Thinking Of Refinancing Your House?
Refinancing your house means clearing off your existing mortgage and creating a fresh mortgage on it. The two pertinent questions that you face are: Why should one refinance a house? When should one refinance a house? We’ll explain the ins and outs of house refinancing in the following paragraphs, so stay tuned!
Analyze the current status. Is the loan an ARM (adjustable rate mortgage)? Do you have to make a major payment in the near future? If your current mortgage is an ARM then it is better that you refinance using a low interest rate fixed rate loan. That way you’ll end up paying an steady interest even when rates move north. If you are facing an imminent payment situation then again you should go in for a suitable refinance deal.
Look at the market rates. Is your current rate above the going market rate? Yes? Then go in for refinancing. Remember that you have to pay a special fee when you close the mortgage earlier than planned. You’ll have to offset this amount when you compute the savings you’ll make with the lower rate loan.
One situation where refinancing is inadvisable is when you are not sure of staying in that house for the next few years. You will have to pay the pre-payment penalty when you refinance. Given a moderate interest differential, it will take you maybe three years to break even. If you have to move before reaching the break even point, the balance will add to the second pre-payment penalty when you move, and there will be no way of recovering that.
The pre-payment penalty may range from one year’s interest to five years’ interest. That is no small amount! So be very careful to plan your refinancing only after determining the exact quantum you’ll have to pay as penalty.
If you are going to stay in that house for a long time, and if the fresh interest rate is less than the one you are currently paying, then refinancing is a good idea. The savings in interest will give you a nice nest egg when the mortgage is finally over!
What is the amount of the refinance? Most probably it’s going to be higher than your current loan. So your repayment bill will also go up. If the new loan has a significantly lower rate of interest, then the increased repayment bill may be partially or completely offset by the savings in interest. Check that your new repayment amount is within your means.
Choose the right time to refinance your house. The best time to refinance is when interest rates are down. Take the help of a professional to find out the advantage of refinancing. If you can handle the repayment amount comfortably, if there is a net saving in interest then get the house refinanced. Also check the credentials of the mortgager.
