Home Equity Loan - When Does Refinancing Make Sense?For the last two years, interest rates have been much lower than anytime during the last thirty years. This has resulted in an unprecedented boom in real estate sales, home refinancing and home equity lending, as borrowers try to take advantage of these rates for the long term. But refinancing or even borrowing against your home's equity may not make sense for everyone. When is it a good idea to refinance your home? When is it not advisable? Traditionally, lenders advised homeowners not to refinance unless doing so would lower the interest rate on the loan by 1-2%. While anyone who can save 2% on their interest rate would almost certainly benefit from doing so, others might find refinancing worthwhile even with a smaller reduction in the interest rate. Increased competition among lenders has brought the costs of refinancing down in recent years, so homeowners can realize a significant reduction in their home payments with reductions of ½% or so, depending on the size of their mortgage. The key to whether or not refinancing makes sense is how long the homeowner intends to remain in his or her home. The costs of the refinancing, which can run $1000-2000, are amortized over the life of the loan. For many people, a reduction of $50 or more in the house payment would be more than enough to justify a new mortgage. If payments cannot be reduced by at least that much, or if the homeowner plans to live in the home only a short while, refinancing may not be a good option. Refinancing may also make sense for those with Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARMs.) At the moment, at 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is quite competitive with an ARM, and may actually be cheaper. With rates at historic lows, an ARM can only adjust upward, making it a less desirable choice in comparison with a fixed-rate loan. Anyone considering a home remodeling project or debt consolidation might ordinarily think of a home equity loan or line of credit. These are often wise choices, as they offer deductible interest and great repayment flexibility. On the other hand, a chance to obtain a 30-year loan at 5% might make a complete refinancing with a cash-out option a better choice, as home equity rates are somewhat higher than first mortgages. A new mortgage might also make sense for anyone with a second mortgage or a piggyback loan. A piggyback loan is a second loan used at the time of a home's purchase to help the buyer avoid paying the sometimes-expensive private mortgage insurance. Simultaneous payments on two mortgages will be higher than paying on one, so this might be a great time to roll them together on a refinance. The same applies to anyone carrying a large credit card balance; that money could be rolled into a home loan with deductible interest at a lower rate. Anyone considering such a move should be careful, however, as failure to repay that debt could lead to home foreclosure. Now is a great time for any homeowner to consider whether or not a new mortgage could help lower their payments. With interest rates as low as they are now, the timing is great, and there's nowhere for the rates to go but up. ©Copyright 2005 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a Website devoted to debt consolidation and credit counseling information and HomeEquityHelp.net, a site devoted to information on mortgages and home equity loans.
MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. April / 27 / 2024 Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider 10-year refinance rates: What to know about the current market CNN Underscored Should You Refinance Halfway Through Your Mortgage? Bankrate.com How to Refinance Your Mortgage NerdWallet Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 26, 2024 | Are Homebuyers Adjusting to Higher Rates? Business Insider Loan Modification Vs. Refinance Bankrate.com 30-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates Business Insider Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 24, 2024 | Rates Still Slated to Go Down This Year Business Insider 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Types of Mortgage Refinance Options Bankrate.com Only Half Of Black Seniors Approved For Home Repair Or Refinance Loans To Age In Place Block Club Chicago Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 22, 2024 | The Still-Hot Economy is Keeping Rates High Business Insider How To Get The Best Refinance Rate Bankrate.com Average Mortgage Interest Rates: Mortgage Rates by Credit Score, Year, and Loan Type Business Insider The best mortgage lenders for refinancing in April 2024 CNN Underscored Mortgage Interest Rates Today, April 21, 2024 | Rates Remain Near 7% Business Insider Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders In 2024 Bankrate.com Should You Refinance Your Mortgage In 2024? Bankrate.com Best Refinance Lenders of April 2024: Refinance Your Mortgage The Motley Fool Current mortgage refinance rates CNN Underscored MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased in Weekly Survey Calculated Risk When to Consider Refinancing Your Mortgage Business Insider How To Refinance A Rental House Bankrate.com Mortgage Rates Chart | Historical and Current Rate Trends The Mortgage Reports Refinance Requirements: What You Need to Refinance Your Home in 2024 The Mortgage Reports How Soon Can You Refinance a Mortgage? NerdWallet Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of April 2024 Business Insider How To Refinance An Underwater Mortgage Bankrate.com Conventional Refinance Rates and Guidelines for 2024 The Mortgage Reports Current 15-year refinance rates — and lenders that offer them CNN Underscored 30-year refinance rates: What to know CNN Underscored Refinancing a Home Equity Loan (2024 Guide) MarketWatch Mortgage Rate History: 1970s to 2023 Bankrate.com When should I refinance my mortgage? To determine if a refinance is the right move for you, you’ll need to know the ... The Wall Street Journal Mortgage Rate Forecast February 2024 Bankrate.com Pros and Cons of a Cash-Out Refinance Bankrate.com Mortgage Rate Predictions: Are 7% Rates Here to Stay in 2024? Norada Real Estate Investments What Credit Score Do I Need To Refinance? Bankrate.com Should I Refinance My Mortgage Now? When to Refinance As Rates Drop Business Insider Office of Research blog: A look at cash-out refinance mortgages and their borrowers between 2013 to 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau The Sales Pitch for an 8% Mortgage: Buy Now, Refinance Later—for Free The Wall Street Journal Mobile Home Refinancing | Loans & Rates 2023 The Mortgage Reports Current mortgage interest rates: Mortgage rates today CNN Underscored
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