Monday, November 1, 2010

Mortgage Refinancing - The Facts

Mortgage refinancing is when a homeowner gets a new home loan to pay off their existing one. The benefits of doing this are that they may be able to save money by getting lower interest rates or special deals. Refinancing is not the best option for everyone, though. For a person who is facing financial problems refinancing could spell trouble.

It is common for a person to want to save money on their home loan. A home is most likely the biggest purchase a person will ever make, but that does not mean they have to stick with one lender and pay the same high interest rates forever. Home owners have the option of refinancing to cut their home buying costs. Refinancing involves shopping around for a better deal then the one they currently have.

When shopping around it is advisable to approach a few good mortgage brokers that work with a large panel of lenders, not just one or two. This way they can search the market place to find the right deal for you. This is even more advisable if you have a bad credit history. A good broker will have access to a number of specialist adverse or sub prime lenders who will be able to offer you competitive rates. The same is true if you are self employed and have trouble proving your income.

Many times when a person is facing financial problems they see using their home as a way to clear their debts. While that is an option, refinancing to get out of financial problems is not a good idea. One reason is that should the person be unable to make the new loan payment, then their house is now in jeopardy.

Unless a person is truly sure that refinancing their home to get money to pay off debts is something they can afford and will truly solve their problems, then it is not a wise decision.

Some people refinance to change from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate. This can be very beneficial. Fixed rates mean that the mortgage payment never changes and is the same form month to month.

With a variable rate the amount of the mortgage can change drastically form month to month as the interest rates fluctuate. However, with a fixed rate a person has to be careful not to lock in on too high of a rate. They would then lose out when interest rates go down, unless they go through mortgage refinance again.

There are also many lenders out there who are not what they say to be. Mortgage refinance scams are common and can really be damaging. To avoid scams a person should always deal with a trusted lender and read every piece of paperwork completely. If a deal does not seem right then it is best to back out before ever signing anything.

Mortgage refinance can be a very good thing if done carefully. There are also many ways in which it can go wrong. Homeowners need to be aware of everything involved in mortgage refinance so they can get the best possible deal that will save them the most money.

They should also always be aware that they are risking their home should they not carrying through with their mortgage obligations. It is important to make sure everything is in place and understood before ever signing the papers.

Mortgage Refinancing Mistakes to Avoid

Mistakes when it comes to your mortgage can cost you a lot of money. Becoming a smart mortgage comparison shopper will help you avoid making these mistakes. Here are several tips to help you avoid making common mortgage mistakes that can cost you thousands of dollars.

The biggest mistake homeowners make is neglecting to shop for the best loan by researching interest rates and lender fees from a variety of mortgage lenders. Here are the most common mistakes homeowners make when it comes to refinancing a mortgage.

Timing Interest Rates

Interest rates are extremely difficult to predict. If someone tells you they can guarantee interest rates will go up or down at some date in the future they are simply speculating. Your time is better spent researching mortgage lenders than forecasting interest rate changes.

The Internet is an excellent tool you can use to easily compare the interest rates and lender fees advertised by mortgage companies. You can collect no-obligation quotes from lender websites to help you choose the best mortgage for your situation.

Not Comparing Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates vary widely from one lender to the next. Every mortgage company sets their own interest rate with their own markup. This is why you will see a difference in the advertised interest rates when shopping for your new mortgage. Mortgage lenders also evaluate your credit differently; this is how they determine the interest rate you qualify for based on your financial situation. Because of this it is important to request rate quotes to determine the difference between what the lender is advertising and what your individual interest rate will be.

Assuming Refinancing Will Save You Money

There are costs associated with refinancing your mortgage. If you are receiving a better interest rate on your new mortgage it could take as long as 2-3 years to recoup the expenses of refinancing your mortgage. Mortgage loans are also front loaded with interest; this means the majority of your monthly payment is applied to interest in the early years. You will build very little equity in your home while this interest is being paid.

