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Monday, January 19, 2009

A Mortgage Refinance Primer

By Ned Dagostino

Mortgage refinance is an option most house owners look at from time to time. The big question they ask themselves is: Should I? Well, that depends on the particulars of the case. Generally people go in for mortgage refinance either to save money on the interest they pay, or to consolidate sundry debts. The crucial factors that merit consideration when deciding the 'Should I?' question are noted below for your information.

If you are facing a difficult debt repayment situation with a number of repayments to manage every month, then it is definitely a good idea to put all your loans under a single 'roof' and deal with a single repayment issue. Just make sure you choose the repayment plan that suits your monthly cash flow. The question of saving per se does not arise here, since you are refinancing for a different purpose.

You may have gone in for a variable rate mortgage plan when the interest rates were low. The interest rate in this plan is linked to the market rate. If there is a rising trend in the market rate which is not likely to abate, you may well change your mortgage to a fixed-rate plan in which the interest rate is equal to or less than the current rate.

Whatever the reason for refinancing, you should study all aspects of this important decision very carefully. The one thing you should understand is that while refinancing your mortgage could save you a packet, it could just as easily cost you a packet. Refinancing can hurt you in certain situations.

Refinancing is not as sweet as it looks. There are a number of fees that have to be paid for refinancing the mortgage which are not disclosed to you. It's only after you have gone too far into the deal to turn back that you are made aware of these hidden charges. Be persistent in finding out all the nitty-gritty details about these hidden fees from people who have already taken a refinance. Deduct these fees from the total savings you expect to make. If the money saved is reduced to an insignificant amount, you might as well stay with your current plan.

Information is your greatest asset in making up your mind about going in for mortgage refinance. Gather all the data and information you can about the various mortgage refinance schemes on offer. Go online and get the latest market buzz about interest rates and mortgage refinance schemes. Tabulate your findings and make a comparison chart. This will help you in evaluating the best refinance schemes available.

Find out all the penalties and fees that refinancing companies may extract from you upfront. For example, there is an origination fee or points, which is taken before the refinance plan becomes operational. There might be a plan where the interest rate is slightly higher but you don't have to pay origination fee. This may turn out to be better for you.

Refinancing will be beneficial for you if you are able to save more than you spend on all the fees and penalties involved in refinancing. One very important factor that you must consider is whether there are chances of your moving out before the refinanced mortgage expires. If there are good chances of your moving out soon, then, far from saving you money, the refinance is going to cost you a packet!

Refinancing your mortgage is a good way to save money by opting for a lower interest rate regimen. It is also a good way of consolidating your debts. But that is not be construed as a clean chit for every situation. Refinance has to be debated on a case by case basis according to the particulars of the situation. So what works for Bob may not work for Bill. The most important thing is to perform an exhaustive market survey before going in for refinance. Be very careful in computing the refinancing costs. Ask other people who have taken this route about their experiences and seek their advice. Be wary of hidden charges. These surprise charges may make the difference between saving $10,000 and paying out $500!

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