You’ve Decided To Refinance, Now What?

For those who are considering a refinance option this year, it may be a wise financial decision. Current interest rates are still at historically low levels, but they are beginning what appears to be a steady, continuous rise. Several key economic indicators are pointing to rising interest rates over the long term, as analysts predict the end of the ride for those record-breaking low rates we’re enjoyed for the past few years.

Here are three great reasons to refinance:

1) Avoid Hikes in Adjustable Rate Mortgages

As interest rates go up, so will the monthly payments on those adjustable rate mortgages that were so popular during the recent real estate bull market. One of the most significant reasons to refinance right now is to switch from adjustable rates – that will likely increase over time – to predictable low fixed rate mortgages. Consumers who lock in lower rates now will save money and avoid the pressures that rising rates bring to consumers.

2) Consolidate High Interest Loans

If you currently own a home with accumulated equity, you can refinance and take out a second mortgage or home equity loan to pay off high interest debts like credit cards. Use this strategy now to lock in low rates and then pay off all your high-interest car loans, bank line of credit notes, and department store charge cards.

By consolidating those debts into one single low-interest payment, you can manage to pay off an entire basketful of high-risk loans and refinance your personal debt into a single second mortgage payment. And you can pay off your second mortgage slowly, over the next 15, 20, 30 or even 50 years, while also deducting the interest payments at tax time.

3) Update Your Mortgage for a Lower Rate

Perhaps you have a loan that you used to buy your house a while back, when interest rates were higher than they are now. You can refinance to low rates while you still have the opportunity, and save money every month for the life of the loan. By simply lowering your interest rate by one or two points, it is possible to save tens of thousands of dollars over 20 or 30 years, while also lowering your monthly payments. With a fixed rate loan, your rate will never go up, for as long as the loan exists. Pay on it for 30 years, and even if rates go sky high, your loan will remain at these historically cheap rates.

Whatever your reasons – and regardless of your particular situation – if you want to take advantage of the great low rates that are currently available, act now. They probably won’t be around much longer, and those who plan ahead and take steps to refinance won’t look back with 20/20 hindsight and have any regrets this time next year.

Optionwide Home Loans provides details information on Real Estate Mortgage Loans to every homebuyers and homeowners with all types of credit and financing needs . Contact us today for your FREE Quote, no obligation consultation.

Posted by Unknown at 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments

Interest rates are rising. News reports tell of increasing home sales and mortgage foreclosures. You're financially stable, but are keeping an eye on interest rates. A great way to save money on interest is to refinance to a 15 year mortgage. Of course, your payments will be higher, but in the long run, you will a considerable amount of money on interest. .

Loan Term Determines Interest Savings

If you've had your home for a few years, and want to refinance a 15 year fixed rate mortgage can give you peace of mind along wit significant savings. Your loan will be fully amortized, and the interest rate will not be subject to adjustment. Your principal and interest payment (P & I) will be consistent. Here's an example of how much you can save by converting from a 30 year mortgage to a 15 year mortgage.

Let's say you've got a 30 year mortgage at 6.00%. Your original mortgage amount was $300,000. You want to refinance for the original amount to pay off lingering credit card and consumer debt, and are considering a 15 year mortgage loan. Your payments on the 15 year loan will be $2531.57, a difference of $732.92. Sure, that is a much higher payment, but depending on the amount of debt you refinance, you will have some extra cash available to meet the payments. Before you decide that the payments are too high, consider that you will save approximately $209,293 in interest compared to a 30 year loan at the same rate!

Refinancing: Part of the Big Picture

Everyone has a unique financial situation, goals, and priorities. If you're considering a mortgage refinance, it's wise to consider your entire financial situation including debts, anticipated needs, savings for college and retirement, and your present and future income. Consult your financial advisor to develop a plan that meets your needs now and in the future. Refinancing to a 15 year mortgage can be part of your overall financial plan.

Posted by Unknown at 1:50 PM | Permalink | Comments

Researching and knowing your options is the key to making a responsible decision when you decide to refinance your home. You may wonder how to take advantage of offers like no-cost refinancing, or what type of new mortgage is right for your unique situation. Having the right information and asking the right questions is the key to making a decision you will never come to regret.

First of all, when you refinance, you should keep your long-term financial goals in mind. Something that looks like a great deal in the short-term can actually end up costing you more than if you had never refinanced at all.

No-cost mortgages are one trap homeowners are prone to falling into when they refinance their home. Sometimes, no-cost mortgages are a great way to refinance and save a lot of money. But in some situations, no-cost mortgages can disadvantageous, and some no-cost mortgages are really not the deal they claim to be.

Some lenders say they offer no-cost refinancing when they are actually charging you fees and adding them to the total mortgage amount. Often, these fees stay hidden, and the consumer never knows that they are paying higher monthly payments thanks to a dishonest lender. True no-cost refinancing means that the lender pays all costs on your behalf, charges you no fees for service and DOES NOT increase the total loan amount.

If the interest rate on the no-cost loan is lower than the interest rate on your current mortgage, then you can save thousands by going with the no-cost loan. But be sure to read all contracts thoroughly, and make sure everything adds up. That way, you can avoid being charged any hidden fees that may increase your monthly payments.

Another important decision is whether you should refinance from an adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed rate mortgage. Some consumers see this as a no-brainer – isn’t it always advantageous to lock in an ARM to a lower FRM?

The answer is no, not always. If you do not think that you are going to remain in your home more than a few more years, then the cost of refinancing to an FRM may be more than the money you will save on the interest. Again, always keep long-term financial goals in mind.

When is it not a good decision to refinance? In order to benefit from refinancing your mortgage, you must remain in your home long enough to break even. This is called the “break-even” period, or the period of time it takes for the interest savings to cover the cost of refinancing. Often, lenders will figure your break-even period by simply dividing the cost of the new loan by the reduction in the monthly mortgage payments. This is NOT the correct way to determine the break-even period.

The problem with this equation is that it does not take into account the length of the new or old loan. Depending on whether you refinance for a 30 or 15 year mortgage, your break-even period could be much shorter or much longer than this simple equation might have you believe. Be sure to ask your lender if they took into account the length of the loan when calculating your break-even period.

The decision to refinance your home is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Knowing what your long-term financial goals are and never losing sight of them can mean the difference between making a decision you regret, or walking away from the closing table a happier homeowner.

Posted by Unknown at 1:49 PM | Permalink | Comments