loan is significantly large.

In recent years, [balloon payments](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bulletrepayment.asp) have been more common in commercial lending than in consumer lending. It helps commercial lenders keep short-term costs low and plan to cover the balloon payment with future earnings.

Individual homebuyers use a similar strategy, but it involves greater risks. Homebuyers are keeping their short-term costs low while assuming that their incomes will be far greater when the balloon payment comes due, that they will be able to refinance their mortgage before it is due, or that they can sell the house and pay off the entire mortgage before the balloon payment comes due.

This strategy failed during the [2008-2009 financial crisis](https://www.investopedia.com/news/10-years-later-lessons-financial-crisis/) when homeowners with balloon mortgages couldn't sell their homes for enough to repay their loans.

> **Fast Fact**
>
> Balloon payments are often packaged into two-step mortgages. In this structure, borrowers get a lower interest rate initially, which increases after the introductory period.

## Real-Life Examples of Balloon Payment Loans

A balloon debt structure can be implemented for any type of debt. It's most commonly used in mortgages, auto loans, and business loans.

### Balloon Payment Structures in Mortgages

Balloon mortgages are uncommon for 15- or 30-year terms because lenders prefer quicker returns. For balloon mortgages, lenders prefer a five-year to ten-year term.

Interest-only balloon mortgages are available primarily to high-net-worth individuals who can afford large down payments. Borrowers often intend to refinance before the balloon payment is due.

### Comparing Balloon Loans to Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs)

A balloon loan is sometimes confused with an [adjustable-rate mortgage](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/arm.asp) (ARM). With an ARM, borrowers get an initial low rate for one to five years. The interest rate resets at that point and might continue to reset periodically until the loan has been fully repaid.

The incentive is a very low-interest rate at the beginning, compared to the fixed-rate mortgage rate. The downside is the potential for a substantially higher rate down the road.

An ARM adjusts automatically, unlike balloon loans.

### Using Balloon Payments in Auto Loans

Balloon loans are not as common when used as [auto loans](https://www.investopedia.com/auto-loans-4689734). However, this structure works especially well for individuals who have an urgent need to secure a vehicle but can't immediately afford high monthly payments.

As lending restrictions are often not as stringent in the auto loan industry, it is often easier for a borrower to secure this type of loan. Lenders are usually comfortable with the standard car loan term of up to six years.

### Balloon Payments in Business Financing

It is usually easier for a business to secure a balloon loan if the business has a proven financial history and a favorable credit record. An established business can be in a better position than an individual wage-earner to raise sufficient money to pay off the balloon payment.

For this reason, lenders often consider businesses less risky than individual consumers for business loans.

Balloon payments can be strategically used by a business to finance short-term needs. The business may draw on a balloon loan with no intention of holding the debt to the end of the term. Instead, the company can use the money to repay the loan in full before the end of the loan term.

## Alternatives to Managing Balloon Payment Obligations

A borrower has a couple of ways to get rid of a looming payment. In addition to extinguishing the debt by paying off the balloon payment, a borrower can:

*   **Refinance the loan.** A lender may be willing to work with a borrower to repurpose the debt into a different loan vehicle or modify the terms of the original agreement.
*   **Sell the underlying asset.** If the balloon payment is due to the purchase of an asset, a borrower may be forced to liquidate the holding to avoid [defaulting](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/default2.asp) on the loan.
*   **Pay principal upfront.** Though not required, a borrower may be able to pay a portion of the debt early. Any payment made more than the interest assessment will be applied to the principal balance. Check with your lender to ensure there are no [prepayment penalties](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/prepaymentpenalty.asp) or fees.
*   **Negotiate an extension.** Similar to refinancing, an extension changes the terms of the prior loan. However, instead of receiving a new deal, an extension will simply push out the timing of the balloon payment. You'll likely have the same payment terms as before, but with different obligation dates.

> **Important**
>
> Balloon loans usually require collateral. For home or car loans, the lender may require a lien on the property being purchased. Should you default on your loan and not be able to satisfy the balloon payment, the lender has a legal claim to seize the property.

## Benefits of Choosing Balloon Payments

The obvious advantage of balloon payments is the low initial payment requirement. The monthly balloon payment amount during the fixed period is generally less than the payment amount of a fully amortized loan.

The timing of the payment size may mesh well with the borrower's [income](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/i/income.asp) expectations. As the borrower's salary increases due to career progression, the debt obligation will rise as well.

