Refinancing Your Mortgage
Mortgage refinancing is the process of replacing your current mortgage loan with a new one. Typically, to obtain better loan conditions (i.e. lower interest rate, or a shorter loan term). Essentially, you're getting a new loan to pay off the old one. In the U.S.A. the average tenure of a 30 year loan is 12 years[1].
Can I refinance my mortgage?
Yes, you can refinance your mortgage. Refinancing involves taking out a new mortgage loan to replace your existing one, typically to get a better interest rate, change your loan type, or access equity. It's a common way for homeowners to save money or make other financial changes related to their mortgage.
What is refinancing?
Refinancing your mortgage means getting a new mortgage loan to replace your current one. The new loan could have a lower interest rate, a different loan type (like a fixed-rate instead of an adjustable-rate), or a shorter or longer term. You might also choose to refinance to tap into the equity you've built up in your home, known as a cash-out refinance.
What Is A Cash-Out Refinance?
A cash-out refinance is when you refinance your mortgage for more than you owe, and you receive the difference in cash. Let's say you owe $200,000 on your mortgage, but your home is now worth $300,000. You could refinance for $250,000 and receive $50,000 in cash. This can be used for home improvements, debt consolidation, or other expenses like paying off credit card debt or school loans.
What are the benefits of refinancing?
Refinancing your mortgage can have several benefits, including:
Lower interest rate: You could get a lower interest rate, which means you'll pay less interest over the life of the loan.
Lower monthly payment: If you refinance to a lower interest rate, your monthly mortgage payment will decrease.
Access equity: If you've built up equity in your home, you can use it to pay for other expenses or consolidate debt.
Change Loan Type: You could refinance from a variable rate mortgage to a fixed-rate loan, which means your interest rate will never change.
Shorten Loan Term: If you refinance to a shorter term (from a 30 year mortgage to a 15-year mortgage), you'll pay off your mortgage faster and save on interest.
Does it cost money to refinance?
Yes, there are costs associated with refinancing, including:
Closing costs: These are fees charged by the lender for processing the refinance application.
How do I know if refinancing is right for me?
People have many reasons for refinancing (lower interest rate, cash-out, etc.), but if your reason is to lower your interest rate, we can help you compare the costs of a new loan to the reduced interest you'll be paying each month. Typically, this involves a large upfront cost, but continued monthly savings over time. In order to understand the benefits over time we'll help you calculate your break-even point.
Simple Example Calculating The Break-Even Point
Let's say it costs you $1,000 to refinance and that will lower your interest rate enough to save you $100 per month. This means that it will take you 10 months to save $1,000 in interest to reach your break-even point. After that point, you'll be saving $100 per month more compared to your previous loan.
Now the math is a little more complicated than that because your monthly interest will change each month as you pay down the principal. For many loans this takes
3-5 years to recoup the costs. That's one of the benefits of calculating the break-even point is that it can help you make longer term decisions that are based on your financial situation.