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The General Rule
If you plan to stay in your home for longer
than the amount of time it will take to realize
your savings, it makes sense to refinance.
Who Cannot Refinance
Don't think that you cannot refinance just because your home's value has decreased
Many homes have lost some value in our area,
but not as much as has been reported in the press. It is a case-by-case basis. If you
have at least 20% equity in your home at its
current value, you can most likely get the
lowest interest rate available. An apprasier
will set the current value using very specific
criteria. Don't second guess this process!
Of course, if your home is not worth the
remaining balance on your existing loan, you cannot refinance. Also, if you have done
damage to your credit rating by paying
late on your mortgage or have lost your job recently, you most likely will not qualifiy.
A quick call to a good lender will answer that question--at no charge to you.
Good credit risks with equity of over 20%
have seen under 4% mortgage rates recently. Some lenders are offering NO FEE refinancings.
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The Formula
Cost รท Savings = Months to Break Even
Determine how many months it
will take to pay off the costs and realize a
savings. For example, if you decrease your
mortgage payment by $200 and it cost
$1,200 to refinance, it would take 6 months.
Instructions
Use the Refinance Mortgage Calculator below to determine the savings you will see at a new interest rate. Be sure you are comparing apples to apples--the same term (15 or 30 years, for example) and the same type of rate (fixed, not adjustable). Then, take the costs given to you by your refinancing lender to divide by the savings. This is the number of months it will take to pay off the costs and realize a savings.
1. Enter the principal balance amount from your current mortgage and the new interest rate.
2. Enter the costs given to you from your refinancing lender. They are comprised of 3 numbers: lender fees, appraisal cost and title insurance premium. DO NOT include any pre-paid interest to the end of the month or any escrow amounts for taxes and insurance. You should shop for the lowest costs. Lender fees should be close to $1,000, appraisal fees around $400. Title insurance for the lender will be the biggest number. It is a state-mandated amount, but discounts exist if you have a policy less than 7 years old or if you use an approved attorney. (On a $400,000 loan, title might cost $1,400). Don't assume the lender's title company is giving you the best rate. Shop around. You are legally entitled to have your own title company. Contact us for referrals to good title agents and lenders--we have no affiliation with any of them. Some lenders are offering NO FEE refinancings. Rates might be a bit higher, though.
3. The answer is the number of months it will take to start seeing your savings. Try it below.
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