Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Is Mortgage Refinancing Right for You

Ever wondered if mortgage refinancing would be a beneficial step for you to take? Well, here’s an attempt to simplify the process of mortgage refinancing to help you understand whether or not it is the right choice for you.

So exactly what is Mortgage Refinancing?
Mortgage refinancing in its simplest form occurs when someone takes out a second mortgage on their home to pay off the first mortgage on that same home. Mortgage refinancing, if done at the right time, can be very beneficial due to savings realized from lower mortgage rates and reduced monthly payments. Mortgage refinancing, however, is not necessarily the right solution for all individuals and households. This is because there are several choices involved in the application process that can either negatively or positively affect your overall savings. Therefore, it is crucial that you understand the process to determine whether or not mortgage refinancing is the right choice for you.

To find out whether or not mortgage refinancing will result in more profit than loss, you first need to calculate the break-even point on your new loan, using a mortgage calculator is the easiest and more effective method. The break-even point is the point in your mortgage repayment period at which you start realizing savings on your monthly loan payments. The break-even point helps determine whether or not mortgage refinancing is worth it for you. One important factor that needs to be taken into consideration is the length of time you plan to live in that particular house because it usually takes some time before savings on your refinanced loan start flowing in. The easiest way to calculate the break-even point on your new mortgage is to first compute the amount that your monthly payment decreases from your old loan to your new loan. Then you need to add up all the costs involved in the refinancing process, such as prepayment penalties and closing costs. Finally, you need to divide the total savings into the total costs to get the number of months that it will take to reach the break-even point in your refinanced loan.

Here’s a quick example:
Let’s say that refinancing your mortgage causes your monthly payment to reduce from $1,500 to $1,200 and the total costs associated with refinancing add up to $6,000. You simply divide the $6,000 in costs by the $300 in savings and the answer reveals that it will take 20 months for you to begin earning savings on your refinanced mortgage. Let’s say the family in this example is planning to live at that residence for approximately 5 years. In this case, it will make sense to refinance because they will start earning savings on their monthly payments after 1 year and 8 months, or 20 months, of living at that residence. However, if the family only plans to stay at that residence for 1 year, then mortgage refinancing is not that right choice for them because they will not realize any savings in the next year.

Another key factor that needs to be examined when calculating mortgage refinance gains versus losses is the annual percentage rate, or APR interest rate, on the old mortgage compared to the APR on the new mortgage. Many people seem to think that you can get a lower monthly payment simply by refinancing to a loan with a lower interest rate. This belief is far from the truth due to the fact that there are other costs and fees involved in the refinancing process that need to be taken into consideration. APR is a better and more accurate basis of comparison to evaluate the difference between two separate mortgage loans. The APR on your refinanced mortgage takes into account other important expenses in addition to the base interest rate, such as whether you have a fixed or adjustable rate, the length of the loan period, discount points, and all other charges including, origination fees, application fees, appraisal fees, insurance costs, and so on. Using APR to compare your current mortgage to a refinanced mortgage helps accurately determine whether or not mortgage refinancing is the right choice for you.

Mortgage refinancing, if done at the right time, can result in a lower interest rate on your mortgage which consequently results in a lower monthly payment. As mentioned above, although you may get a lower interest rate on your refinanced loan, it doesn’t mean that you will instantly start realizing savings. The savings are sometimes lost in the costs associated with getting a new loan and paying off an old loan before the end of its term. The break-even point and annual percentage rate (APR) are two key factors that need to be used when evaluating whether or not mortgage refinancing is a suitable option for you. The break-even point helps determine if mortgage refinancing will provide you with savings based on how long you plan to stay at that particular house, and APR helps to compare the true costs associated with your old mortgage and new mortgage refinance loan. So by now you should have a good idea whether or not mortgage refinancing will be a beneficial step for you take in terms of lowered costs.



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Please Consider All The Costs Of A Home Mortgage Refinance Loan

When monthly expenditures get out of hand, many people turn to refinancing their mortgage as a way to free up more of their monthly income. When considering this option, it is important that homeowners are aware of the various ways they can refinance. It is also a good idea to bear in mind the long-term cost and current mortgage refinance rates and fees, before deciding if home loan refinancing will make financial sense.

A homeowner, who is looking for a mortgage refinance, should first find out the mortgage refinance rate that may be available to them. They can do this in several different ways. One way is to contact their current lender to see what home refinance rate they are currently offering. The next option is to check rates with banks in their area and with online lenders. Comparison-shopping is usually the most important step consumers can take to find the best mortgage refinance rates available to them.

