Refinancing Your House - How to Know Whether to Refinance or get a Second MortgageRefinancing your house's mortgage is not the same thing as getting a second mortgage. While both allow you to cash out your home's equity, terms and rates differ between the two types of loans. To know which financing option is best for you, learn each loan's features and pick the one that best meets your needs. Refinancing Your Mortgage Traditional refinancing is basically replacing one mortgage loan with another. Typically, refinancing lowers mortgage payments through lower interest rates or longer loan terms. You can also cash out part or all of your home's equity while refinancing. Refinancing requires paying closing fees. To recoup these costs, you usually need to stay in the house for a couple of years. However, you will save money with better terms than if you choose a second mortgage. Second Mortgage Option Second mortgages, also known as home equity loan, have slightly higher rates than mortgages, but you have less or no closing costs. Second mortgages also only charge interest on the amount you borrow, not the total amount you are approved for. You can take out your equity over the course of several months or years. Terms vary widely between second mortgage lenders, so watch out for balloon payments or repayment fees. If you want tap into your equity to make some home improvements but plan to sell soon, then a second mortgage would be better than refinancing your mortgage. Second mortgages also are a better choice when your current mortgage interest rate is lower than those being offered by refinancing lenders. Factors To Consider When deciding which financing option to choose, consider the purpose of the loan. If you want to reduce monthly payments, then refinance. If you simply want to tap into your home's equity, then apply for a second mortgage. Also, consider how long you want to stay in your house. You can lose money refinancing your mortgage if you don't stay in your home. However, if you sell your home or refinance, you will have to pay off your second mortgage. Remember, only you know which loan best fits your financial needs. To view our recommended sources for refinance mortgage loans online, visit this page: Recommended Refi Mortgage Lenders Online. Carrie Reeder is the owner ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.
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 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 How The Fed's Rate Decisions Move Mortgage Rates Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 16, 2024: Better time to buy than refinance Yahoo Finance Mortgage Rate History: 1970s To 2024 Bankrate.com Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 17, 2024: Rates increase ahead of Fed meeting Yahoo Finance Mortgage Refinance Rates Today: December 17, 2024 Update Norada Real Estate Investments 15-Year Mortgage Refinance Rates: Compare Current Rates Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 15, 2024: Month-over-month rates decrease Yahoo Finance Best cash-out refinance mortgage lenders of January 2025 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 Current Mortgage Trends: Are Mortgage Rates Going Down? Business Insider Today's Mortgage Rates | Rates Remain in the Mid-6% Range Business Insider Mortgage and refinance rates today, December 11, 2024: Rates up in anticipation of CPI Yahoo Finance 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 Current VA Refinance Rates: See if Refinancing Is Worth It Right Now Business Insider 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. 9, 2024 Investopedia Today's Refinance Rates by State – Nov. 29, 2024 Investopedia How to Decide If a Mortgage Refinance Is Right for You U.S News & World Report Money Today's Refinance Rates by State – Dec. 10, 2024 Investopedia Mortgage Refinance Rates Drop Back - Sep 24, 2024 Investopedia Best Mortgage Refinance Lenders of October 2024 The Motley Fool Here's How to Figure Out If It's Worth Refinancing to a 15-Year Mortgage U.S News & World Report Money 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. 6, 2024 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 15.4 Mortgage Refinances per 1K New Jersey Households Last Year, Fewer Than U.S. Average The Eastern Progress Online
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