The contractual agreement for repaying the mortgage includes paying the principal payments plus interest to the lender. An assumable mortgage allows a homebuyer to assume the current principal balance, interest rate, repayment period, and any other contractual terms of the seller's mortgage.
The mortgage balance, interest rate, and repayment schedule all carry over to the buyer. However, only Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans can qualify. Conventional mortgages cannot be assumed.