When refinancing a mortgage, as many as 30% of homeowner's cash out part or all of their home's equity. By investing in home improvements or paying off credit cards, this can be a smart. But, if you are borrowing more than 80% of your home's value, you will be hit with private mortgage insurance, costing you hundreds a year.
Refinacing your mortgage can allow you to take cash out of the equity which you have built in your home. You can pay off your higher interest debts and pay all of your debts at a lower interest rate. This will allow you to save money on a monthly basis and achieve your financial security.
Don't fall for the 0% apr unless it fits in with your master plan. A lot of brokers will try to get you locked into a low interest rate that will balloon on you in a couple of years and leave you out on the street.
The length of time that you expect to keep the mortgage helps you determine whether it is worthwhile to pay points up front to reduce your interest rate. Unlike points paid on your original mortgage, points paid to refinance may not be fully deductible on your income taxes in the year they are paid.
Many companies in this industry will do what ever they can to get away with charging you as much as they possibly can. Some of the ways they do this is not disclosing all the third party fees involved in a loan such as title insurance, appraisals, pre-paid tax and insurance escrows etc. It is important that you ask the loan officer you're speaking with about third party fees. If you don't they may not tell you and give you a good faith estimate that sounds fair, but at closing you'll find out that you have to pay a couple of thousand dollars more in fees you were unaware of. A good loan officer at a reputable company should have no problem disclosing all fees that pertain to your loan and should also make sure you understand what the fees are for.
