12 June 2009

Why A Refinance Works.

NYC - Bank of New York BuildingImage by wallyg via Flickr

By George Lucas

The recommendation of many experts is for homeowners, unable to cope with the country's economic see-saw trends, to refinance their mortgage which is constantly at risk from the unpredictable adjustable interest rates. Of course, not many see why refinance is the most recommended option, and it takes them a while to appreciate its features, mainly because they need to understand it more.

Residents can opt for refinance for different reasons. Initially, they might want to do this to bring down their monthly payments. A second reason would be the chance to change their terms from an adjustable interest rate to a fixed rate. It is also possible that the third reason would be to allow them access to any accumulated equity they may have on their house, and finally, the fourth reason would be to cancel the burdensome mortgage insurance fee. If you are from the United States, a refinance is an option that will always be available to you. You can get a Philadelphia refinance, a Nashville refinance, or a refinance for any other place in the United States.

How exactly does refinancing work for a homeowner with a 30 year loan? If you got approved for your loan before the sub-prime mortgage crisis, then you were probably given an interest rate of over 7%. If you look at the current rate today, you will find out that it is now pegged at about 4 to 5% which is at least a 2 percentage point off the old rates. Thus, if you refinance your loan, you can lower your monthly payments, and end up saving in the long run.

However, aside from the benefits, there are several other things you need to know because they can affect how much your monthly payments will be when you refinance.

For instance, there are refinancing fees that will be tagged on to your loan amount, and this means that you will need to calculate how long it will take you to pay off that fee, and break even. Suppose it takes you around 20 months or less to get to break even point, then you have a good deal since there is still many years before the loan is paid in full.

You should also consider the kind of rate you are getting. An adjustable interest rate may give you the benefit of low monthly payments, but you are vulnerable to rate adjustments which can happen on a regular basis. Your other option would be to shift to a fixed rate, or a combination of both.

An adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) could be your first rate when you start your new refinance agreement, then after several years, you could shift to a fixed rate. If you plan to move out within 5 years time, then this plan will work best for you.

On the other hand, if your plans are for a lengthy stay, it might be better to get a fixed rate throughout the term. At least, this way you know exactly what you are paying every month. If you want, you could pay the closing fees ahead to lower your monthly dues. Making customized arrangements on your refinance plan with your broker is very easy to do. Just make sure that the lines of communications are always open and clear so you get to discuss different creative ideas and that you have sufficient time to plan everything properly.

Finally, if you have accumulated at least 20% equity on your home, you can cancel your mortgage insurance which brings your monthly rate up, or you can use your equity to draw cash if you need funds to finance something like education or to start a business. If you would like to know more about refinance, visit mortgagesandhomeloans.net for more details on its benefits and advantages.

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