Steps Involved in Refinancing a Home Mortgage

Over the past several years, many people have become involved with home mortgages that carry high rates and difficult terms. Now that interest rates and home prices have fallen, it makes sense to explore the option of refinancing a home mortgage. If you are considering refinancing your mortgage, the steps discussed below are crucial to take when refinancing your home mortgage.

Decide if refinancing your mortgage is right for you.

While there are many perks that make refinancing your home mortgage attractive, there are also costs associated with refinancing. Before you decide whether or not to refinance, it is very important to understand what it will cost you in fees, evaluations, and penalties, for early mortgage repayment. There is a standard rule of thumb for deciding whether a refinance is worth considering: if you can refinance into a new mortgage that is at least one full percentage point lower than your current mortgage rate, and are planning to remain in your house for at least two years, it is most likely worth it to refinance your home mortgage. Also, most banks will require that you have at least ten percent equity in your house before they will even consider refinancing your mortgage.

Calculate how much you will save by refinancing your mortgage.

The main reasons for refinancing a mortgage are to lower your monthly mortgage payment, or to reduce the overall amount you will end up paying for your house and loan. Before you can decide if a refinance makes sense for you, you will need to figure out how much you will actually save by refinancing to a lower rate, or a longer term. Depending on your ultimate goal, it may make sense for you to pay more in the long run by refinancing to a longer term in order to get lower monthly payments. It might also be beneficial to pay higher monthly payments in order to pay off your mortgage sooner, and pay less over the full term of your loan.

Shop around for the best mortgage rates on a refinance.

As with any other loan, not all refinance mortgages are equal. Check with your current mortgage holder and shop around online before settling. There are websites where you can compare mortgages and loans side by side, or request mortgage refinance quotes from multiple lenders. Once you have several quotes, you can sit down to compare the costs and figure out if refinancing your mortgage makes sense and if so, which loan makes the most sense for you.

Figure out how much it will cost to refinance your mortgage.

Refinancing your mortgage will involve many of the same costs as getting a mortgage in the first place. You will probably need to pay for an appraisal, as well as typical closing fees. In addition, there may be a pre-payment penalty on your current mortgage that will add to the cost of refinancing.

Fill out a prequalification application.

Depending on the bank or lender, you may have to fill out a prequalification application in order to get a quote for a refinance on your current mortgage. In fact, you will find most of the refinance process to be familiar, since it is very similar to the original mortgage process.

Complete a mortgage application.

After you fill out a prequalification application, a representative of the bank or financial institution will contact you to discuss loan options. The loan officer will be able to give you more details about the costs and the process you can expect. Usually at this point, the mortgage company will lock in the interest rate on your mortgage refinance to protect it against any fluctuations in the market interest rates.

Get an updated appraisal.

Most banks or financial institutions will require you to get a new appraisal of your property. If you are refinancing your mortgage with your current bank, the bank may be willing to forego the appraisal, which can save you both money and time.

Review the loan documents.

After the appraisal is accepted, and the loan officer grants final approval, you will receive a set of loan documents to review. Look them over carefully to make sure that the terms of the loan are what you agreed to. In most cases, you will actually sign the loan documents in the presence of witnesses, usually at the bank or financial institution.

Other possible requirements for refinancing a home mortgage.

Be prepared for typical loan closing fees. These fees might include a loan application fee, loan origination fees, closing costs, private mortgage insurance, and miscellaneous costs including copying and administrative costs.

Making Home Affordable Refinance Program

If you are looking to refinance your mortgage because you are in danger of defaulting on your mortgage, you may be eligible for assistance through the Making Home Affordable Refinance Program, part of the Economic Stimulus Recovery Bill. Check with your bank or with your local government offices to find out if you qualify for assistance through this program.

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