Should I Refinance My House – Benefits Of A Cash-out Refinance

If you need extra funds for large purchases, or simply want to obtain a better interest rate on your home loan, refinancing may be a good option. Today, many homeowners are taking advantage of a cash-out refinance.

There are several advantages to refinancing a home. Moreover, refinancing also involves certain pitfalls. Before choosing to refinance your mortgage loan, carefully consider the benefits and risks.

What is a Cash-Out Refinance?

A refinancing is an approach that involves creating a new mortgage loan. You have the option of refinancing with your current lender or choosing a new mortgage lender. When refinancing, the old loan is replaced, and you begin making mortgage payments to the new lender.

Homeowners refinance for many reasons. Because of low mortgage rates, refinancing for a low rate is perfect for lowering monthly payments. Additionally, those with an adjustable rate mortgage usually refinance to acquire a low fixed rate.

Refinancing is also beneficial for obtaining extra funds. The option of cash-out refinancing involves creating a new mortgage, while borrowing some of your home’s equity. Hence, the new mortgage amount will exceed the previous amount. For example, if the old mortgage was $100,000, and a homeowner refinances and borrows $10,000 from the equity, the new mortgage principle totals $110,000.

Benefits of a Cash-Out Refinance

A cash-out refinance is ideal for homeowners needing extra funds for large expenses. For example, if your home is older and requires several upgrades, a cash-out refinance is great for financing the project. Moreover, the funds received may be used to start a business, plan for retirement, payoff personal debts, college expenses, etc.

Risks Involving a Cash-Out Refinancing

The money from a refinance is received at closing. The funds are dispersed as a lump sum of money. In most cases, homeowners may borrow up to the home’s equity. While tempting, it is important to avoid borrowing too much money. Because a cash-out refinancing increases your previous mortgage principle, your monthly payments may also increase.

Prior to applying for a cash-out refinancing, make sure you can afford the additional expense. For example, you must pay closing fees. You have the option of including the closing fees in the mortgage. However, this will also increase the total mortgage principle. To avoid the risk of foreclosure, the new mortgage amount and payment should fit comfortably into your budget.

When Should you Refinance your House?

 simple guide from financial experts, you should not refinance your house unless the market rates are approximately two percent below your original mortgage lock in rate. But, there are many re-financiers take advantage of one and a half or even one and a quarter percent differences in the refinancing rate. It may be worth if the principal of your loan is high, relative to the costs of refinancing.

Let consider some of the scenarios in which it’s wise to refinance your house:

Scenario 1: You current mortgage loan rate is high in relative to market rates

If you are currently holding a mortgage loan which has interest rate significantly higher than the rates offer in the market. And after calculating all the refinance cost and you are seeing a “Saving” in loan repayment. Then, refinancing your house would be your wise decision.

Scenario 2: Refinance from adjustable rate mortgage to a fixed mortgage

You currently hold on adjustable rate mortgage and you have recently discovered that your long term income prospects aren’t looking as rosy as they once were. And the mortgage interest rate has very high chances to be increased in near future. You do not want to your financial future to be affected with these unforeseen changes which may causes a spike increase in your loan repayment. Therefore, you can refinance to a fixed mortgage loan so that you can budget more effectively on your reduced income stream.

Scenario 3: To shorter your mortgage loan term

Your financial situation is getting better and you may want to build equity as fast as possible in your house so that you can fully own it with full loan settlement. Hence, if you refinance to a shorter mortgage loan term, you can create this equity faster.

But, you should consider it carefully with you financial ability with the new loan term. If you are going to take on higher monthly payments, its savvy to work with a financial planner to see how these increased monthly costs may impact your investment portfolio and general quality of living.

Scenario 4: Refinance to avoid spike payment due to balloon mortgage

You might signup a balloon mortgage loan package when you bought your house. As you know that you need to pay for large payment at the time of maturity. The time is coming close but you forecast that your financial situation may not support it when the time come; thus, you may want to refinance your house before the large payments come due and pass the debt down to your future self. By creating this time cushion, you give yourself a window to generate income and asset streams in anticipation of your upcoming refinanced mortgage payments.

Scenario 5: Refinance To finance other big ticket purchases

You can refinance to draw upon the earned equity in your home to finance certain big ticket purchases. Remember that the duration of time you expect to stay in your house will influence your refinancing calculations.

Summary

There are many mortgage tools found in the internet and you can use them to do your refinance calculation before making any decision to refinance your house. Get more information from bank officers on their refinance packages and make a summary on all the potential cost involve before make up your wise decision.

Is there a new refinance program that forgives negative equity and refinances the house at current value?

I heard about some new government loan where if your home has dropped in value, the government will absorb the depreciation and refinance your house at its current market value. I just bought my first house in August of 2008 for $275,000 which was a foreclosure and the other foreclosed homes surrounding me are now being offered in the $240,000 range. So in 4 months I’ve already lost around $35,000 in value.

Do I have to itemize deductions to deduct mortgage interest on a house?

I am planning to buy a house in the state of washington in year 2010. Since I don’t have mortgage, I take the standard deduction now and I am wondering if I can keep doing it next year and still deduct my mortgage interest payments.

I have a mortgage on one home, can I get a second mortgage to pay for another house?

I’m planning to relocate, but current owe a mortgage for $50k. I also have a bankruptcy on my record thats a couple of years old. I’d like to find new home in the state I choose to live in. Would I be able to get a second mortgage or refinance my current home in order to pay for a new one?