It is possible that the homeowner’s current lender will not offer them a lower rate. After all, this lender has already secured the borrower as a customer at the higher rate. Providing them with a cheaper mortgage refinance rate means they will make less income on the same money. On the other hand, a different lender has the incentive to offer a low-interest mortgage refinance rate in order to secure new business. Competition among lenders today can lead to significant savings for borrowers.

Even with this knowledge, comparing the costs between different lenders could still intimidate the average borrower. To help counter this problem, most lenders now have websites that can estimate the mortgage refinance rate a borrower could secure with their company. A number of websites also have mortgage refinance calculators that will estimate the long-term and short-term costs of entering into a mortgage contract with their company. This calculator will be based on the homeowner’s principal, interest, tax, and insurance (PITI). In short, a PITI is a combination of all the charges included in the monthly mortgage payment.

To make the search even easier, there are also third party websites that compare mortgage rates that are being offered by a number of different lenders. These websites can be very valuable for those borrowers who do not have the time or patience to visit a dozen lender websites.

When making final decisions about refinancing options, it is imperative to compare the current mortgage with the estimated costs of the refinanced mortgage. Many refinanced mortgages will offer a lower home mortgage refinance rate, but the duration of the contract will be for a longer period of time than the existing mortgage. The lower mortgage refinance rate and lower monthly payments can be initially attractive; however, if the loan term is extended, the borrower might end up paying more for the refinanced mortgage than they would for the initial mortgage agreement.

In addition, there are usually fees associated with refinancing a home loan. Some lenders will charge an origination fee, processing fee and closing fee, which will be added to the principal balance of the new loan. Securing the best mortgage refinance rate may not be beneficial to a homeowner if these additional fees are excessive.

The best way to determine if the refinanced mortgage offer is better than your current mortgage is to determine the break-even point. This is the point at which the mortgage agreement ceases to be a money-saving deal. For example, let’s say a borrower has 6 years remaining on their current mortgage. With the new mortgage refinance rate, their new loan term will be 10 years. The borrower must then decide if having a lower rate for a longer amount of time is better than a higher interest rate for a shorter amount of time. Where does the break-even point occur, or does it?

Refinancing a high interest mortgage loan may seem like a good way to manage increasing monthly debt. In some cases, it may be very beneficial for a homeowner to do this. However, securing the best mortgage refinance rate should not be the only determining factor. Long-term costs or other associated fees should also be part of the equation. As always, an informed decision may take longer to reach, but it will make more sense in the long run.



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Is Mortgage Refinancing Possible For Someone With Bad Credit

Keeping up with the monthly expenses involved with owning a home can be a stressful endeavor. Many homeowners would agree that this stress is mostly due to mortgage payments. Juggling a costly mortgage payment along with other expenses (such as credit card bills, utilities, groceries, etc.) has caused many Americans to fall behind on their debts. Unfortunately, this can result in a poor credit rating. Those with bad credit, who are looking for a way to manage their debts, may want to consider a “bad credit” mortgage refinance loan. For many Americans, a bad credit mortgage refinance loan has been effective in helping them return to financial success.

A bad credit mortgage refinance is similar to a standard mortgage refinance loan for those with good credit. In both situations, the goal for the homeowner is to lock in a lower, fixed-rate Annual Percentage Rate (APR) than they have with their current lender. The low interest rate is attractive because it means that the loan will accrue less interest during its lifetime.

Another attractive feature of the bad credit mortgage refinance loan is that it could mean a lower monthly payment. This is often the most appealing part of home loan refinancing for those with bad credit; the lower monthly payment can free up the borrower’s monthly income, allowing them to get “caught up” on other outstanding debts. This can benefit a borrower in that lowering other debts will eventually lead to an improvement in their financial situation and credit rating.

However, it is important to understand that the bad credit mortgage refinance agreement will not be identical to the agreement someone with good credit might receive. A bad credit mortgage refinance loan may carry a higher interest rate or charge different fees than other refinance programs would. This is due to the fact that someone with a good credit rating is considered more financially responsible than someone with bad credit, at least from a lender’s perspective. It is still possible, though; that the bad credit mortgage refinance rate offered would be lower than the rate the homeowner is currently paying.

It is important to note that a bad credit mortgage refinance loan is not a “sure thing”. Many loan companies simply do not offer refinance loans to someone with poor credit. However, a growing number of loan agencies are getting involved in bad credit mortgage refinance programs; you may have to spend a bit more time shopping your options in order to find the right lending company willing to refinance your home loan, even if you have bad credit.

The important thing to realize is that although your local hometown bank may never consider a bad credit mortgage refinance loan, there are companies who will. Now is not the time to give up hope and let a lending company repossess your home. The more equity one has in their home currently, the more likely it will be that the homeowner will be able to find a lender to help them in their time of dire financial need.

