Dear Borrow Smart Family,
Owning a home and building equity opens up many opportunities. As a homeowner, there will be times you wonder if refinancing your mortgage makes sense. Rightly so, as there are quite a few reasons getting a new mortgage can improve your financial future if done right. Here are some of the most common (and less common) reasons you might want to consider refinancing your mortgage at some point.
Always remember, there are costs involved when refinancing, and it is a big financial decision. So don’t rush into it, and be sure you work with an expert who can educate you and talk you through the pros and cons of refinancing. Exercise caution before making short-term decisions that can potentially impact your long-term goals.
1. Take advantage of lower interest rates:
This is the most obvious, and the most common, reason homeowners look to refinance their existing mortgage. If interest rates have dropped since you first bought your house, you may be able to take advantage and lower your monthly payment by refinancing and getting a new mortgage. This can provide a quick boost to the ability to save or pay off other debts faster.
2. Get cash out:
If you are considering to consolidate some higher interest debt, or need cash for an opportunity that has come along, you may consider looking into a cash-out refinance. There are limitations, but simply put, you may be able to access some of the equity in your home to achieve the above goals. Often borrowing against your home is less expensive than other options. Your house is not an ATM machine, but done strategically, safely, and within an overall plan, your house can be a valuable financial tool.
3. Get rid of mortgage insurance:
If you bought your house with less than 20% down payment, it’s likely you have monthly mortgage insurance included in your payment. As you pay your mortgage balance down, and your house appreciates in value to the point you have 20% or more equity, you may have the opportunity to refinance and get a new mortgage without mortgage insurance.
4. Change your mortgage terms:
Perhaps you were overly aggressive or just had a fear of debt, leading you to finance your house using a 15-year mortgage. If you find that these higher than normal monthly payments are impeding your ability to save elsewhere, avoid using credit cards for vacations, or even worse, not allowing you to maximize your retirement contributions, you may want to consider refinancing to a longer-term mortgage. Even if a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage comes with a slightly higher interest rate, the lower required payments can free up cash flow to achieve other important financial goals. On the other hand, maybe you hope to retire in ten years, yet you have 22 years left on your current mortgage. If cash flow is good, and your other debts are all paid off, refinancing to a shorter-term mortgage might make sense. Again, this assumes all of your other financial “ducks” are in a row.
If you’re feeling overburdened by debt, please reach out to borrowsmart@spmc.com for a complimentary review of your home equity and current cash flow status.
I wish you all the best!
