REFINANCE RATES

Mortgage refinancing can simply be defined as new mortgage to replace the original.It can be tough to make the payments on a home mortgage. Between possible high interest rates and an unstable economy, making mortgage payments may become tougher than you ever expected. Should you find yourself in this situation, it might be time to consider refinancing. The danger in refinancing lies in ignorance. Without the right knowledge it can actually hurt you to refinance, increasing your interest rate rather than lowering it.
 

It is important for the homeowner to have a clear understanding of their financial situation and objectives – keeping them in mind in order to acquire the loan most appropriate for them.Interest rates on home loans are historically low. That means now is the time to dig out your mortgage loan paperwork and consider whether refinancing is right for you. For borrowers with a perfect credit history, refinancing can be a good way to convert a variable loan rate to a fixed, and obtain a lower interest rate. Borrowers with less than perfect, or even bad credit, or too much debt, refinancing can be risky. Refinancing a mortgage means paying off an existing loan and replacing it with a new one. There are many common reasons why homeowners refinance: The opportunity to obtain a lower interest rate; the chance to shorten the term of their mortgage; the desire to convert from an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) to a fixed-rate mortgage, or vice versa; the opportunity to tap a home’s equity in order to finance a large purchase; and the desire to consolidate debt. Some of these motivations have benefits and pitfalls. And because refinancing can cost between 3% and 6% of the loan’s principal and – like taking out the original mortgage – requires appraisal, title search and application fees, it’s important for a homeowner to determine whether his or her reason for refinancing offers true benefit.Below you will find some of this basic knowledge written in order to help you reach your best deals:

• Lower your Payment

If current interest rates are lower than the rate you are paying on your mortgage, refinancing could lower your monthly payment. For example, if you have $250,000 remaining on your mortgage at 6% for 30 years, your monthly payment (principal and interest) would be $1,499. If you were able to refinance to a 5% loan for 30 years, your monthly payment would drop to $1,342, a reduction of more than $150 per month. Note that some of the reduction may be due to stretching out your payments rather than reducing your rate. The longer you stay in your house, the more money you can save by refinancing. However, consider that you will have to pay upfront closing costs because you are taking out a new mortgage.

• Shortening the Loan’s Term

When interest rates fall, homeowners often have the opportunity to refinance an existing loan for another loan that, without much change in the monthly payment, has a shorter term. For that 30-year fixed-rate mortgage on a $100,000 home, refinancing from 9% to $5.5% cuts the term in half to 15 years, with only a slight change in the monthly payment from $804.62 to $817.08.

• Build Equity Faster

If the homeowner is in the position to make a monthly payment that is higher than usual because of good fortune or an increase in salary, the homeowner may want to think about switching from a 30-year mortgage to a 15 or 20 year mortgage. This allows the homeowner to build equity quicker and save more money on the financing fees. In other words, the homeowner builds equity at a faster rate without putting out substantial amounts of money every month.

• Take Care of your Credit

Achieving better credit scores is another great reason to refinance. If the homeowner’s credit score has gotten better because mortgage payments have been made on time, the homeowner may be able to take advantage of that improved credit by refinancing into a loan with lower interest rates decreased payments.

One of the main advantages of refinancing regardless of equity is reducing an interest rate. Often, as people work through their careers and continue to make more money they are able to pay all their bills on time and thus increase their credit score. With this increase in credit comes the ability to procure loans at lower rates, and therefore many people refinance with their mortgage companies for this reason. A lower interest rate can have a profound effect on monthly payments, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars a year.

One of the major risks of refinancing your home comes from possible penalties you may incur as a result of paying down your existing mortgage with your line of home equity credit. In most mortgage agreements there is a provision that allows the mortgage company to charge you a fee for doing this, and these fees can amount to thousands of dollars. Before finalizing the agreement for refinancing, make sure it covers the penalty and is still worthwhile. Refinancing can be a great financial move if it reduces your mortgage payment, shortens the term of your loan or helps you build equity more quickly.