There are steps a person can take if a bad credit rating has hindered them in securing a refinance on their mortgage. The first thing they should do is request a copy of their credit report. If a person has been turned down for new credit, a credit-reporting agency will supply this information at no charge. The reason borrowers should do this is so that they can thoroughly review the information the report contains. It is not uncommon for a credit report to contain inaccuracies or outdated information. If the borrower finds that this is the case, it is imperative that he/she corrects this information to improve their credit rating.

Lastly, if the borrower finds that they only qualify for a bad credit mortgage refinance offer, they should shop around for the best available rates and fees. After securing a bad credit mortgage refinance loan, it is important that the borrower stay up-to-date on their payment schedule. Ideally, the borrower will get and remain timely with their other bills as well. If this occurs for a year or longer, significant improvements may be seen in the borrower’s credit report. At that point in time, it may be possible for the borrower to reapply for mortgage refinancing and secure an even better rate, than the one acquired through the bad credit mortgage-refinancing loan.

Sometimes bad credit happens to good people. Unforeseen circumstances can occur in any person’s life that may cause financial hardships. The good news is that more and more lenders are seeing the need for bad credit mortgage refinances. Anyone with bad credit who is interested in turning their credit troubles around, should look into home loans of this type, if they cannot get regular financing from other lenders.



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Refinance Your Mortgage For the Right Reasons and at the Right Time

Among the list of assets a person can own, a home is one of the best. Generally, the property value of a home will increase as the years pass. And during the course of home ownership, the homeowner is investing their hard-earned money into their own financial holdings, rather than in a landlord’s financial holdings. The reasons and benefits of owning a home are many, so most homeowners who experience financial problems will sacrifice many other things and activities, before they even consider giving up on keeping their home.

When personal and financial circumstances change, some homeowners may begin looking into the possibility of a mortgage refinance loan. There are many reasons a person might need mortgage refinancing, but solving financial problems and home improvement are two of the most common reasons. Fortunately, a mortgage refinance loan is easy to apply for and the requirements to meet are minimal.

Mortgage refinancing means that the initial loan used to purchase the home is being paid off by the proceeds from a new loan. It might sound nonsensical to replace one loan with another; however, there are many reasons that mortgage refinancing could be to a homeowner’s benefit.

One reason a homeowner might choose mortgage refinancing is to save money on their monthly payment. When a person refinances, it may be possible to secure a lower interest rate and lower payments. This could result in the homeowner having additional funds to spend each month. These funds could be used to make improvements to the property or to cover the expensive university costs for a child.

Of course, saving money on interest every month equals saving even more money over the course of the next few years. Therefore, anytime a debt can be refinanced at a lower interest rate, it is a good idea to do so.

Another possible reason for mortgage refinancing is to change a variable interest rate into a fixed one. For example, there are mortgage loans that charge a very low interest rate. This may seem like a great deal at first, but if the current mortgage payment happens to be less than the interest the loan accrues, the balance of the loan will consistently increase. The result is that the homeowner is not making progress in paying off their mortgage; for the homeowner, this is kind of like running in place. Someone in this situation might want to look into mortgage refinancing with a fixed interest rate and set payments to ensure that they will one day be mortgage-free.

In order for a homeowner to get mortgage refinancing, they must first decide on a mortgage lender. Since there are numerous lenders to choose from, it is a good idea to do a little research and find the one who offers the best rate and/or loan package. There are different rules and fees associated with the many home mortgage refinance loans in the marketplace. Anyone considering mortgage refinancing should compare the various types of loans to determine which one will prove to be most beneficial in their particular situation. And one should not forget to consider all fees and charges connected to a loan, as part of the overall loan package.

The application for mortgage refinancing is a fairly simple procedure and can be done in person or online. Many institutions have set up online versions of their applications to make the approval process quicker and more convenient for the borrower. The application requires general information from the homeowner such as, name, address, age, etc. The lender will also need to know the loan amount being requested, the property value, and the estimated payoff on the current mortgage. With this information, the lender should be able to decide if mortgage refinancing is the best option.

If the loan looks possible, the lender will do a credit check. Good credit is the most important requirement in being approved for any loan including mortgage refinancing. Generally, if a person already owns a home, their credit will be pretty good. However, sometimes the reason a homeowner wants the mortgage loan refinance in the first place, is because they are having a hard time paying their bills. Mortgage refinancing may allow them to better manage their finances. For this reason, many lenders can justify mortgage refinancing for someone who may be viewed as having bad credit.

