If done properly, home loan refinance is a very good idea. It can help you to shorten the length of your loan or to lower your interest rate, thus saving you money. To refinance successfully, the lender should be totally aware of the features, advantages and disadvantages this financial procedure has to offer. It is not rare to hear of people refinancing their home loans only to end up paying more than they were paying before. Uninformed decisions lead to bad decisions. Here are some things you should take into account before deciding to refinance your mortgage loan. To Pay Points Or Not To Pay Points? That Is The Question Points are paid upfront and they represent one percentage point of the overall loan principal. If points are paid, the interest rate is lowered. One thing to take into consideration before deciding to pay any points of the new loan is the amount of time you will be residing in the property. If you will be staying for a short period of time, it will not be advisable to pay any points at all. The situation changes if you intend to keep the property for 15 to 20 years, in which case paying points would pay off in the long run. Many people are not aware of the fact that if you pay points on the new mortgage loan, you will be able to deduct the money amount from that year’s tax income return. Going For A Long-Term Or A Short-term Mortgage? Both types have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you decide on a short-term mortgage, you will be paying lower interest rates. You should bear in mind that the payments associated with this loan type are substantially higher compared to a long-term mortgage loan. If you opt for a long-term loan, then the interest rate will be higher, but your monthly payments will be more affordable. This will be a good choice if your job is unstable or your income is low. Fixed-Rate Or Adjustable-Rate Mortgage: Which One To Choose? This is one of the most important decisions related to mortgage refinancing, the amount of your future payments depend on it. Choosing which interest rate to go for should be based on how much time you are planning on staying in the property. Adjustable-rate mortgages are appropriate in case you are thinking of keeping the property from five to ten years, the initial rates are lower, but you take the risk of them rising steeply together with your monthly payments. Fixed-rate mortgages, on the other hand, offer somewhat higher interest rates, but they also offer peace of mind, which is priceless for many home-owners. The monthly payment is steady, no risks are taken, no ugly surprises are received. Should You Lock-In The Interest Rate? Locking in a rate is a safe move as it aims for extreme stability, this would be advisable if rates were on the rise or if you are on a tight budget and cannot afford to roll with the interest rate changes. The best thing to do is to discuss this particular issue with your lender and your accountant and listen to what they have to say.
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