Mortgage interest rates have been at historic lows for the past few years, but it looks like they may be starting to creep up. If you’re thinking about refinancing your mortgage, now is the time to do it – before rates go any higher. But be careful – if you wait too long, you could get caught in a rate spike and end up paying more for your mortgage than you need to. So how do you know when to refinance? Read on to find out.
But first, what is refinancing, and why would you want to do it?
Refinancing is simply taking out a new loan to replace your existing mortgage. You might do this for a number of reasons – to get a lower interest rate, to switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage, or to take cash out of your home equity. Whatever your reason for refinancing, the goal is usually to save money in the long run.
What are the benefits of refinancing your mortgage, and how will they differ depending on your situation?
There are several benefits to refinancing your mortgage:
- Save money on interest
If you refinance to a lower interest rate, you’ll save money on interest over the life of your loan. For example, let’s say you have a $200,000 mortgage at 4% interest for 30 years. Over the life of the loan, you’ll pay $143,739 in interest.
Now let’s say you refinance to a 3% interest rate. Your monthly payment will go up slightly, but over the life of the loan, you’ll save $36,000 in interest – that’s a lot of money!
- Shorten the term of your loan
If you refinance to a shorter loan term, you’ll save even more money on interest. For example, if you have that same $200,000 mortgage at 4% interest for 30 years, your monthly payment will be $954.83. But if you refinance to a 15-year loan at 3.5% interest, your monthly payment will be $1,479.21.
While your monthly payments will be higher with a 15-year loan, you’ll save more than $100,000 in interest over the life of the loan. Plus, you’ll pay off your mortgage much sooner!
- Switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage
If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), your interest rate can go up or down depending on market conditions. This can make budgeting for your monthly mortgage payment difficult because you never know how much it’s going to be. If you refinance to a fixed-rate mortgage, your interest rate will be set for the life of the loan, so your monthly payments will always be the same.
- Take cash out of your home equity
If you have built up equity in your home, you can use it to your advantage by taking cash out when you refinance. You can use this cash for anything you want – to make home improvements, consolidate debt, or anything else. Just keep in mind that if you take cash out of your home equity, you’ll have less equity to borrow against in the future.
- Get rid of private mortgage insurance
If you put less than 20% down on your original mortgage, you’re probably paying private mortgage insurance (PMI). This is an extra monthly fee that protects the lender in case you default on your loan.
If you refinance to a new loan with 20% equity or more, you can get rid of PMI. This will lower your monthly payments and save you money over the life of your loan.
So, back to the question. How do you know when to refinance?
When it comes to refinancing your mortgage, timing is everything. You want to make sure you refinance when interest rates are low so you can get the best possible deal on your new loan. Keep an eye on interest rates and watch for any dips – that’s when you’ll want to start shopping around for a new loan.
You should also make sure you have enough equity in your home before you refinance. If you don’t, you might end up paying for private mortgage insurance (PMI), which will increase your monthly payments.
Finally, be sure to compare offers from multiple lenders before you decide to refinance. Shop around for the best interest rates and terms so you can get the most out of your new loan.
Refinancing your mortgage can be a great way to save money, but only if you do it at the right time. Keep these tips in mind and you’ll be sure to get the best possible deal on your new loan.
