Rebecca Sparenberg asked:




Looking to refinance your mortgage? Well stop, don’t rush; there are a few things you should consider before refinancing. With mortgage rates at an all-time low, refinancing can save you thousands of dollars. However, if you rush into a new rate without negotiate for the best deal or you don’t understanding all the details of your new mortgage you could end up losing money.

Is Refinancing Right For You?

A general rule is that refinancing becomes while if the current interest rate on your mortgage is at least two percent higher than the prevailing market rate. However, depending on your loan amount, you might choose to refinance a loan that is only one-point-five percentage points higher then the current rate.

When choosing to refinance, consider is how long you plan to stay in your house? Given the costs of the refinancing, it usually takes at least three years to fully realize the savings from a lower interest rate. Refinancing is only good idea if you intend to stay in your house long enough to make the additional fees worthwhile.

Remember To Shop Around

The most common mistake homeowners make when refinancing their mortgage is they fail to shop around. Would you buy a new car without first checking out the competitions prices?

Call two or three lenders to compare their interest rates and closing cost, then compare then to the terms offered by your current lender. Comparing offers allows you to get a better idea of what rate you may be able to qualify for. It also puts you in a better negotiating position with the lenders.

Once you receive offers, pay close attention to the interest rate, points, and closing costs. Talk with the loan officers and see if you can negotiate a better interest rate. Most often, the initial rate offered is not the best a particular lender can offer.

Consider All The Cost

There is no such thing as getting your cake and eating it too. It is important to understand that refinancing your mortgage is not free. Consumers need to ask their mortgage originator to provide all costs that will be incurred in order to complete the refinancing process in writing.
There are “no cost” rates available where all of the closing costs are built into the rate, but they usually involve higher rates. This is one of the reasons shopping around is so important.

Many lenders require that you have at least ten percent equity in your home, but there is usually at least one lender willing to underwrite loans in which the borrower has only five percent equity. Nonetheless, beware low equity loans can involve relatively high mortgage insurance costs.
In most cases, a homeowner should plan on paying an average of three to six percent of the outstanding principal in refinancing costs. One way of saving on some of these costs is to first check with your current mortgage lender, they may we willing to wave some of these fees; including the fees for the title search, surveys, and inspections.

Check Your Credit Twice

If your credit history is less than sparkling, it might be worth while to invest sometime into cleaning up your credit before you applying for a home loan. Before you apply for your new mortgage, first check your credit report for any mistakes or outdated information. It’s estimated that 60 percent of credit reports contain some type of incorrect information. Federal law allows consumers to receive a free copy of their credit bureau report each year. Review your report and make any change requests directly with the credit reporting agency.

Depending on your credit score, the process of cleaning up your credit can be as easy as reporting errors on your credit report or as complex as hiring a professional credit counselor to get your finances in order. If your credit problems cannot be fixed quickly you will almost certainly have to pay more than borrowers who have a good credit history. Yet, don’t assume that the only way to get credit is to pay a high price. Ask how your past credit history affects the price of your loan and what you would need to do to get a better price.

Don’t assume that minor credit problems or difficulties stemming from unique circumstances will limit your loan choices to only high-cost lenders. No matter what your credit score, remember the key to finding the best deal or rate is to shop, compare, and negotiate.

Jacob

Frank W Ellis asked:




If you’ve been paying on your mortgage for awhile, now may be a good time to take a second look at your mortgage options. Exploring your options could save you a lot of money in years to come.

By refinancing your mortgage at a lower rate you could save a bundle of money over time. Simply put, you can most likely refinance your original mortgage with a new mortgage that has better rates and terms and save a lot of money. If interest rates have dropped since you last financed your home, a new refinance loan could save you 10 – 15 or even 20 thousand dollars or more in mortgage payments.

It costs you nothing to explore your options. In order to determine whether refinancing will save you money, you need only to weigh the costs of taking out a new loan against the savings you gain in reduced monthly mortgage payments.

Here’s the strategy: Comparison shopping. When looking at your options, compare several new loan offers to find the lender with the lowest interest rates, closing costs, and processing fees. That way you can get the lowest overall costs on a new refinance loan.

Here are 5 important questions you can ask loan officers, to determine the true costs of a refinance loan.

1. Are you being charged points?

2. Can you get your low rate locked-in?

3. What is the length of the loan you’re being quoted?

4. Will I be charged a penalty for prepayment?

5. What are the lenders closing fees?

With the information you get on interest rates, points being charged, length of loan, prepayment penalties, and closing costs you can then determine whether a mortgage refinance is in your best interest. Most lenders have quite a bit of flexibility in the area of rates, fees and closing costs. So, if you like to bargain, this is your chance to make a deal that could save you a pile of money. You have the aces, all you have to do is play them!

