When considering refinancing you have to know exactly if the loan exchange will serve the purpose that you have in mind. Thus, in order to know whether you’ll be saving money on the overall life of the loan or if your monthly payments will decrease, you need to compare the loan terms of the loan to be refinanced with the new loan conditions.
Refinance Home Loans
Basically, mortgage refinancing consists on replacing an existing home loan with another one, using the money obtained from the new loan to cancel the previous outstanding loan. This is done for different purposes: for repaying the mortgage sooner, for lowering the monthly payments by extending the repayment period or by obtaining a lower rate, for saving money by shortening the loan term or reducing the interest rate, etc.
Whatever the purpose of the new loan is, there are certain variables that will determine whether the loan will suit its purpose. These variables are: The interest rate, the loan schedule, the loan amount, and the amount of the monthly payments. All these variables are related and mostly determined by the risk involved in the transaction.
Interest Rate On Refinance Home Loans
However, the interest rate is probably the most important variable as all the others can be defined or determined through it. Actually, the interest rate is a measure of the risk involved in the transaction and the rest of the variables are usually established according to the risk that lending to a particular borrower represents.
The interest rate charged on home loans is usually the lowest in the loan market only beaten perhaps by certain subsidized loan where the government or certain non-profit organizations cover for some part of the interest rate so as to provide to the borrower with a significant interest rate reduction.
A refinance home loan can feature a lower rate or a higher rate than the outstanding home loan. This will depend on the current and past credit score of the applicant and on the current and past market conditions that determine both loans. If the previous loan was taken under worse market conditions and with a worse credit score, chances are that you’ll be able to obtain a better interest rate on your refinance home loan.
So, when considering refinancing, you’ll need to pay special attention to the interest rate charged for the new loan and compare it with the outstanding mortgage loan so as to see if you are actually saving money by refinancing. Even if you are refinancing for other reasons, you should pay attention to the interest rate issue to be able to know how much refinancing will actually cost you so you can budget efficiently according to these new figures.
By: Mary Wise
Posts Tagged ‘Loan Term’
Interest Rate On Refinance Home Loans Explained
March 10th, 2010Refinance Mortgage Loan – Shorten Your Loan Term
March 7th, 2010
A 15-year loan term has many advantages, although it may appear to be expensive because of the higher monthly amortization. However, a shorter loan term assures you that you’ll be free from this burden before or at the time of retirement and save thousands of dollars. Consider having your loan restructured to a shorter loan term.
Benefits of a Shorter Loan Term
The prospect of spending 30 years paying back a mortgage is discouraging. If you have 20 years remaining on your loan, the option to shorten your loan term to 15 can be tempting. Taking away 5 years from a 20-year loan means a higher monthly bill, but freedom from the mortgage after 15 years instead of 20 is definitely more appealing. But if it’s only a matter of a few hundred dollars more, why not? Never mind if you’ll be paying a higher monthly bill.
You’ll be saving thousands of dollars from interests alone with the five years knocked off from the 20-year loan term. Another benefit is building your home equity faster. A refinance mortgage loan offers the chance to restructure your terms.
What’s Involved
For a home mortgage, the lender will pull your credit record to check if you’ve been paying your debts on time. You’ll also be paying the fees involved before, during, and after your loan is processed.
The lender will assess all the information to evaluate if you are a good risk for a shorter loan term. If you’re dealing with the same lender, the process won’t be as rigorous and as lengthy like it would be if you go to a new lender.
It’s a fact that lenders prefer long-term mortgages because it rakes in more profits. To counter loss in future profits, lenders penalize borrowers for paying their mortgage ahead of term. This is why prospective borrowers should always inquire if the lender charges prepayment penalties.
Assuming that your lender does not charge penalties on prepayment, you have to contend instead with the closing costs for your refinance mortgage loan.
Others get a refinance mortgage loan to switch to a short term interest only loan. They are banking on the equity of the house and intend to sell it in the near future. The proceeds of the sale will go to the interest and they can still have extra money from the profit. In your case, you’re looking at the full ownership of your home in a shorter time.
For a new loan, you can decide if you want a fixed rate mortgage or an ARM. An online calculator can compute how much you’re going to pay the monthly bill in 15 years’ time. From the calculations, you’ll be able to determine the feasibility of a short term ARM or fixed rate refinance mortgage loan.
Short Term or Long Term?
A short term, or traditional loan, will always depend on your financial situation and future plans. A short-term refi is ideal now that interest rates are low. You’ll be surprised that you’ll be paying the same monthly fee as your first mortgage, so there’s not much of a change in the monthly bills. The prospect of paying off your loan in 15 years, however, is imminent. For those who feel secure with the stability of the traditional 30-year loan term, switching from an ARM to a fixed rate refinance mortgage loan is recommended.
By: Rony Walker
Interest Only Refinancing Loans
January 23rd, 2010
An interest only refinancing loan is a great way for savvy homeowners to maximize their cash flow. Interest only refinancing loans are different than a tradition refinancing loan. With a traditional refinancing loan, you pay both the principle of the loan and the interest of the loan. With interest only refinancing loans, the homeowner is given the option of paying both the principle and interest of the loan or only the interest, using the extra money that would have been spent on the principle to purchase or invest for other things.
Interest only refinancing loans can be very similar to traditional refinancing loans. For instance, both types of mortgages usually have the same interest rate, so you don’t usually save from one product to another and you can take out an interest only loan with either a fixed rate or adjustable rate.
For the most part, most interest only loans allow the borrower to choose between paying both the principle and interest or just the interest for a set term. For instance, your interest only loan will give you the option for the first 10 years of the loan. After 10 years have passed, you must always pay both the principle and interest.
Advantages of Interest Only Refinancing Loans
The main advantage of an interest only refinancing loan is that the homeowner can maximize their cash flow from month to month. For instance, need a few extra dollars one month, forgo paying the principle, some savvy homeowners even forgo paying the principle and instead take that money and invest it into their 401K or other investment vehicles.
Another advantage of these types of loans is for homeowners that intends to sell their home before the end of the loan term. Having extra cash flow when you need it can be a great way to buy the things you need most and since you will be moving before the end of the loan, with the sale of the home and its built up equity, you can easily repay your loan.
While interest only refinancing loans can be a popular alternative, they are not without risk. For those that rely on not paying the principle due to the fact that they have trouble paying their mortgage completely, this can signal trouble ahead. Make sure that if you choose this type of loan, you can handle the perks. Make sure you have control of your finances and refrain from digging yourself in a hole.
By: Connie Barker