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To Refinance... or Not, That Is The Question??
by: Hilda Schultze
What does it mean to refinance? Why would someone want to refinance? There are many cases when a person would refinance. When we use the term refinance, we are typically referring to a loan such as a car or house loan. It may also be a business loan. For the purpose of this article, we are going to discuss the home loan but most of the same rules of refinancing apply to other types of loans as well.
Refinancing your home can be defined as the process of applying for a new mortgage, and using the money you receive to close out your older mortgage. Many homeowners already take full advantage of this, because they are sometimes able to find a mortgage loan at a better interest rate. With the help of this, they can pay off their mortgage much sooner, and ultimately have a lower amount to pay back.
Because a refinance plan essentially amounts to taking out a new mortgage and closing out the former mortgage, the steps involved resemble those involved in taking out your original mortgage. It is important to bear in mind therefore that the process will likely involve at least some of the same expenses, because of this. But considering the vast amount of money that refinancing can save you, homeowners find that it is often well worth the trouble. Some people may even choose to save up a certain amount of money and apply as a 'down-payment' on the sum that they refinance. They can then refinance a lower amount and the payments will be lower.
Of course, the most popular reason to refinance is so that homeowners can secure a lower interest rate and therefore pay lower repayments each month. If the interest rate that you received on your mortgage is higher than current interest rates, you will probably want to consider the benefits of refinancing. This means that even if your refinanced mortgage is for the same amount as your original mortgage, the lower interest rate means a total lowered cost to you. Often a long-term loan will have a large amount of interest and you may spend years paying off just the interest and not paying the principal.
Of course, when you refinance, it will result in smaller monthly mortgage payments for you and your family. This basically gives you more liberty every month, and much better security financially. Research refinancing options today, and begin saving on your home mortgage! You may want the help of mortgage broker to consult with to access available options.
Refinancing has become a valid option for many individuals with high interest rates on their mortgage. Refinancing is essentially a replacement loan, with a different lender and (hopefully) a lower interest rate.
So why would you choose to refinance?
You may be able to take advantage of lower interest rates.
You may also be able to extend the repayment period of your mortgage. While you will end up paying more in interest charges for this, this will reduce your monthly outgoings.
You may be able to switch from a variable rate to a fixed rate mortgage, giving you greater security in the future from potential rate increases.
You may also be able to increase the amount of your mortgage, to pay off other, higher interest rate liabilities such as credit card debt, cell phone debt and personal loan debt. This will enable you to save money on interest rate charges
Why would you avoid refinance?
If you decide to borrow more than your existing mortgage, you need to be wary of your budget. If you default on your payments you run the risk of losing your house.
If you do not calculate the costs involved with refinancing correctly, you could end up paying more in interest charges.
Thoroughly review the contract of your existing loan, an early pay out could involve a penalty that would negate the benefits of refinancing.
What will it cost me?
Refinancing does carry some costs that you need to be made aware.
Valuation Fee – This is the fee for a professional appraisal of the value of your house.
Credit Report – An assessment of your credit health
Escrow – Fee for money transferred by a third party.
Lender Fees – Any other fees that are incurred by using a particular lender
Am I eligible?
Applying for mortgage refinance is just like applying for another loan. There is a set criteria for acceptance. Every missed mortgage payment will count against you in the application, either resulting in a greater interest rate or a refused application.
Should I choose refinancing?
You will need to assess your current mortgage and the changeover costs and savings to ascertain whether it will be of benefit to you. There are specific refinancing calculators that can help you determine the net gain. The best one that I have found is here http://www.calcbuilder.com/cgi-bin/calcs/HOM12.cgi/
As a rule of thumb many lenders advocate that a 1% gap between your current interest rate and a refinance rate makes refinance a worthwhile option. Always make sure to speak to a financial professional before deciding to refinance your mortgage.
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