An alternative form of financing, usually a last resort for those who cannot qualify for other mortgages, is owner financing or owner carryback. The owner finances or “carries” all or part of the mortgage. Owner financing often involves balloon mortgage payments, since the monthly payments are frequently interest only. A balloon mortgage has a fixed interest rate and fixed monthly payment, but after a fixed period of time, such as five or ten years, the whole balance of the loan becomes due at once. This means that the buyer must either pay the balloon loan off in cash or refinance the loan at current market rates.