There are ways to increase your savings. If you refinance your mortgage to a loan with a lower interest rate and a shorter term length, your savings over the life of the mortgage will dramatically increase. Before you sign up to refinance your mortgage make sure you understand what your savings will be and how long it will take you to recoup the costs of refinancing your mortgage. Spend a little time doing your homework to find the right mortgage for your situation and you will save yourself thousands of dollars in finance charges. You can learn more about saving money on your mortgage and avoiding mistakes by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

Mortgage Refinancing

If you take a loan without examining all the available options and offers from different lending institutions, the new loan might cost you much more than you expected. Therefore, in order to save thousand of dollars, go through the following tips and guidelines carefully.

A significant decrement of interest rates in the early 21st century was one of the major factors that led to a growing number of refinancing applications. This boom in the number of borrowers who are interested in refinancing their existing mortgage loan still continues.

Following are the reasons why most of the borrowers have started to consider this option seriously.

o Savings that new loan could bring you could be significant. In case the current interest rates are lower than the rate on the existing loan, the savings brought to you by the new loan could be very significant.

o Besides, savings that the new loan could bring you prove to be significant also when your adjustable rate mortgage is set to adjust upwards soon.

o By applying for the refinancing process, some fresh cash can be obtained from equity build in home and this can be then used for all the major expenses like children education, renovation of the house, etc.

To conclude, there are a number of reasons for cash-out refinancing. However, before signing a new mortgage contracts, it is advisable to carefully examine the pros and cons of mortgage refinancing.

In order to make accurate calculations and for arriving at the right decision, you are required to compare you have to compare the savings that new term will produce with the entire loan related fees and possible prepayment penalty on your current mortgage.

That is, you should have a fair idea of the amount of money that will remain in your pocket after cash-out refinancing and the amount that you will have to pay as fees or as a prepayment penalty.

Home Mortgage Refinancing

The need for funds may be large, small, planned or unplanned. One needs to explore several opportunities and options to get the required money at the lowest possible cost. The tough financial situation throws further challenges to save more. Income levels are receding, costs are rising and each one has to make the most out of least. In this scenario home mortgage refinance offers a very effective alternative to get the desired funds. The funds obtained can be used as per the need. The benefits of a financial option have to be weighed as against the cost of obtaining it. Long term calculations are also necessary.

The cost calculations have not only to consider the home mortgage refinance rates but other aspects as setting up fees, the term, the repayment duration and so forth. Refinancing is being increasingly used to get the equity built in the house in the form of cash that can be used for any purpose or adjusting the term or the repayment. Medical emergency expense, higher education charges, home improvements or funding major projects are some of the popular reasons to refinance home mortgage. There are competent professional companies set up which specialize in this option and getting great offers using their services helps one get the funds at the lowest possible rates. This article highlights the features and factors which need to be considered to make this a viable and economic option to get cash.

Factors and Features of Home Mortgage Refinance

Any financial lien or mortgage comes with a cost and the more one can save on the cost the more funds are available at disposal. So when one has to get the funds by using the equity built in the house in the form of cash one needs to look to minimize the cost on the new loan. One may choose to refinance home mortgage if it brings down the monthly payments on the existing mortgage substantially. Only if the refinance is able to offset the cost of procuring it in the long term it is worth considering refinancing. For this one has to find professional company that can give the best possible rate and the lowest origination fees and other costs. The payments made towards redemption should also be considered to calculate the cost of home mortgage refinance option. The total cost of the loan will consider the following.

The Rate of Interest and the Term of the Loan

The rate of interest like any other loan would be based upon the credit rating of the individual. Better rating would mean lower rates and vice versa. The home mortgage refinance rates are the most significant and form big part of the total cost. The loan term or duration is another important contributor to the cost of the loan. The duration can vary from few years up to thirty or forty years.

Loan Closing Costs

When opting for a loan there are origination fees or set up charges. Similarly when one has to close a loan there are loan closing costs. These rates vary and it is imperative to understand these costs so as to calculate the total cost of the loan and the benefits. The costs as title search, documentation fees, appraisal fees and other should be clear and there should be no hidden charges. The services of mortgage refinance loans can significantly affect the total cost and if not calculated one may end up with an expensive proposal. Some costs are nonnegotiable and vary with the lender. Hence identifying the lender who can provide the lowest cost helps in lowering the total cost of the loan.

