What You Should Know About Mortgage Refinancing
01/24/09
Mortgage refinancing is a process that involves applying for a new loan in order to take the place of your current mortgage. There are several scenarios wherein mortgage refinancing is a good idea.
Most people apply for mortgage refinancing to pay lower interest rates, thus saving them money for the duration of the loan. In most cases however, you will have to pay lender fees and other charges that are tied in with the new loan. If you do apply for this type of mortgage refinancing, make sure that the savings from refinancing will outweigh the costs of the transaction. The time that you plan to remain in your home is important to consider, as well. Selling your home before you break even on the refinance will end up costing you more money than if you never refinanced your first mortgage.
Another common scenario is when the homeowner has an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) and the interest rate on that mortgage "re sets" to a higher rate. If you think mortgage rates will continue to increase, replacing your adjustable rate with a new fixed rate mortgage will keep you from paying higher interest costs when the rates go up. If you think rates are likely to go down in the long term, it may be smarter to refinance into a new adjustable rate mortgage.
Homeowners who find they are unable to make their current mortgage payments may opt for mortgage refinancing as a way to extend the term of the loan and thereby lower their monthly mortgage payments. Keep in mind though that while this will help you out of a financial trouble spot, you will actually be paying more total interest for the duration of the loan. In addition, if the interest rates on your new mortgage loan is higher, you could end up paying the loan off longer than you intend on staying on in the home.
When applying for mortgage refinancing, you should consider factors such as how much saving you can expect each month, as well as what refinancing will actually cost you. To estimate whether or not it's worth it to refinance, simply multiply your monthly savings by the number of months you plan to stay in you home. After that, deduct the total costs of the various fees that you will incur with the new loan. If you end up with a negative number, you will lose money on the refinancing. If you go for refinancing, you will be in a better position to either break even or save money if you live in your home for a longer period of time. Mortgage refinancing is still a far better option even if the rates on the new loan are only slightly lower than what you are paying now.
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