The Time May Be Right for a Mortgage Refinance
You've had your home for a while, been steadily making payments on the mortgage, and have created a pretty sizeable amount of equity. Is the time right for a mortgage refinance?
There are a few reasons one might consider refinancing their home loan:
You want to lower your monthly payment
You want to pay off your mortgage quicker
You want to access cash
Let’s examine these three possibilities and how they can save you money in the process.
Reason 1: You want to lower your monthly payment
If you want a little extra cash in your pocket at the end of each month, refinancing to a lower interest rate may make sense. Before doing so, remember that there are often trade-offs (e.g., you may lengthen the term of your loan), so make sure to discuss your options with a loan officer first.
Do you current pay Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)? If so, you could possibly have PMI removed with a refinance. Here’s how:
Jane bought a $150,000 house with a 3.5% down payment, leaving her with a loan amount of $144,750. If a new appraisal confirms that her house is now worth $181,000, then she may qualify to have her PMI eliminated altogether because of the higher valuation. This could potentially save her thousands of dollars over the years!
As you can see, a home that has appreciated in value may allow the borrower to remove PMI faster than initially planned.
Reason 2: You want to pay off your mortgage quicker
Let’s say you currently finance your home with a longer-term mortgage but want to pay off your home quickly. You can refinance your home into a shorter-term mortgage with a lower interest rate, which could save you thousands of dollars in interest. For both reason 1 and reason 2, this type of refinance is known as a rate and term refinance.
Reason 3: You want access to cash
You can refinance your house and take the cash to pay off your expenses. Borrowing from the example above, a cash-out refinance would look like this:
Jane bought a $150,000 house and currently owes $80,000 on it. The house has retained its value. She can then borrow up to 80% of the home’s current value, take cash for the difference, and use it as she wishes.
The above are the most popular reasons why someone might consider refinancing their loan. Should you refinance your house? If any of these situations apply to you, it may be a good solution! Here's a calculator that can help you determine if refinancing your home can benefit you. The best way to find out if you should refinance your home is to call NASB at 888-661-1982 and learn more about the refinancing process. You may have more options available to you than you realize. Call us today to find out more!