The refinancing option is very useful and can serve as a prudent option to get large amount of cash that can be used for the desired purpose that may be home improvements, education expense or some project. The cash is available and there are no restrictions. But it is also true that one has to use it judiciously. The decision to use home mortgage refinance should be very carefully weighed. It is basically intended to improve financial situation and not just as a repair measure. If it used as a short term tool it will not yield the desired benefits.

The cost of getting the refinance which consider the rate of interest, the origination fees, the closing costs, the term, should all be evaluated carefully to arrive at the cost of the loan. The total sum will also indicate the monthly payment one is required to make. One should consider the amount received and decide it is sufficient and appropriate for the intended purpose. One should make a detailed statement of account and understand the cost and benefit analysis so that one gets a loan that's meaningful. Internet search and professional guidance can help one in evaluation of the decision.

Mortgage Refinancing Tutorial

Unnecessary closing costs and mortgage interest cost homeowners $16 billion dollars every year according to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Do you want to avoid being taken advantage of when mortgage refinancing? Here are several tips to help you avoid unnecessary closing costs when refinancing your mortgage loan.

When comparison shopping for a new mortgage loan it is important to request a copy of the Good Faith Estimate from each lender you consider before submitting your application. Use the Good Faith Estimate to compare loan offerings paying attention to the itemized closing costs; don't focus on the total closing costs because lenders often low-ball third party charges to make their loan offers appear more attractive.

Watch out for lender junk fees; if you find anything on the Good Faith Estimate that resembles an application fee, lock fee, or broker courier, these are junk fees that you should question your mortgage representative about. The origination fee found on your Good Faith Estimate should never be higher than 1-1.5% of your loan amount for a home you live in and 2-2.5% for an investment home. Finally, check your Good Faith Estimate for the loan processing fee. This processing fee should not be more than $400 and is frequently inflated by the mortgage company.

If there any charges found on your Good Faith Estimate that you do not understand, don't hesitate to question your loan representative about the validity of that charge. Also, if you think any of the third party settlement charges on your Good Faith Estimate seem to low, you can contact each company listed and ask them what their fee is. This will give you an accurate picture of the settlement charges you will be required to pay.

Mortgage Refinancing Tips

Mortgage refinancing for self employed homeowners is not impossible; you will simply need to provide more documentation to the lender. There are a variety of reasons for mortgage refinancing regardless of the economy and mortgage interest rates. Here are several tips to help you decide if mortgage refinancing is right for you.

Convert Your Adjustable Rate Mortgage

Mortgage interest rates have been on the rise in recent years; as a result many homeowners are converting their Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) loans to fixed interest rates. Converting your ARM to a fixed interest rate has the advantage of a predictable mortgage payment that will not change over time. As a self employed homeowner, having regular mortgage payments you can plan your budget around is a definite advantage.

Recouping Your Expenses

Because there are costs involved with mortgage refinancing it is important to determine how much you will save and how long it will take you to recoup the lender fees and closing costs. Generally speaking, the longer you plan on keeping your home, the more sense it makes to refinance your loan. A simple mortgage calculator will help you determine your new payment amount based on the interest rate and term length you choose.

Choosing a Shorter Term Length

As a self employed homeowner your financial objective might be to eliminate your debts as quickly as possible. Mortgage Refinancing with a shorter term length could help you reach this goal. By shortening the term of your new mortgage, 15 years is a popular choice, you will build equity at a much faster rate and qualify for a lower interest rate. Shortening the mortgage term length results in a higher payment amount and you will need to budget accordingly.

Documentation You Need When Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage lenders tend to require slightly more documentation when approving self employed homeowners. You can save yourself stress and future headache by gathering the necessary documents before applying for a new mortgage. Here is a list to help get you started.