Lester

Maria Ny asked:




Many realtors offer basic advice on getting your home ready to sell like making your house like a blank canvas that allows buyers to view it as their potential home by cleaning, removing clutter, and putting away family photos and other items that personalize your home to you and your family in storage.

It is normally not advisable to refinance your mortgage, get a home improvement loan, construction loan or a home equity loan (second mortgage) for anything expensive such as remodeling. However, sometimes it you need a loan to help with necessary repairs and upgrades especially if the market is particularly competitive. “These days, regardless of what your budget is, fixing up your home for sale is even more imperative in a transitional market,” says Clay Hinrichs, a Realtor with Prudential California Realty in Studio City.

When budgeting for improving the curb appeal of your home, keep the following in mind: the first priority is to clean, landscape and paint. Then, with what’s left, take care of any necessary repairs. “Update and replace whatever appliances you can–microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher–and replace or refinish old kitchen cabinets,” advises Jimmy Wood, a Realtor with ZipRealty in Los Angeles.

Most people don’t like the textured “popcorn” ceiling that is so common with houses built in the 1960s and 1970s. If yours has this, it may be a good idea to have it removed. That ceiling may be why your house is still on the market. Before having it removed, test it for asbestos. It will be more expensive to remove textured ceilings with asbestos because a licensed professional is required for the job, but it will make your house more marketable.

If it turns out you need a loan, mortgage refinancing from your fixed mortgage rate to an adjustable mortgage rate (ARM) with an initial low interest or getting a small 2nd mortgage may help you cash out on your home equity to make the repairs without putting too much strain on your budget.

Vanessa

Louie Latour asked:




The mortgage marketplace is full of myths, half truths, and faulty interpretations that result in overpaying thousands of dollars. Doing your homework and researching mortgage offers will help you avoid most of the bad mortgage advice out there. Here is a short list of bad advice the supposed “experts” pass on to unsuspecting homeowners.

Supposed mortgage “experts” are everywhere. In mortgage books, articles on the Internet and in magazines, financial advisors, all have advice for the taking. The problem is, much of this advice bad and results in overpaying. The following list of “advice” you are likely to encounter is simply not true.

o Never prepay your mortgage if your investments accounts are earning a greater return than your mortgage interest rate. Put your cash in these investments to earn the higher rate of return.

o Never purchase a home unless you plan on living in it for at least five years.

o If you have poor credit you will always have to pay a higher mortgage rate.

o Most homeowners should choose a 30 year, fixed interest rate loan when mortgage refinancing.

o Interest rates have no where to go but up since we’re at historically low levels.

o Your lender will tell you which mortgage loan is right for your situation.

o Bankruptcy ruins your credit.

o Stay away from Adjustable Rate Mortgages (ARM) when refinancing your mortgage loan.

o Tell your loan rep: “You name the price, I’ll name the terms” when negotiating for a new mortgage loan.

You can learn more about mortgage refinancing while avoiding costly mortgage mistakes and bad advice with a free six part mortgage refinancing video tutorial.

Christian

Ernesto Maitim asked:




Home owners in need of home mortgage refinance loans for the very first time actually need ample advice and assistance during the whole application process. Indeed, while a prospective refinancing client can get all the information from the internet by self-researching, it can certainly be a tedious if not long process.

Whether he learns all by himself or gets the information from a loan professional, what is important is to be able to acquire enough information that will help him properly refinance a home mortgage.

There are two effective ways by which one can get tips and advices on how to obtain home mortgage refinance loans without so much trouble. First of all, he can consult his friends and relatives, particularly those who have already gone through the process. Definitely these people who recently have just refinanced their mortgage gained a great wealth of information and experience that led to their obtaining a good mortgage.

Wise and helpful words of advice are surely what friends and family members can provide once they know that you are in the market to refinancing a mortgage loan. They are willing to share you the lenders who offer the best and lowest interests and as well as those who are truly concerned about the loan needs of their clients.

Another way to obtain sound advice on getting home mortgage refinance loans is to ask professionals on the field. However, expert advice are available but not without professional fees. Some experts might be expensive when it comes to their fees, but many home owners are more than willing to pay if only to get assurance that they are doing it the right way. Indeed, the process to refinance a home mortgage can be costly if accompanied by professional assistance. But still, such fees can be considered worthwhile if in the end it means significant savings for the home owner.

