When you refinance a mortgage you need to factor in the closing costs before agreeing to a loan. If you don’t take these costs into consideration you could lose money refinancing your mortgage. Shopping around will help you find lenders with lower fees; you should consider these fees along with the interest rate you will receive from a given lender.
The general rule of thumb is that it will take two years to recoup expenses before you will realize the savings from refinancing your mortgage. This rule is not set in stone; there are other factors to consider that could make refinancing a more attractive option. These reasons including getting better terms on your mortgage or trading out an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) for a fixed interest rate. To decide if refinancing is worth your while you need to crunch some numbers. Tally your current interest payments for the rest of your mortgage loan. You will need to compare this with the fees and interest rate of your new mortgage. If you come out ahead then take the better interest rate.
It is very important to shop around for your mortgage loan because the fees you will pay vary a great deal from lender to lender. These fees could add up to thousands of dollars; a little legwork on your part will save you this money at closing time. Researching your mortgage on the Internet can save you thousands of dollars. Invest a little time and a few clicks and you will have quotes from a variety of direct lenders and brokers. There are a number of ways to refinance. You can consider an adjustable rate mortgage if you plan on staying in the property for a short time. You may also consider fixed-interest rate mortgages and hybrid mortgage loans. Consider changing the terms of your mortgage or pay more monthly to reduce your interest rate.
One other option to consider is cashing out your equity when you refinance. If you take a home equity line of credit you will not have closing costs like a regular mortgage. This line of credit will allow you to write checks on the equity in your home. Be sure and do your homework before refinancing your mortgage; this will save you thousands of dollars in the process. To learn more about refinancing your mortgage sign up for our free guide: “Five Things You Need to Know Before Refinancing Your Mortgage.”
My name is Rob Regehr and I’m a personal finance writer with a chip on my shoulder for banks and brokers that take advantage of my friends and neighbors.
