

Therefore, refinancing your fixed-rate loan into an ARM to lower the mortgage payment in the short term might not always be best if you plan to stay in your home. This can make a future mortgage payment unpredictable and potentially higher. For example, a loan might have a lower interest rate for the first five years but adjust after that period. Refinancing a fixed-rate loan into an adjustable rate mortgage.An ARM has a fixed interest rate for a short period of time. Get in touch with your lender to determine if a prepayment penalty exists on your mortgage. For example, the lender may charge a 2% fee if the loan is paid off in the first year. If your existing loan has a prepayment penalty, you might lose any potential financial gains if you refinance. Consider refinancing into the shortest-term home loan that you can afford.Ī penalty exists on your existing mortgage. This saves you money each month but adds another 10 years to the life of your current loan. Let’s say you have 20 years left on your existing mortgage and refinance into a 30-year mortgage. A refinance can result in you paying longer on your mortgage and consequently paying more interest. But when tapping into equity, it’s important to ensure that leveraging your equity is providing long-term financial gains. Tapping into equity for short term gains.Funding a home improvement or consolidating debt are common reasons that people tap into their equity. Breaking even will take around 60 months, so if you plan to move before then, consider skipping the refinance. For example, let’s say that you pay $3,000 in closing cost and your payment drops by $50 a month. You’re planning to move soon.Refinancing a mortgage costs around 2% to 5% of the total loan amount in closing cost. Refinancing your home is a large decision and there are many reasons that you may want to skip this transaction.


With a 15-year term, you’ll pay only $66,0000, saving you around $77,000 in interest charges over the current loan term. For example, on a 30-year $200,000 mortgage with a 4% fixed rate, you’ll pay around $143,0000 in interest alone over the life of the loan.

A general rule of thumb is that the new rate should be at least 0.5% to 1% lower than your existing rate. If interest rates have dropped since your original mortgage closing, you may consider refinancing to lower the monthly payment. Here are a few of the most common reasons for refinancing a mortgage. When is the best time to refinance your mortgage? The answer largely depends on your goals. If you’re considering refinancing your home, you might be wondering about timing.