Marlene

Louie Latour asked:




A well known author named Theodore Sturgeon once said “Ninety Percent of Everything is crap.” This became known as Sturgeon’s law and is even quoted in the Oxford dictionary. Sturgeon’s law is alive and well when it comes to the Internet and the mortgage advice you find online is no exception. Here are several tips to help you separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to online mortgage advice.

I recently read an article online offering suggestions on how one could save money when refinancing. The article suggested that you should concentrate your efforts on finding a mortgage broker that worked on a non-commission basis. The author stated that non-commission loan representatives are less likely to overcharge you and have your best interest at heart when refinancing. While this sounds like good advice, it’s actually complete rubbish. If a mortgage company or broker tells you they work on a non-commission basis, you are guaranteed to pay too much refinancing with that company. Calling someone a “Non-commission loan representative” is just a slick marketing trick to gain your misplaced trust.

Here’s what that author doesn’t understand about the mortgage industry. Mortgage loans are simply retail products, just like televisions. Just as an electronic store marks up the price of your TV, the mortgage company or broker marks up your interest rate without telling you. This is in fact, how mortgage companies and brokers make the majority of their profits. It’s not commission; they make money from retail markup. You’re already paying origination points to this company for the new loan, so why should you pay double?

Here’s a summary of how it works. You qualify for an interest rate based on your credit and the details of your application. That interest rate is not set by the mortgage company; it comes from the wholesale lender. The mortgage company receives a written guarantee of your rate from that wholesale lender. Your mortgage company turns around and provides you a separate written guarantee for a higher interest rate. This markup by the mortgage company is called Yield Spread Premium. Homeowners that learn to recognize Yield Spread Premium when refinancing their mortgage loans can avoid paying it.

Can you see how the advice this author gave in their article could result in overpaying for a new mortgage loan? To learn more about mortgage refinancing while avoiding bad advice, costly mistakes, and Sturgeon’s law, register for a free mortgage guidebook.

Jo

Joyce P asked:


We relocated and purchased our home about a year and 7 months ago in an area that was more expensive than we were coming from. The purchase price was $239,000, we put down $14,000, and took a home equity loan of $34,000 to finance the rest of the purchase price and to avoid PMI. I recently submitted a question about whether or not to start paying down the first mortgage or the home equity loan, and got great advice, but I am wondering now that my tax value of my home has increased in January from $200,000 to $279,000 due to reassessment, (I know it wouldn’t sell for that now because we recently had comparables done in January), would I save money by refinancing my first mortgage and adding in the home equity loan so the total amount has a lower interest rate? My husband thinks we have to wait 2 years before we can refinance, and I’m not sure about that, but that would be this July. My goal is to pay off our house as soon as possible.

Teresa

Carrie Reeder asked:




Not only are your mortgage interest payments tax deductible, but so are your refinancing costs. Points can be deducted over the life of your loan. However, there are some restrictions with this program.

Deducting Refinanced Points

When you originally take out a mortgage, you can deduct the points paid the year you take out the home loan. With refinancing, you have to deduct the points over the course of the loan.

So take the point amount paid and divide by the number of payments for the entire loan. A 30 year loan would have 360 payments. For each payment you make that year, you can deduct that amount off your taxes.

If you cash out part of your equity, you can also deduct the points in full that year in certain cases. For example, home improvements meet the IRS’s requirements.

When you pay off your refinanced mortgage early, you can deduct the remaining point amount from that year’s taxes.

Restrictions to Be Aware Of When Deducting Refinance Costs

As with any IRS program, there are restrictions with deducting refinancing costs. For example, depending on your income level, there are restrictions on how much you can deduct.

Closing costs, such as attorney fees, notary fees, and PMI, are also excluded. When the seller pays the points, they cannot be deducted either.

Paying Points on Refinance Isn’t Always Best

Points are a typical feature of today’s mortgages, but don’t plan on paying several points just for the tax write off.

Points are usually paid to further reduce interest rates on a mortgage. If you are planning to keep the loan for several years, this can save you thousands and may be worth paying the upfront cost. However, if you plan to move in a few years or refinance again, you won’t see a gain from paying the points.

The best thing to do is find the lowest costing loan first. Ask for APR quotes from several lenders to find the optimal rates and fees. That step alone can save you thousands. Next, decide if you can come out ahead by paying additional points. Remember that the tax deduction will only save you pennies on the dollar.