I. Tax Returns for the Last Two Years

II. Your Current Year Profit/Loss Statement

III. Your Homeowners Insurance Policy

IV. Bank Account and Investment Account Statements for the Last Two Years

V. The Payoff Balance and Contact Information for Your Existing Mortgage

You can learn more about mortgage refinancing while avoiding costly mistakes by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

How Mortgage Refinancing Can Save Me Money

In this economy, people are always looking for ways to save money. Many think that they might be able to save with mortgage refinancing, but they are not sure. Actually, in some circumstances, a homeowner could stand to save significant amounts of money if they refinance their mortgage at the right time.

The most fundamental reason that people save money when they refinance their mortgage is that they usually get a lower interest rate. Typically, when someone refinances their mortgage, they can expect their interest rate to be lowered by as much as half a point. This may not seem like much, but when someone calculates how much they spend in interest each year and how much they would save with a half point reduction, they will be impressed.

Right now, many people have mortgages with low interest rates as a result of the economy. However, since the economy is improving, interest rates are bound to start going up for those who have adjustable rate mortgages. If someone has an adjustable rate mortgage with a low rate, they would save money in the long run by refinancing to a low fixed rate mortgage as soon as possible.

Another way that people save money by refinancing their mortgages is by borrowing more money on the new mortgage than they owe on the house. With the leftover money, they can pay off high interest credit cards. They will still need to make monthly payments on their new mortgage, but at a much more desirable interest rate than what they were paying on their credit cards.

There are other ways that people can benefit from borrowing extra money when they refinance the mortgage on their home. Some people take this route and use the extra money to make home improvements that will increase the value of the home. For example, someone could borrow money to add a deck to their house. When they eventually try to sell the home, they will be able to get much more for it because of the significant improvement.

When someone refinances the mortgage on their home, they can save money in a variety of ways. They could borrow extra money to pay off high interest credit cards and make home improvements, or they could save money each month with a lower interest rate. Once they understand what mortgage refinancing can do for them, a world of possibilities becomes available.

Mortgage Refinancing - No Need to Fear

Most of the home owners, especially in these days, are considering a mortgage refinancing. Because of high interest rates, the need of refinancing mortgages has become very popular. However, many homeowners are scared or nervous about a mortgage refinancing and dare not to ask about it from anyone. Here are the some reasons for refinancing a mortgage can be very comforting. It is very simple if you're a little prepared.

Getting a Mortgage refinancing is a process of giving a new home loan on favorable terms to replace your existing mortgage. This gives you many options to the owners to rebuild their financial situation. When refinancing a mortgage, homeowners reduce their payments for home loans by reducing interest rates on home loans and reducing the loan term.

The most popular reason why people do the refinancing is, to reduce their monthly mortgage payments. This is usually done by reducing the interest rate on the mortgage. The lowering of interest rates to 1% can make significant savings to the property, and makes refinancing profitable. Another way to make the monthly payments get reduced is by extending the total duration of the mortgage. Modifying a loan of 15 years in to a loan of nearly 30 years to reduce the monthly amount by half is a nice way to repay the loan.

Some owners have the opportunity to receive a refund in cash for refinancing of mortgages. People who have lived in their house for a while, and intend to remain there, often using mortgage refinancing. A large number of persons, who are obtaining a refund of mortgage refinancing, can use it how ever they want. This money is usually at a rate much lower than traditional personal loans would be available. Cash Back Mortgage refinancing is an excellent opportunity for an owner, a large sum of money to acquire, fast, and low interest rates.

Despite all the great possibilities of refinancing a mortgage, many homeowners are afraid to do. Many people are convinced that the refinancing is a waste of time, money or both. The truth is that refinancing a mortgage, if you can do correctly, you will get incredible savings. In addition, the actual process of refinancing a mortgage much easier than you think it is. It is very similar to buying a new home. Owners need to collect documents in order to respond and be ready a few simple questions and general financial reports. In fact, for a refinancing, homeowners often have more than one choice as a lender or a bank that can work with them. This can often lead to the property in a new economy, a lot of money to refinance mortgages, which will cost in a better financial situation.

Mortgage Refinancing, especially in these days, it will be very useful for many people. People should see themselves in a variety of mortgage banks and lenders, to where you stand with each other, and funding opportunities are the best, and cost. Refinance home loan is an excellent opportunity for an owner to obtain a better financial situation, both long and short term. If you've got a home, have a little prepared, refinancing can bring huge benefits.

