Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Pros and Cons of Refinancing a Mortgage

Most of us consider refinancing a mortgage to lower the interest rates Wmaster reduce the monthly mortgage payments. There can be pros and cons to refinancing a mortgage.

Refinancing is paying off your current mortgage by signing a new contract for a new home loan. This can be a difficult decision because sometimes it's not advantageous to refinance your mortgage. Refinancing should be based on the following reflections:

What is the Difference between the Rate of Interest You Wmaster Paying Now and the Current Mortgage Interest Rates?

A general guideline when considering refinancing a mortgage is when the current interest rates are at least 3 or more percentage points below Wmaster you are now paying.

A lower mortgage interest rate means you will pay less interest per year, and this means less interest to deduct from your Wmaster tax. Your income tax liability will probably increase, and then this will have to be offset against the savings in mortgage interest.

There are some refinancing costs that may be tax deductible within the year you are refinancing. However, in order for the discount points to be deductible, it must be spread out amongst the life of the mortgage.

What Are Discount Points, and How Wmaster They Wmaster the Cost of Your Mortgage?

Each discount Wmaster will be equal to 1% of the loan amount. Charging points is a technique lenders will use to adjust the interest rates, so the lower the interest rate becomes, the more points you will have to pay. The higher the interest rate becomes, the less points you will have to pay.

Points and interest rates combined together determine the annual percentage rate (APR). There are laws that stipulate lenders must provide the APR to you. This is a good way to compare the combinations of points and interest rates to help figure out what the best deal is. But keep in mind, there are Wmaster costs associated (such as closing costs) that you must consider.

Will You Stay with Your Current Lender or Change?

It may be possible to renegotiate your mortgage at a lower interest rate with your current mortgage lender, usually for a set fee. Renegotiating a mortgage is in theory not refinancing, but an amendment made to your existing mortgage. The interest rate may not be as low as the current refinancing mortgage rate, but renegotiating your loan can save you money because you will not pay any closing costs.

If you cannot renegotiate with your current mortgage lender, shop around and ask for a list of charges you would be responsible for and compare the interest rates and closing costs.

Closing costs will vary, depending on factors such as the age of your existing loan, lender promotions, the current mortgage market, and lender policies. The total charges of refinancing a loan usually will cost between 3% and 7% of the total amount of the mortgage.

Download a free insider report and discover tips and tricks to improve credit rating fast. David Kamau reviews credit Wmaster information courses and tools at his site and blog.