In today’s economy, there is a lot of movement with interest rates. Sometimes the changes are hard to keep up with. However, keeping an eye on mortgage rates can be very beneficial to a homeowner. While it is not advantageous to refinance a mortgage every time interest rates drop a half a point, it is a good idea to watch for significant decreases. Knowing if and when mortgage refinancing benefits a homeowner can save a great deal of money in the long run.

Each individual homeowner must decide for him or herself if home mortgage refinancing is the right thing to do in their own situation. Many mortgage refinancing lenders offer a mortgage calculator on their website, so don’t be afraid to investigate your options. Interest rates are still low, but they are on their way up. If someone believes that mortgage refinancing could be beneficial to his or her financial situation, the time to move on that decision is soon. If a mortgage-refinancing loan can be beneficial to a homeowner now, the truth is that it is hard-to-say whether that benefit will still be there one year from now.



http://www.secureloanconsolidation.com/home_mortgage_refinance_loan.asp

Are you looking to refinance your loans but not getting the

Are you looking to refinance your loans but not getting the best refinancing rates? There are times when you feel the repayment of your first mortgage is actually costing you few extra grand. And when you hear that your colleague or friend has recently got a mortgage at much lower rate of interest than that of yours, you are bound to consider mortgage refinancing. But getting one at least rate is not always easy.

The mortgage lenders will always try to extract maximum profit from you and because of your ignorance and his expertise; you may pack your second mortgage in a costly bag. Refinancing mortgage in such a case will not do any good to you. So what to do? Most of the mortgage expert, including me, will suggest you to surf internet to find best mortgage lenders for you. Use your MSN or any other search engine and type best refinance lenders or best mortgage lenders followed by your state name. Explore some of the cheapest mortgage lenders in your state. Fill up the quote request form to receive free quotes from up to 4 lenders.

The lenders also have mortgage calculators on their website. Use those calculators to find, which mortgage refinancing plan will actually suit you. Besides mortgage refinancing rates, also compare the closing cost, discount point, etc. Refinancing at lowest rate of interest is possible only when you compare mortga
ge refinancing rates of 3-4 cheapest mortgage refinancing lenders.

If you keep yourself aware of the latest trends in mortgage industry then you must be aware of the fact that mortgage lenders are having tough competition. Presence of large number of lenders in the market has actually turned the mortgage market in favor of borrowers. Lenders are competing against each other to bag your business and hence offering loans at low rate of interest. Subsequently mortgage refinancing is a wise option but before closing any refinance deal always compare the rates of 3-4 lenders.

Refinancing your mortgage can yield you maximum saving only when mortgage refinancing rate is at least 2 point lower to your existing mortgage rate. You can also buy down rates by paying for discount points. Discount points can help you lowering down your interest rate from .25 to .75 percent.

A pretty decent amount can be saved by opting to refinance mortgage but this can be done only when you choose the best mortgage refinancing deal. Best deal will include lowest mortgage refinance rates, low closing cost, fixed rate mortgage plan in case the rate is much cheaper than the previous amount.



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Thinking of refinancing your home mortgage can seem overwhel

Thinking of refinancing your home mortgage can seem overwhelming, with so many options on the market. If you break your thought processes into four categories it will be a whole lot easier for you to focus: Think about the term of your mortgage, your current interest rate compared to the new rates on offer, are you staying put or planning to move in the short term future, and do you have enough credit to find a mortgagee happy to take over your loan?

The mortgage term is how long the loan is spread over, and then there is the payback period meaning how long will you be with the new financier before you have made back to money it cost for the refinancing. These costs include appraisal fees, bank fees, lawyer fees and early pay out fees assigned to your current mortgage. Some lending institutes will allow you to absorb those charges associated with transferring into your home mortgage so you don't pay anything in cash at the time.

Probably the most important thing for you to understand is exactly how much your interest rate will go down. If the new rate is over two percent less than the old one, refinancing is probably going to be worth your while. Any less than that and the recovery period
or payback time will be too long and will result in more of a loss to you.

For those people who are hoping to move home in two years or less refinancing beforehand is not a good idea. The refinancing costs for doing the mortgage twice over will be too high leaving you noticeably behind.

Lenders looking to refinance your loan for you are focused on the LTV or loan-to-value ratio. This means the amount of your mortgage in comparison to your home's appraised value. In some cases the mortgagee will only refinance if the new loan is to be 90% or less of the homes value, but every bank and lender has their own LTV limits. In some cases simply paying refinancing costs yourself will give you a better LTV.

If you do your research, refinancing your home mortgage can save you thousands in interest, but it can lose you the same if you don�t do it right. Check if you know someone who can recommend a lender to refinance with, or take time to see a variety of different ones and make your own informed decision.



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