What Is Refinancing?
Refinancing is the process of replacing an existing mortgage with a new loan. Typically, people refinance their mortgage in order to reduce their monthly payments, lower their interest rate, or change their loan program from an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage. Additionally, some people need access to cash in order to fund home renovation projects or paying off various debts, and will leverage the equity in their house to obtain a cash-out refinance.Regardless of your goal, the actual process of refinancing works much in the same way as when you applied for your first mortgage: you’ll need to take the time to research your loan options, collect the right financial documents and submit a mortgage refinancing application before you can be approved.
Benefits of a Home Refinance
There are several reasons to refinance your mortgage. Some of the potential advantages include:- Lowering your monthly payment. According to one study, an average homeowner may save $160 or more per month with a refinance. With a lower monthly payment, you are free to put the savings toward other debts and other expenditures, or apply that savings towards your monthly mortgage payment and pay off your loan sooner.
- Remove private mortgage insurance (PMI). Some homeowners who have enough property appreciation or principal paid off will not be required to pay mortgage insurance which will reduce your total monthly payment.
- Reducing the length of your loan. For homeowners who took out a mortgage in the early stages of their career, a 30-year mortgage may have made the most financial sense. But for those who want to pay off their mortgage sooner, reducing the loan term can be an attractive option.
- Switching from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate loan. When you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, your payment can adjust up or down as interest rates change. Switching to a fixed-rate loan with reliable and stable monthly payments can give homeowners the security of knowing that their payment will never change.
- Consolidating your first mortgage and your home equity line of credit (HELOC). By rolling these into a single monthly payment, you can simplify your finances and focus on one debt. HELOCs often have adjustable rates, so refinancing into a fixed-rate loan could potentially save you money in the long run.
- Using the equity in your home to take out cash. With rising home values, you may have enough equity to take out a cash-out refinance. This money can be used to finance home improvements, pay off debts or to fund large purchases.
Risks of Loan Refinancing
Depending on your goals and financial situation, refinancing may not always be your best option. While refinancing offers a lot of benefits, you’ll also have to weigh the risks.For example, refinancing your mortgage usually restarts the amortization process. So, if you are five years into paying on a 30-year loan and you decide to take out a new 30-year mortgage, you’ll be making mortgage payments for 35 years. For some homeowners this is a good plan, but if you’re already, say, 10 or 20 years into your mortgage then the lifetime interest may not be worth the extra costs. In these instances, many homeowner refinance into a shorter-term loan that won’t extend the time they will make mortgage payments, such as a 20 or 15 year mortgage (which often times also offer lower rates than 30-year loans).
Generally, refinancing is a good option if the new interest rate is lower than the interest rate on your current mortgage, and the total savings amount outweighs the cost to refinance. For example, if you have $390,000 remaining on a $400,000 loan at 4.25%, replacing your existing mortgage at 3.75% can earn savings of $162 per month compared to your previous loan.*
