Mortgage is a long term loan and the mortgage monthly payments form a major monthly expense. A lower mortgage rate means lower monthly mortgage payments. This is one reason why people hunt for low interest rates on a mortgage.

As we know, there are two types of mortgage rates i.e. fixed and floating, and different people prefer different types of rate. Again, the prevailing market rate keeps changing all the time. So it’s quite possible that you entered a mortgage at a rate that is higher than the current rate. This is when you start thinking of mortgage refinancing. By mortgage refinancing we mean full payment of the current mortgage loan by entering into a new mortgage loan at a lower rate. So mortgage refinancing starts making sense as soon as the difference in the mortgage rates becomes significant (say 1.50-2% points) i.e. prevailing market rate comes down significantly as compared to the mortgage rate on your current mortgage.

Mortgage refinancing decision would, of course, also depend on the remaining term of your mortgage (for mortgage refinancing would make no sense if you had just a short period of say 4-5 years remaining on your current mortgage). These criteria for mortgage refinancing are based on the various costs associated with mortgage refinancing. These mortgage refinancing costs include prepayment costs for the current mortgage, closing costs of the new mortgage and other fees etc. Generally, people use mortgage refinancing as a tool to move from a higher adjustable rate mortgage to a lower fixed rate mortgage. Though the reverse is possible too in some cases but adjustable rate mortgage to fixed rate mortgage is generally the case.

Another reason for mortgage refinancing is ‘need for money’. So, if you have built a significant home equity, you can use mortgage refinancing to get a home mortgage loan that will generate cash for you (by bartering your home equity). This money generated from mortgage refinance can be used for various purposes like financing the education of children, debt consolidation or home renovation. Debt consolidation is one big reason for mortgage refinancing. You can use mortgage refinance for creating money to get rid of high interest debts (like credit card debt, personal loans etc) and hence save money and your credit rating too.

By mortgage refinancing you can save thousands of dollars in terms of the total interest you pay over the term of loan. So mortgage refinancing is surely a good option but must be exercised only after proper evaluation of the situation and of your own needs.

By: Matt Ellsworth

When you first purchased your home and took out your mortgage, you probably looked at interest rates, terms and fees. When you decide to take advantage of a home mortgage refinance, you need to consider these factors as well as a few others. For example, you should take into consideration the amount of money that is left remaining on the balance of your mortgage. This is important because ultimately the amount of money you will be able to refinance will be based on the amount of money that you have paid toward your mortgage and the amount of money that is left remaining.

You should also take into consideration the amount of time that you have paid on your existing mortgage. If you only have five years left on your mortgage, it may not make good financial sense to refinance because you would be extending the payment on your mortgage beyond that time frame in most cases. Unless you are facing dire circumstances, it would usually be best to remain in the first mortgage. If; however, you have more than five years left on your mortgage there are numerous advantages to a home mortgage refinance including the ability to tap into your equity and lower monthly mortgage payments.

You should also make sure you check your credit rating before you pursue refinancing your home. As you are probably aware, your credit rating had a tremendous impact on your ability to qualify for your first mortgage. The same can be said of a home mortgage refinance. To get the best rates possible, you wan to make sure that your credit report is accurate.

Many people make the decision to refinance their mortgages because they are either having a difficult financial time or they want to pay off higher interest bills with a lower interest home equity loan. A home mortgage refinance can be a good solution which will allow you to consolidate all of those bills into a single loan with a lower interest rate. You will be able to save money each month and then start with a fresh clean financial slate.

Additionally, to be certain that you receive the most benefits from refinancing your home, make sure that you take the time to shop around for the best rates. Take the time to research current interest rates so that you will know whether you are being offered a good deal or not.

Also, be sure to compare the costs associated with a home mortgage refinance. Even though one lender may be offering what appears to be a lower interest rate, if they are charging you more in closing costs to refinance your mortgage, it may not be as good of a deal as it first appears to be. By taking the time to do your research, consider your reasons for refinancing and shopping around to compare rates, costs and terms, you can be certain to take advantage of the best benefits offered by refinancing.

By: Alan Lim