A balloon note or loan often has a shorter underwriting process compared to other loans. For this reason, there may be lower administrative or transaction fees in securing the loan. A borrower may also not be required to show as much documentation for this type of loan, as balloon mortgages often do not require a home appraisal as part of the loan closing.

A balloon payment structure is strategically advantageous for some borrowers. For example, people who [flip houses](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/flipping.asp) can secure lower upfront monthly payments. The borrower has time to remodel the house and sell it before the balloon payment is due.

This allows borrowers to preserve future cash flow for other purposes.

## Risks and Downsides of Balloon Payments

Balloon payments can be a big problem in a falling housing market.

As home prices decline, homeowners may be unable to sell their homes for enough to cover the balloon payment, and they might be unable to sell at any price.

For home flippers, this means getting stuck with a high-interest rate loan should sales stall.

Borrowers often have no choice but to default on their loans and enter [foreclosure](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/foreclosure.asp), regardless of their household incomes, when faced with a balloon payment they cannot afford. This results in the loss of the borrower's home.

Some will be able to take out another loan to cover the upcoming balloon mortgage payment, but this puts a tremendous strain on a family's finances.

Balloon mortgages and auto loans may be difficult to refinance, depending on the amount of equity that has been paid off. Early on, these loans may only cover interest, leaving the owner with little equity despite years of payments. In this case, the owner may have little-to-no equity in the property despite making consistent payments for years.

These loans are harder to qualify for since lenders prefer borrowers with high [credit scores](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/credit_score.asp) or large down payments due to deferred principal payments. In addition, to compensate for the flexibility of the principal obligation and increased risk for the lender, lenders usually charge higher interest rates for balloon debt compared to other types of loans.

### Balloon Payments

Pros

*   Lower upfront payments compared to other loan types
    
*   Greater buying power during low-income periods, with increasing debt obligation during higher-income periods
    
*   Shorter underwriting process compared to other loan types
    
*   Greater strategic potential for certain industries
    
*   Fewer documentation requirements for underwriting
    

Cons

*   Greater risk of foreclosure if you can't meet your loan requirements
    
*   Slower build-up of equity resulting in potential difficulty in refinancing the loan
    
*   Harder to qualify for due to higher credit preferences by lenders
    
*   Higher costs (i.e., higher interest) due to the riskier nature of the loan from the lender's perspective
    

## What Is a Balloon Payment?

A balloon payment is a lump sum principal balance that is due at the end of a loan term. The borrower pays much smaller monthly payments until the balloon payment is due. These payments may be entirely or almost entirely interest on the loan rather than principal.

## How Does a Balloon Payment Work?

A balloon payment works like any other loan installment payment. The difference is that it is the final payment on the loan, and is substantially higher than the previous payments.

A typical balloon loan requires only interest to be paid each month until the final month of the loan term. In the final month, the entire principal balance is due.

The interest paid each month is typically a fixed amount, as the principal balance does not change, and the interest charged each month is not capitalized as part of the loan but instead paid off immediately.

## Is a Balloon Payment Legal?

Yes, a balloon payment is a legal debt instrument. A lender can intentionally structure a loan for a borrower who wants to pay a series of low monthly payments followed by a single large payment of principal at the end of the loan.

The borrower must be aware of the long-term obligation of paying down the principal balance all at once at the end of the loan.

## Are Balloon Payments a Good Idea for a Car Purchase?

A balloon payment may be suitable for borrowers who are in urgent need of a car but are unprepared to deal with a large monthly payment.

In such cases, the borrower will probably pay a higher interest rate than is charged on a conventional car loan.

Most importantly, the borrower must keep an eye on that looming balloon payment at the end of the loan term and be ready to pay it.

## The Bottom Line

Balloon payments are relatively common for business ventures. They lower financing costs during the early stages of a new project, and allow the business time to realize some profits from the venture before they need to pay off the balance of the loan.

They are available to consumers but typically only for those with a hefty down payment and a healthy credit rating.

When used for a home mortgage, the balloon payment carries extra risks. The buyer is paying mostly interest or only interest for some years and counting on price growth to provide equity.

Borrowers are assuming that they can refinance the mortgage or sell the home at a profit before the balloon payment falls due. If the housing market takes an unexpected downturn and their home loses value, that strategy may fail.