Refinancing Florida Mortgage Loans

Home refinancing is when you take out a new mortgage on your home with an existing mortgage. It is like trading your old mortgage for a new one. Florida offers a lot of refinancing mortgage loans and it can be beneficial for you if you try them out.

What refinancing can do for you

Homeowners look into refinancing their homes because of several factors that ultimately can be highly beneficial to them. Refinancing can help them get cash out, reduce their monthly mortgage payments, get more spending money every month, advance the repayment of their debts, cancel tax liens, pay off nearing balloon payments, and consolidate their first and second mortgage to a lower payment.

The process of refinancing

The process of refinancing a home is just like applying for a mortgage. You have to submit the requirements for assessment and your credit file will be initially reviewed. Your property will undergo a new appraisal so that its current value could be determined. The lender will also order a title report on the property. If all things are satisfactory, then your loan will be easily approved. A new mortgage will then be signed and the old mortgage will be paid off by the proceeds of the new mortgage plus all the additional liens and mortgages on the property. Thus, the only mortgage that will be reflected is the new mortgage.

When to refinance

It is most reasonable to refinance your home when interest rates fall way below the rate of your first mortgage. For example, if you have an initial mortgage at 8 percent with a loan of $100,000 payable in thirty years, and then the current rate falls to 6 percent, your savings will reach $134 a month if you refinance your home at the current rate. Your savings could reach to $48,240 over the life of the loan. Whenever you are looking to refinance your home, you should always consider the long-term savings against what it will cost you to actually refinance.

Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage

A mortgage is a type of loan, primarily used to purchase property, in which a lender or mortgagee provides credit facilities or finance to a borrower or the mortgagor, after obtaining a legal protection in the form of an official commitment, according to which the lender holds a legal right to sell or carry out transactions or activities to recover the loan amount, in the event the borrower becomes delinquent and is not able to repay or redeem the borrowed capital. In simple language, a mortgage is a loan undertaken to buy property in which the borrower gives official powers to the lender to sell his or her property if it is not possible to repay the borrowed amount. Majority of the banks and building societies offer mortgages and mortgage facilities, as well as mortgage companies.

Refinance

Refinancing means the process or activity in which the existing debts or financial obligations incurred due to a loan or financial borrowing is replaced with a new loan or credit facility having different terms and conditions, lowered interest rates, and a restructured loan or debt repayment plan that is based upon the borrowers monthly income and cash inflow. Refinancing of existing loans is carried out to reduce the interest rate or interest costs by rearranging the loan terms to repay the entire outstanding loan amount at a reduced interest rate, and extending the debt repayment time. The basic objective is to reduce ones periodic payment obligations by increasing the loan term or tenure, and re-avail the credit facilities at affordable rates. People undertake refinancing activities to raise cash for investment purposes, consumption, or the payment of a dividend or a preexisting loan.

Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage refinancing means paying off your existing real estate mortgage loan with finance availed from another mortgage loan, which is specially structured to help you save money by reducing the net payable mortgage interest rates as well as extending the tenure with lowered monthly repayment schedule. There are many reasons why individuals opt for refinancing options and avail mortgage refinance facilities. The interest rate imposed upon a mortgage is directly tied to its associated monthly mortgage repayments. Lower interest rates usually mean lower monthly payments. It is recommended you avail refinancing facilities when your credit score has improved, or when the market offers an attractive repayment rate. A lowered down interest rate also helps in rebuilding the equity for your home.

