Should I Refinance My Mortgage & When?

I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.

Should I Refinance
Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Read our Advertising Disclosure.

Being a homeowner has numerous benefits. You don’t have to pay money to a landlord, you can make any renovations you like, and get total control over your property.

You can also refinance your mortgage for lower rates, but when should you do it? 

You should refinance your mortgage when the mortgage interest rates are half a percent to one percent lower than your loan rate. When this happens, you should be able to refinance your mortgage rate lower than it was initially.

Deciding to refinance is vast, and you should weigh out all the pros and cons with a professional accountant. Below, I will give you some insight on when people technically refinance their mortgage loans, the benefits they receive, and even how you can get started. 

Why I like Credible:

Credible is a good option for people who want to view multiple refinancing options. It's a marketplace integrated with the best lenders.

>> Read our full review

Service: Lending Marketplace

Price: Free rates in minutes

Promotion: No current promotions

When Should I Refinance My Mortgage?

If you’re ready to finance, it can be hard to determine when. You don’t want to do it too early, and you definitely don't want to do it too late.

If you’ve been sitting on your current loan for a while, it might be time to consider refinancing.

You should refinance your mortgage when the current rates are lower than the rate assigned to your loan. Adding a good amount of equity to your home is also a good reason to start looking at your options. Make sure you’re able to pay the associated fees before you look into a refinance. 

Another thing to think about is how long you plan on staying in your home. The big savings will likely only come in if you are going to be in your place long-term.

Keep your eye on the market and keep trends in real estate on your mind.  Usually, an attorney or refinancing expert will be able to tell you if it’s time to start refinancing your home. 

Wait Until Interest Rates Drop

If you are interested in refinancing to save money on your learning long-term, you’ll want to start the refinancing process when loan interest rates are lower than the rate on your current loan. 

They need to drop by at least .5% before you are saving a significant amount and some even suggest waiting until they drop a full 1%.

The fluctuations in interest rates are determined by the current state of the economy.

Consider the Equity Added to Your Home

Adding equity to your home can also make the refinancing process either. To add equity to your home, you must decrease the amount of money you owe to the bank and increase the overall value of your property. 

This may make it easier for you to refinance your loan and give you some higher ground when negotiating the terms.

What Does It Mean to Refinance My Mortgage?

All of the terms in home-owning can get confusing. You may know what a refinance looks like for a car or for your line of credit, but what does it mean for your mortgage?

Refinancing your mortgage means getting a new mortgage loan with a potentially lower rate, repayment term, or balance. Typically, people refinance their mortgage loan to lower their interest rate, cash in on new equity, or negotiate the terms of their rate.

The benefits of refinancing include:

  • It may lower your interest rate.
  • It can change your loan term to something shorter.
  • It can help get you out of debt if you use it right away. 

Refinancing pulls from the equity your home has built up to help cover other costs you may need the money for. However, be careful getting too excited about this concept and thinking you have a one-way ticket to being debt-free. 

If you end up not paying on your new loan, you could lose your house.

Lowering Your Interest Rate

When you refinance your loan, you’re (hopefully) signing a mortgage with a lower interest rate, which could save you money in the long run.

Let’s discuss this in really simple terms.  If you bought your home for a certain amount of money, let’s say $20, and you are paying installments of $1 with an interest rate of 5%, eventually, you’re going to be paying the bank more than $20.

However, if you added a trampoline and a pool that makes your house worth $40, you have equity in your home you can cash out on.

You can now negotiate with the bank how much your house is worth versus what you have already paid and possibly change the interest rate, so you save money long-term.

Changing the Loan Term

Refinancing your mortgage can also change the loan term. If you are currently under a 30-year contract to pay off your loan, a refinance might get you down to a 15-year loan.

What does this mean?  It means you’ll pay your house off quicker, without increasing the monthly payment very much, and eventually, be living in your house rent and debt-free.

How to Refinance Your Mortgage Loan 

To refinance your mortgage loan, you need to find an expert or an organization that you can trust.  Predatory loan companies may make you an offer with a lot of fine print and terrible terms, so you end up paying more in the long run or become at risk of losing your house. 

Make sure to consider all of the closing costs, which include a lawyer, someone to come to check out the true value of your house, and the time you’ll be using to work things out.

Only you know if a mortgage makes sense for you under the current state of your finances and your long-term goals. 

Should You Refinance?

If you are considering a refinance for your home loan, there are a couple of things you need to take into consideration. Keep the market interest rates on your radar and think about how long you want to be living in your home. 

Additionally, if you are refinancing your loan to get out of debt or get a little bit of money for renovations, consider the long-term effects of taking out your loan.

Credible

Credible offers personal loans that can be used to consolidate credit card debt, finance weddings, fund home improvement projects, pay for moving expenses, and so much more.

Credible icon

I'm Donny. I'm a world traveler, investor, entrepreneur, and online marketing aficionado who has a big appetite to compete and disrupt big markets. I thrive on being able to create things that impact change, difficult challenges, and being able to add value in negative situations.

More Posts

You May Also Like

FarmTogether review

Real Estate

FarmTogether Review: Is it a Legit Farmland Platform?

Acretrader review

Real Estate

AcreTrader Review: Is it a Trustworthy Farmland Platform?

1031 Exchange

Real Estate

1031 Exchange: Everything You Need to Know

Best Farmland Investing Platforms

Real Estate

7 Best Farmland Investing Platforms in 2023