[lawn]

Your statement makes me assume you're financially illiterate...

A variable rate has historically been more beneficial than a fixed rate.

A fixed rate should be seen as an insurance you pay a premium for. If the risk of it going up so much that you can't afford it, then it's absolutely a great idea to get a fixed rate, but otherwise you'll earn more with a variable rate.

[aperson_hello]

Statistically, you're right - the variable rate is usually better. But that's also assuming that interest rates are completely random (which they're not) - a bit of market timing is wise to do here. And the spread compresses when rates are low, making the fixed more attractive then because the premium is lower.

Variable also makes a lot more sense with shorter timelines (either to sale or to early payoff).

[astura]

Depends on what the rate is. If it's historically low at the time your take out your mortgage you might consider locking in that rate. I certainly would not have been better off with a variable rate, for one example.