Deciding when to refinance your home loan depends on several factors besides whether you can get a better mortgage rate than you already have. And though there are many reasons people refinance their mortgage, some are smarter financial moves than others. For example:
- Using refinance savings on your mortgage payment to up retirement contributions or shore-up your budget? Smart.
- Cashing out equity and going on a spending spree? Not so much.
- Cashing out to renovate your kitchen and bathrooms to increase the value of your home? It all depends.
When mortgage interest rates get low, refinancing becomes popular. But when should you refinance? Does it make sense for you? Answer these questions to decide whether to refinance or not:
1. What do you stand to save by refinancing?
There are two big reasons to refinance:
- To reduce your monthly mortgage payment or;
- To save on the overall interest you will pay on your house in the long run.
In the best case, refinancing will do both, but that doesn’t always happen. For example, if you have 25-years left on a 30-year mortgage and refinance again for a 30-year term at a lower rate, you’ll get a lower monthly payment, but may end up paying more interest in the long run because now you’ll pay your home off over a total of 35 years. If, however, you have 25 years left on your loan and refinance with a 15-year mortgage, your monthly payment may actually go up, but you may pay tens of thousands less in interest over the long run (and you’ll have your house paid off 10 years sooner).
A lender can help you run scenarios that show you the cost and potential savings of refinancing. Remember: Refinancing costs money – so be prepared for closing costs, appraisal fees and more. This article from Money Under 30 explains what’s in your mortgage rate and can help decode the various costs that go into your mortgage.
2. How long will you keep your home?
In most cases, it only makes sense to refinance if you plan on staying in your home for several more years. If you may sell the property soon, don’t refinance. Most refinances can take months or even years to break even and begin saving you money. Your lender can help you determine when you’ll break even.
3. Will you — and your home — qualify to refinance?
Even if a refinance makes sense in your situation, you’ll still need to qualify. And just because you have a home and are making timely payments does not mean you’ll be able to refinance your loan. Your ability to refinance depends on several factors, especially:
- The amount of equity you have in your house
- Your income
- Your credit
Applying to refinance requires an entirely new underwriting process. Your financial institution needs to see that the home is worth more than the loan value, that you earn enough to afford the monthly payments, and that you are creditworthy. Unfortunately, if you are underwater on your current mortgage, it may be difficult to qualify for traditional mortgage refinancing.
Our Take: When to refinance
Although every situation is different, I would recommend refinancing your mortgage if:
- Current interest rates are at least 1 percent lower than your existing rate
- You plan on staying in your home for another 5 years (give or take)
- You anticipate being approved for the refinance loan
Deciding when to refinance is no small decision, so don’t jump on the refinance bandwagon just because other people you know are doing it. Take some time to figure out what your total costs would be, what your new monthly payments would be, and whether or not it’s the right decision for you.
If you’re ready to talk refinancing give us a call at (918) 633-6056 or email [email protected].