Jeanne

Robert Langdon asked:


Your home value has substantially gone up over the years. This means that your home has great amounts accumulated in it as equity. It is this equity that you would like to explore for meeting expenses towards variety of purposes. But how do you do it? Well, one beneficial way is to go for cash out refinance mortgage loan.

Before taking the loan you must be well aware of its aspects. Cash out refinancing is all about refinancing your current mortgage with the intention of borrowing more amounts than what you owe as balance payments towards the mortgage. Clearly, then you have a difference of sum which is a cash out for you. You can use this extra greater money for which ever purpose you want.

A homeowner can use cash out refinance for variety of purposes like home improvements, debt consolidation, for avoiding high rate credit cards, pay bills or for investments. These loans provide homeowners with greater monetary help in dire situations.

As has been mentioned, in taking Cash Out Refinance Mortgage Loan you are in fact using greater equity build-up in your home. There are two ways that you can do so. First is to take a second mortgage like home equity line of credit or you can refinance whole of existing mortgage plus desired amounts as cash. Before you go for cash out refinance you should first find out as to which way of the refinancing is best suited for you.

It is advisable to first take a good look at the prevailing interest rates. In case the rates are low then you can go for refinancing the entire mortgage. You should be consolidating old mortgage and cash out. However when the market rates are not that lower when you intend to go for cash out then it would be wise to let fist mortgage remain untouched. Instead add second mortgage to it so that interest rate and terms of the first one are not affected at all.

You should be careful in searching for cash out refinance mortgage loan. Interest rates on refinancing and closing costs are some of the aspects that you must look into when shopping for right deal.



Corey

Richard Lowe asked:


Who doesn’t want to be relieved of paying a high interest rate in a monthly basis? The goal of home mortgage loan modification all about saving money. It is actually an option preferred by several homeowners. You might be asking how much money you can save as you settle with this option. Well, you should understand that it will depend on you. How much savings do you really want to gain? The following insights will open the possibilities on the reduction of your total monthly expenses by refinancing your home.

Refinancing a Mortgage Defined

Refinancing a mortgage means applying for another loan plan that will pay off your existing debt. As you avail of a new package, you will have to shoulder different terms and conditions. This option is meant to lessen the monthly interest charges that you have to pay for.

Why You Need to Consult an Expert

The mortgage brokers are the experts who specialize in home loans, refinancing loans, home equity loans, mortgage rate computation, and all other types of mortgages. They are the people with whom you can work with if you want to get the best deal out of refinancing your home. They have studied and earned their credibility through the years of serving the homeowners. It is also by consulting an expert that you get to learn the advantages and disadvantages of refinancing, your chances of paying for a lower interest rate, your home’s equity and cash out benefits, and many more.

You should also know the requirements, the qualifications to become eligible for refinancing, and the other types of loans that may fit your needs. Nevertheless, you will be able to save more time and money if you talk to the right person who knows everything about refinancing.

The Benefits to Enjoy with Refinancing

Mortgage refinancing means that you can save thousands of dollars, lessen the tenure of your own mortgage, heighten your cash flow, and offer you the low interest rates, among others. It is your duty to find the right mortgage broker who can advise you with everything that you can benefit from. Take note that an honest mortgage broker will always consider the potentials that will work to your advantage and lead you to the best deals.

Refinancing as a Money-Saving Opportunity

Generally, a new mortgage will convert your high interest payments into a lower one. This process will then provide you with every opportunity to spend less money on your monthly payments and save more.

Some homeowners decide to shorten the term of their loans. For example, if you refinance your 30-year-mortgage into a 15-year-mortgage, you get to pay lower interest rates. However, you will have to settle a larger monthly bill but the catch is that you are able to save more because you can pay off your debt in a shorter time. On the other hand, some homeowners change the mode of their interest rates from an adjustable rate into a fixed rate loan. Whichever is your choice, you must always be abreast of both the rewards and drawbacks of refinancing your mortgage.

Furthermore, home mortgage refinance packages let you consolidate your debts so that you don’t have to pay for more. The thing is, you allow yourself to save money because instead of paying different interest charges, you simply roll them into one and reduce the amount that you have to settle.



Edith

Richard Lowe asked:


Why should you think about availing of a mortgage loan modification plan? What can you get out of it?

Many homeowners believe that refinancing is such a feasible plan to get through with. It is by applying a second loan that the previous debts can be paid off. While it is true that refinancing is quite as easy as reciting the alphabet for those people with good credit standing, the opposite happens to the ones with bad credit scores. They are faced with the challenge of finding the right mortgage lenders and the difficulty of higher interest payments.

