Refinancing Your Home - Is the Time Right?Refinancing your home is a major decision not to be taken lightly, even in this era of low interest rates and easy money. While every mortgage company in town is touting the strategy of getting a new loan before rates rise again, there are several things you'll want to be mindful of before you go about refinancing your home. In my view the key to refinancing your home isn't just the rate they're offering you: it's the total package looked at not only in terms of today, but a few years down the road. Many people have taken out new loans that really weren't quite right for their long term situations, thinking they'd be able to refinance again in the not-too-distant future. That may or may not prove to be true. No one has a crystal ball that'll give you a definitive idea of just where rates will be even a year from now, so try to approach this with a somewhat more long-termed view. It's very easy to get tempted by the prospect of easy, fast cash, but in the end you end up giving it all back in terms of higher payments, and worst case, be unable to make your payments and lose your home. Just look at all the costs associated with this new loan, determine what the payments will be in 2, 5 and 10 years, or whatever your timeline is, and make an informed decision unfettered by a mortgage broker's "opinion" what's "best" for you. They have a vested interest in getting you into a loan, any loan, and WILL NOT, repeat, WILL NOT, have your best interests at heart when you go about refinancing your home. Some things to consider when refinancing your home would be the type of loan,(fixed,ARM, etc.) the rate, the term, the costs associated with the loan, any cash equity you'd like to take out, and the time and documentation necessary for refinancing your home. This is a wildly competitive market, and please do yourself a favor and shop around. The same loan one lender will offer you can vary greatly from another just down the street as far as total costs go. Don't be afraid to say no: they're not doing you a favor by "giving" you this loan. They're reaping many thousands of your dollars in interest, so make sure you get what you want, not what they want to sell you. Remember, you're refinancing your home, not their summer vacation! All in all, when refinancing your home, take your time. Shop around, compare, and you are the customer, and what was that they say about the customer always being right? You are, as long as you do your homework when refinancing your home. Keith Thompson is a real estate investor and webmaster at Mortgage Loans Today where you can find more information and resources for refinancing your home
MORE RESOURCES updated Sat. December / 21 / 2024 Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 20, 2024: Rates are higher than last December Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Jumped Following This Week's Fed Cut Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 18, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage servicers pressure homeowners to refinance after divorce, loss – CFPB Mortgage Professional Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 20, 2024 Investopedia Is now a good time to refinance your mortgage? Yahoo Finance 5 strategies to get the lowest mortgage rates in 2025 Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 13, 2024: 30-year rate drops 18 basis points in a month Yahoo Finance Best mortgage refinance lenders of January 2025 Yahoo Finance Mortgage Rate History: 1970s To 2024 Bankrate.com Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: December 17, 2024 Update Norada Real Estate Investments 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Best cash-out refinance mortgage lenders of January 2025 Yahoo Finance Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 15, 2024: Month-over-month rates decrease Yahoo Finance Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Steady Ahead of Fed Announcement Business Insider Refinance Rates Today: Compare Mortgage Refinance Offers Business Insider Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of December 2024 Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 14, 2024: Economic factors drive rates back up Yahoo Finance Today’s Mortgage Rates Rise to 6.7% – December 20, 2024 Update Norada Real Estate Investments CFPB Report Finds Significant Drop in Annual Mortgage Applications and Originations in 2023 Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Remain in the Mid-6% Range Business Insider Current Mortgage Trends: Are Mortgage Rates Going Down? Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 11, 2024: Rates up in anticipation of CPI Yahoo Finance Current Mortgage Rates: See How Today's Rates Compare Business Insider MBA: Mortgage Applications Decreased in Weekly Survey Calculated Risk Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 12, 2024: 30-year rates drop for 3rd consecutive week Yahoo Finance Mortgage refinance demand surges 27%, as interest rates drop for the third straight week. NBC New York How to get the best refinance rate on your mortgage Bankrate.com Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 13, 2024 Investopedia Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Rise as Investors Gear Up for Fed Cut Business Insider Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 10, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 9, 2024 Investopedia How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2024 The Motley Fool Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Back - Sep 24, 2024 Investopedia Will Mortgage Rates Go Down In December? Bankrate.com Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop for a Third Day Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Are Down, But Should You Refi to a 30-Year, 20-Year, or 15-Year Mortgage? Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Oct. 7, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Again Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 5, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Rate History | Chart & Trends Over Time 2024 The Mortgage Reports Mortgage Refinance Rates Dip Lower - Sep 30, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Climb to Two-Month High Investopedia Today’s Mortgage Rates Rise After Fed Meeting – December 19, 2024 Norada Real Estate Investments Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 6, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Climb to New 2-Month High Investopedia
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