Understanding how mortgage rates and loan terms affect your long term wealth is wise for any homeowner. Choose poorly, and you’ll leave a lot of money on the table for bankers. Choose correctly, and you’ll keep more cash in your pocket. Wealth accumulation is not just about your home’s price appreciation - that will be the same whether you choose a fixed rate or an adjustable-rate mortgage loan. The question is, overall, how much did you spend on the mortgage loan while you held it?