There is a myriad of reasons on why homeowners decide to refinance their current mortgage. Their principal aim is obviously to solve their problems on their very expensive monthly payments. Most of the times the loan comes with a high interest charge which makes it harder for the borrower to pay it off. With today’s economic recession, don’t you think it is high time for you to think about refinancing your home?

Refinancing the Mortgage and Your Advantages

One of the many advantages of refinancing a mortgage loan is that you can opt to reduce or increase the term of the loan. If what you want is to be able to save more money and you have grown tired of paying for higher interest rates, better consider refinancing. You can avail of this at such a lower rate. If you shorten your supposed to be 30-year-loan into a 15-year-loan, you can forget about spending too much to compensate for all those monthly interest payments. Thus, you will be relieved because you get to settle your debt at a much shorter time. However, this scheme may require you to pay a larger principal amount but the great piece of news is that you can save more on the interest charges.

Refinancing is best to do if you have a solid plan of living in your home for a longer time. It is an advisable move if the present mortgage interest payment is visibly lower to as much as 2% as compared to the original rate that you are paying.

Another pleasant benefit of refinancing is that you may consolidate your entire debts into your home mortgage.

If you have previously applied for an adjustable rate mortgage, you can now prefer to change it into the lock-in or fixed rate mortgage. This will secure that your monthly terms are not going to change whatever happens in the mortgage rates in the market.

Through the years, your home must have acquired its equity. That means that you may avail of the cash out refinance. This option allows you to receive some additional cash if you increase your loan compared to its actual amount. Of course, doing so has its own advantages and disadvantages. When the amount that you have applied for is more than 80% of the total value of your home, then, you need to secure the private mortgage insurance. This means an additional expense on your part. But then again, the cash out fund may be used to settle your other debts.

You see, the mortgage refinance plan can actually make things easier for you. When you think of it though, you should be aware of the pros and cons so that you will not make any wrong decisions.



Vincent

Richard Lowe asked:


Are you thinking about the mortgage loan modification options that your mortgage lender is offering you? Is he telling you all the possibilities? While it is always helpful to listen to the mortgage lender, it is still highly advisable that you make your own research. You should understand everything about its process before you avail of any offer. Your main aim is to prove that refinancing is the best option for you. Thus, you must get the best unbiased details.

Here are the steps to refinancing your mortgage:

Step #1. Determine your need to refinance your mortgage.

Do you really need to refinance your first mortgage? Is it going to be beneficial on your part? Generally, refinancing lets you save thousands of dollars, consolidates your debt, and taps your home equity. If these are what you need, then, refinancing is the solution to your mortgage problems.

Step #2. Study the possible dangers that come along with mortgage refinancing.

There is always a bad egg in any field. The same thing holds true in the mortgage broker market. There are hundreds of dishonest lenders and brokers around that focus on putting their personal profit on top of the list before your own welfare. Make sure to do your own research so that you will remain protected from all the possible dangers that they may bring you.

Step #3. Choose your mortgage broker wisely.

It is quite hard to find an honest broker these days. However, you have this homework to find one. You don’t want to be financially burdened for several years, right? Therefore, you should look around for the credible and reputable mortgage broker who can provide you with a high quality refinancing option. You may ask your relative and friends to recommend one.

Step #4. Learn the various types of mortgage refinance loans.

The home refinancing loans come in different sizes and shapes. Don’t be taken by the promises of your broker. Be sure to study the nature of each of the loan type, the purposes of each, your payment options, and the pros and cons that you may get.

Step #5. Finally, find the mortgage broker that you will trust.

After carefully reading through the aforementioned steps, it is now time for you to pick out one refinance mortgage broker with whom you may deal. Feel free to ask questions especially if some things are vague to you. You must be comfortable to deal with your broker and he must show you all probabilities.

An Introduction to Low Cost or No Cost Refinancing

If you are really short on money, you can look into the possibility of being offered the low cost or no cost mortgage refinancing. It is a wise move to check out all options that you may have.

No fee financing loans are the ones that answer the growing demand of most borrowers for more economical mortgage options. This type of loan asks for no closing costs that cover the appraisal fee, title search fee, application fee, and the likes. You can avail of this when you don’t have enough money to cover for these preliminary expenses.

Most of the times, the no cost or low cost mortgages have a higher interest rate. It is because it compensates for the fees that your lender has paid for in your behalf. Compared to a traditional refinancing loan, the interest rate of the low cost or no cost loan is about 25% up to 50% higher.

Overall, these are the steps and possibilities that you must take note of when you are considering mortgage refinancing.



Pamela