Reasons for refinancing

Individuals prefer mortgage refinancing programs because of following reasons:

1. Reduced monthly payments
One of the major reasons to go in for mortgage refinance is to avail reduced or lowered monthly dues. When you pay less it becomes possible to save some money. It is difficult to save money when you have fixed overheads, and you are paying high monthly installments. By decreasing the overall payment and interest rate, it is possible to avail a difference in your net payable monthly amount. This amount can be saved by depositing your money in a savings account, where you get a dual benefit of maintaining your savings as well as availing interest on it.
2. Avoid Balloon Payments
A balloon payment is the final payment, which results into the termination of the debt, and the amount paid is substantially more as compared to previous installments. Balloon payments are a good way to lower your initial monthly payments and rates. At the end of the fixed rate term, which is usually around 5 or 7 years, if borrowers still possess their property in their individual names, the entire mortgage balance would mature out for a final payment. Balloon program provide a facility through which the borrowers can easily switch over into a new fixed rate or adjustable rate mortgage.
3. Avoid private mortgage insurance (PMI)
The PMI is undertaken primarily to protect the lenders when debtors have unacceptable credit ratings or who are likely to become delinquent while repaying their debts. When the outstanding loan amount decreases over a period as the debtor pays off the monthly dues, the degree of encumbrances reduces on the home offered as a security, and it becomes possible for the debtors to avail certain benefits. However, to avail the benefits right from the start at the inception of the loan, mortgage refinancing turns out to be a good option since you do not have to pay the PMI. The inherent risk is covered by the credit facility itself, and the lender does not need to ask for special protection. It is possible to avoid PMI through mortgage refinance programs.
4. Generate home equity
Generally, as time passes, most homes will increase in value, and are therefore excellent choices for investments. Increase in the net resale value also increases the potential to avail loans of greater amounts. However, when a mortgage is carried out, the lien sets in and prevents the potential from being used by the debtor. Mortgage refinance makes it possible to avail the advantage of an increase in the home resale value. Through refinancing, it becomes possible to generate some liquidity or hard cash, which can be utilized for some fruitful purpose such as renovating your home or paying off a credit card debt.

Mortgage Refinancing - How to Get It Right

Most individuals after the initial euphoria of having a mortgage for their homes, awake to the harsh realities on ground that the loan rather than being a solution is indeed a problem. The individual is now saddled with the responsibility of knowing that whether on a long or short term analysis of the facility so obtained, the end results would be far from being considered favourable. Also, as a strategic reconsideration after the signing of the agreement with the creditors, the individual might desire to include certain assets originally left out and which may now be able to cushion the effects of the facility conditions. The reasons why all this happens abound; however, the only viable "out-let" to this situation is commonly referred to as "Mortgage Refinancing".

Mortgage refinancing simply put, provides the individual with the opportunity of replacing one's current mortgage with a new loan frame-work having a more friendly interest regime and an easier repayment management option. The individual by this facility will have enough funds to tidy-up the current mortgage obligations and then use the balance funds to attend other pressing wants thereby placing the individual at an advantage.

Some reasons why most individuals opt for mortgage refinancing are out-lined as follows:

1. To reduce or alter the anticipated risk profile associated with the current package.
2. To obtain a lowered monthly repayment amount.
3. To allow a long term arrangement that will result in consolidating all debts into a single loan.
4. To liquidate more cash to service other financial responsibilities.
5. To take advantage of lowered interest rates being offered on a long term basis.

At this point also, it is note- worthy for the individual considering mortgage refinancing to understand that in addition to the advantages outlined above, mortgage refinancing should only be embarked upon for the right reasons and at the right time. This simply means that the individual in other to get the best results from the option of refinancing must know at every point in time the value of one's property. The value of the property should be appreciating for this will give the individual the requisite favourable bargaining advantage. More so, the individual must investigate the interest rate being offered in the new deal. The new rate be offered should be between 2% to 5% lower than the current interest rate. Also, as regards the timing, if the current mortgage package has few more years to terminate (i.e. having between 2 to 5 years) the individual can opt to see the facility through and thereby avoid sinking further into debt since one can be debt-free in a short future. Furthermore, the individual should carefully read through the current mortgage agreement to investigate if there are any penalties attached to the condition of "terminating" the agreement before the due date.

Mortgage financing is indeed a strategy not for everybody thus, before you make any concrete commitment in this regard, be sure to ascertain that the new deal will actually be beneficial.

James Brown is an online writer on a variety of subjects which includes: personal banking related issues; insurance policies; real estate; taxation; mortgage financing, refinancing and quotes; affordable vacations; medical policies and general tips to true financial freedom on a personal note. His followers have been enhanced with his contributions.

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