FREDERICK, MD, Jul 20, 2011—Many homeowners have heard the term refinancing, but not all thoroughly understand what it means, or when it is appropriate. Refinancing your home is when you pay off an old loan, and take out a new one. “Refinancing is a sensible decision when you can take out a new mortgage with a lower interest rate,” explains William Bill Price, Real Estate Teams, LLC of Real Estate Teams, LLC.
What do you need? There are a handful of things that are generally required to refinance your home, according to Price. These include a steady income, home equity, and a good credit rating. Refinancing is essentially applying for a mortgage all over again, so be prepared for any accompanying costs and be sure you can afford them.
When is a good time? Refinance your home when mortgage interest rates are low. “Refinancing is only sensible if you can get a new loan that is at least two points below your current loan rate,” explains Price, who goes on to warn that when refinancing, you will have to pay all closing costs that go along with getting a new mortgage. “If you can’t afford this, or your new loan rate is not two points below your current, then it may be better to choose a different financing option.”
Other reasons to refinance include shortening the term of the mortgage to build equity faster, lowering monthly payments or switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed-rate mortgage.
Additionally, Price suggests that you don’t refinance if you plan on selling your home within five years, as refinancing can cost around 2 percent to 3 percent of the total loan amount. If you aren’t planning to stay in your home for long, the costs you take on to refinance may outweigh your monthly savings.
“Don’t forget, if you plan on staying in your home for a long time, and mortgage rates are on a downward trend, you can refinance multiple times,” says Price.
Refinancing can be a great way to save money or speed up the process of equity building. However, talk it over with your lender each time you are thinking of refinancing, to be sure it is financially feasible for you and your family, suggests Price.
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Frederick Maryland real estate or mortgage questions toll Free, 24/7, at 1-800-395-9636 x7 or E-mail me at bill@homes2price.com.
My focus is to assist my clients achieve their objective in their real estate transaction while saving them time and money. I believe that Real Estate Sales is about helping people.TM My goal is to help people save time and money by assisting them to buy and sell homes in the Maryland Counties of Frederick, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery and Washington.