In the mortgage industry, refinancing an existing mortgage loan is a very popular practice. The sole objective of a mortgage refinance is to make the existing mortgage more affordable to you. Mortgage refinancing can be done through various ways such as by reducing the rate of interest, raising the loan term or in some cases by reducing the principal loan amount. From the borrowers’ perspective, mortgage refinancing is an excellent option as it makes loan repayment easier for them. From the lenders’ point of view also, this is a far better option than the borrowers filing for bankruptcy. If you file for bankruptcy, the loss to your lender is more than if you opt for mortgage refinancing.
Before applying for mortgage refinancing, however, you must determine what you actually want to accomplish. You need to keep it in mind that mortgage refinance does not pay off your debts, but it restructures your debts. The most common type of refinancing is the reduction of the interest rate on the existing mortgage. Again, in some cases, you may be interested to convert your 15-year mortgage loan into a 30-year mortgage loan. Again, in some cases, you, the homeowner, may be interested to switch to the certainty of a fixed rate mortgage from an adjustable rate mortgage, because of the high mortgage rate prevailing at the market place. Through opting for refinancing a mortgage loan, you can obtain various benefits such as increase cash flow, save money, change the tenure of your mortgage, and of course you can lock-in the low interest rates. As a thumb rule, it is said that you must opt for mortgage refinancing, if the rate of interest can be reduced by at least 2%. Through, reduction in the rate of interest, you can actually save more money.
However, before opting for mortgage refinancing, you must be well aware of the implications of the mortgage refinancing in a comprehensive way. Before applying for mortgage refinancing, you must give a close look at your financial situation. You are also required to make a cost benefit analysis, before opting for mortgage refinancing.
by Myrina Stein
Related articles
- Mortgage Calculator: Making your Homework Easy! (choiceofhomes.com)
- Mortgages: Expanding a Federal Refinancing Program (nytimes.com)

