When Should I Refinance My Mortgage?

A lot of folks are possibly pondering about when should i refinance my mortgage. I think is rightly so because is not an easy decision to make. Before you consider refinancing your home, you need to take into account the extra cost involved such as the closing and if it is worthwhile to refinance your mortgage.

Mortgage refinance will lower your monthly repayments, save you money and also free up some money in your budget.

Watch Your Interest Rate and Your Terms:

Before you attempt to refinance your mortgage, you should make sure that you are getting the best interest rate. Like in any mortgage loans, ensure that the interest rate and terms of the loan you are been giving are exactly the same as it has been originally quoted. If in any circumstances the rate changes, make sure the current rates is favourable to you or look for other banks that offers better mortgage terms. Also try to explore the option of getting a lower rate for automatic payments.

Before you attempt to refinance your mortgage, you should make sure that you are getting the best interest rate. Like in any mortgage loans, ensure that the interest rate and terms of the loan you are been giving are exactly the same as it has been originally quoted. If in any circumstances the rate changes, make sure the current rates is favourable to you or look for other banks that offers better mortgage terms. Also try to explore the option of getting a lower rate for automatic payments.

Consider the Length of the Refinance Loan:

You should take into account the length of the loan when seeking to refinance your mortgage. Simply because it is more beneficial to you in the long run to shorten the length of the mortgage loan and increase your repayment in comparison to paying thirty year loan. The lenders generate most of their profit from interest payment on the loan, hence it is in their interest to give you a longer loan repayment period. If you can, try to get ten or fifteen year mortgage refinance loan which in the short-term, your monthly repayment will be high but overall you will be better for it.

Don’t Draw Equity Out of Your Home:

I have fallen into this trap in the past and you shouldn’t. Time and again folks get equity of their home for various reasons. The reasons ranging from using it to pay credit card debt, wedding, college education or home improvements. What you should realise is, as you draw out equity in your home, by extension prolonging the repayment period of the loan and consequently pay more interest on the mortgage.

So you need to know that you are putting your house and your investment in danger the moment draw out equity in your home to pay off  credit cards loan.

Don’t Refinance to an Adjustable rate Mortgage (ARM):

If your aim of refinancing your home is for lower mortgage repayments, don’t be tempted with adjustable rate mortgage instead go for lower interest rate fixed mortgage. While the adjustable rates might be tempting but overall, you will pay a higher interest rates and monthly repayment because the rates fluctuate overtime.

In other words the rates does go up and down according to the inflation indicator in the country and if the reserve bank decides for any reason to increase the base interest rate, your mortgage company will pass the cost to you hence your monthly payment will go up; while in the case of fixed rate mortgage, the rate will remain the same. Therefore, in the long run, locking in the lower fixed rate will save you more money.