Refinancing your home loan can be a great way to save money or make it easier to pay your monthly bills. When you refinance, you're likely to get a lower interest rate, which could translate into lower monthly mortgage payments. You can switch from a longer-term loan to a short-term one, or vice versa, depending on the current interest rates and your financial goals. However, it's important to consider all the factors before deciding if refinancing is the right move for you. The most immediate benefit of refinancing is that it helps cash-strapped borrowers find space within their monthly budget.
This could be advantageous if you expect your cost of living to rise (maybe you are having a baby) or if your income has declined (due to loss of employment or decreased working hours). If mortgage rates drop, you may be able to save by getting a lower interest rate than you have on your current loan. However, extending the term of your loan can have many benefits, especially if you're having trouble meeting your current mortgage payment. When interest rates fall, homeowners sometimes have the opportunity to refinance an existing loan for another loan that, without major changes in the monthly payment, has a significantly shorter term. This could be beneficial if you want to reduce the amount of interest you pay over the life of the loan.
Mortgage refinancing closing costs can vary depending on the lender and the amount you're refinancing, but you can usually expect to pay between 2 and 6% of the loan amount. Refinancing is a bad idea if it doesn't represent some kind of profit, either in the form of lower monthly payments or savings in interest by reducing the loan term. In addition to closing costs and fees, which can range from 2% to 3% of your home loan, you'll make more mortgage payments if you extend your loan terms. The portion of your monthly mortgage payment that goes to interest falls rapidly in the last few years of your loan, so potential savings are also reduced. It's important to remember that there's no hard and fast rule about whether refinancing is good or bad; as we said, it all depends on your situation. Use a mortgage refinance calculator to get an idea of what might work for you.
If you have a lower rating than when your original mortgage was approved, you could end up offering you less attractive terms on your refinance. Similarly, if you only have a few years left on your current mortgage, you may not save as much on mortgage interest, even with the best refinance rates. Interest in refinancing saw a tremendous increase among homeowners last year, thanks to unprecedented low interest rates. If your main reason is to lower your monthly payment, it makes sense to refinance another 30 mortgages. However, if your goal is to save on interest and reduce the term of your loan, then refinancing a 30- to 15-year mortgage may be the best option, as long as you can afford the highest monthly payments. Overall, refinancing can be a good financial measure if it reduces your mortgage payment, shortens the term of your loan, or helps you build capital more quickly.
However, many lenders say the savings are 1%. Refinancing at an ARM or at a fixed rate should also be taken into consideration before making any decisions.
