Are you a mortgage holder and looking to make changes to the original loan? Refinancing should be the answer. This approach gives you the flexibility to take charge of your mortgage while adding instant funds into your budget.
Homeowners can use the new loan to lower the interest rates, pay off the mortgages quickly, and turn home equity into cash. However, make sure that you switch to the appropriate loan to make the most of refinancing.
Understanding the process thoroughly might help you know whether switching to a new loan is the right decision or not. There are multiple factors you need to keep in mind while refinancing, here’s the guide to the three most critical aspects every borrower must look at before adopting this approach.
A brief overview of refinancing
Before jumping into the list of essential elements, it’s vital to learn more about refinancing to understand better. As the name suggests, refinancing replaces an existing debt obligation with another debt with new terms and conditions.
This approach lets you swap out your old, higher interest rate for a new one with lower rates. The terms and conditions for refinancing are based on several economic factors and may vary from one country to another.
For instance, you can refinance to borrow up to 80% of the value of your home in Canada. If your current mortgage is just 50% of your home’s value, you can refinance to borrow the remaining 30% to complete the mortgage loan amount to 80% of the home value.
This approach is mainly adopted for three significant reasons:
● To change your mortgage type
● To borrow more money
● To get a lower interest rate
3 major aspects to consider before refinancing
Now that you are well-acquainted with the refinancing concept, let’s unveil the three significant elements to consider before using this approach. Please read them carefully to avoid any last-minute surprises.
The Cost of Refinancing
Refinancing isn’t free; hence, the borrowers must consider the cost before switching to the new loan. Depending on the loan, you have to pay various additional charges, including mortgage registration fees, legal fees, home appraisal fees, and more. The borrowers can avoid the mortgage discharge fee if they continue with the same lender.
Additionally, if you refinance before your term is over and choose the same mortgage rate, you’ll be charged penalties. However, you can avoid them by blending and extending your mortgage rate that mixes your new rates with the existing ones. These fees can add up to hefty amounts depending on which fees apply to you while refinancing.
The Interest Rates
Refinancing your mortgage equals applying for a new loan; therefore, it is mandatory to look at the interest rates before making a switch. Unarguably, the most important reason for adopting this approach is to get a better interest rate.
Hence, the borrowers should opt for refinancing if there is a considerable difference between the interest rates, making the whole process worthwhile. A difference of a few to some percentage points can make a big difference while saving tens of thousands of bucks in the overall repayments.
Check Your Loan-To-Value Ratio
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is yet another critical factor to consider before refinancing your mortgage. This value mainly looks into how much money you take out to buy a home versus the home’s actual value.
LTV is one of the primary ways lenders use to calculate the level of risk associated with the approval of your mortgage. Hence, the borrowers must present a better LTV ratio to get a loan faster. The more money you invest into the house, the more equity you have in it—also, the lower your LTV, the better the chances of securing good loan terms.
As you pay off the mortgage, you build up equity in your home. This is the difference between the value of the property and the remaining balance of your mortgage. Your home equity will rise as you pay your mortgage.
In Canada, you can refinance to borrow up to 80% of the home’s value. For instance, you owe a $200,000 mortgage on a $400,000 home. It means that your current loan-to-value ratio is 50%. Since you can only borrow up to 80% of your home, you can refinance to borrow an additional amount of $120,000 (30% of $400,000)
If you have two mortgages, you may also use a refinanced amount to consolidate the second mortgage with your first one.
Other factors to keep in mind before refinancing
In addition to the elements listed above, there are a few more factors that you should consider before refinancing your mortgage.
● Check if your credit rating is good enough
● Determine the good time to refinance
● The primary reasons for switching to a new loan
● Know your Debt-To-Income (DTI) ratio.
● Don’t forget the taxes
The Bottom Line
Refinancing your mortgage is a big decision; hence take ample time and conduct in-depth research before making a switch. A mortgage refinance is best suited to homeowners that home equity is looking to borrow a massive amount at a fixed rate.
However, it might not be a good option for borrowers who need quick access to money or looking to borrow small amounts at a time. This approach comes with both pros and cons; therefore, you should keep all aspects in mind before transitioning from one loan to another. The decision is for you to make, so make it precise.
For more mortgage advice and loan rates, give us a call at 1-855-567-4898 (toll free) – Best Mortgage Online.