California Mortgage Expert
 

Guide To Refinancing Your Mortgage - part 1

by Ron King

Refinancing your mortgage can mean great savings for you and your family. Replacing your existing mortgage with a lower interest loan, changing the term of your loan, or even consolidating all your debts into this new loan could save you money, both monthly and over the life of the loan.

The rule of thumb is when interest rates are 1.5 to 2% lower than you are currently paying on your mortgage, it's time to consider refinancing.

Would Refinancing Be Worth It?

Refinancing can be worthwhile, but it does not make financial sense for everyone. There are a number of items to consider, such as how long you plan to stay in the house. Most sources say that it takes at least 3 years to fully realize the savings from a lower interest rate, given the costs of the refinancing.

Refinancing can be a good idea for homeowners who:

* Have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and want a fixed-rate loan to have the certainty of knowing exactly what the mortgage payment will be for the life of the loan.

* Want to build up equity more quickly by converting to a loan with a shorter term.

* Want to draw on the equity built up in their house to get cash for a major purchase or for their children's education.

What Are the Costs of Refinancing?

Costs can vary significantly from area to area and from lender to lender, so the following are estimates only. Your actual closing costs may be higher or lower than the ranges indicated below.

Application Fee $75 - $300. This charge imposed by your lender covers the initial costs of processing your loan request and checking your credit report.

Appraisal Fee $150 - $400. This fee pays for an appraisal, which is a defensible estimate of the value of the property.

Read the end of
Guide To Refinancing Your Mortgage


Related Mortgage Refinancing Articles:

Cash-Out Mortgage Refinancing
A brief presentation of facts about cash-out mortgage refinancing by the editorial staff at LendingTree.

The Right Time For Mortgage Refinancing
Mortgage refinancing can be the easiest way to improve a bad credit situation. Here's why.

Beware Of Mortgage Refinancing Traps
Some mortgage refinancing lenders use devious methods to attract new customers. Know those tricks to avoid becoming their prey.

Mortgage Refinancing
How to do mortgage refinancing in a number of ways.

Mortgage Refinancing 101
Managing your finances is as important as earning them. The basics of mortgage refinancing.

Related Mortgage Refinancing Questions:

Other resources for Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage refinancing.?
I refinanced 4 years ago for 15 yrs.Would I be better off refinancing for 30 yrs and paying more on my principal each month?
read answers...

Mortgage/refinancing professionals: what are good refin. options?
Mortgage: from 7.11% fixed for 2 yrs. and just went to 8.63% adjustable this month. My sister has a mortage for ,000.00. and this month she will need to pay approx. 100.00/month more!. if it is a good idea to refinance, please explain what the pros and cons of refinancing are, and what she should be looking for. I believe the value of the property is supposed to be 0,000.00 now. So, the LTV=79K/110; cred score=560; income=2,700/mo (32K/yr). What would be a good deal for her? What should she look for in the professional that offers to assist her? What should she watch out for? Should she expect some sort of "hidden" fees or " a catch"? Thanks, in advance - She will need to make a decision within the next day or so - PLEASE HELP!!!!
read answers...

Mortgage/refinancing professionals: what are good ref options?
Mortgage: from 7.11% fixed for 2 yrs. and just went to 8.63% adjustable this month. My sister has a mortage for ,000.00. and this month she will need to pay approx. 100.00/month more!. if it is a good idea to refinance, please explain what the pros and cons of refinancing are, and what she should be looking for. I believe the value of the property is supposed to be 0,000.00 now. So, the LTV=79K/110; cred score=560; income=2,700/mo (32K/yr). What would be a good deal for her? What should she look for in the professional that offers to assist her? What should she watch out for? Should she expect some sort of "hidden" fees or " a catch"? Thanks, in advance - She will need to make a decision within the next day or so - PLEASE HELP!!!!
read answers...

Mortgage Refinancing Process?
I have 2 missed payments and now I am receiving phone calls and letters from banker saying they will foreclose if not paid in full within days. I have not received a certified letter yet, so I am not in foreclosure. I started talking to a broker to refinance my mortgage. Can my current mortgage lender foreclose if I am at the early stages of a refi? So when exactly during the refinance process can my current mortgage lender no longer foreclose on me? During escrow? Once I signed the application? During underwriting? Another question, who notifies my current lender that I am in the process of refinancing so that they dont foreclose my house? Should I called them?
read answers...

Mortgage refinancing advice?
We are considering a refinance at a sub-prime lending rate of 9.1% fixed, 50-year mortgage. I'm told that when working with mortgage companies it is a good idea to get a couple different good faith estimates to see if there are any added line item charges that shouldn't be there. Here are some of what they propose to charge us for. Should we question any of them? Loan origination fee Appraisal fee Credit report Admin & Underwriting fee Flood cert fee Tax service fee Closing/escrow fee Title insurance Endorsements Gov Serv Title doc prep Recording fees Reconveyance fee Hazzard insurance premium Taxes and assessment reserves With so many added fees, how can you tell which are supposed to be there and which are padding the broker?
read answers...

Back from Mortgage Refinancing Articles
to California Mortgage Articles Directory


   California Mortgage
   Home Page

   Mortgage Companies
    Mortgage Lenders
    Mortgage Brokers

   Home Mortgage Loan
    Home Equity Mortgage
    Home Loan Application

   Mortgage Loan Rate
    Best Online Rate
    Current Mortgage Rate
    Low Rate Mortgage

   Real Estate Mortgage
    First Mortgage
    Second Mortgage
    Reverse Mortgage
    Refinance Mortgage
    Bad Credit Mortgage
    Jumbo Mortgage Loan

   Mortgage Information
    Mortgage Quote
    Mortgage Lead
    Mortgage Calculator
    Mortgage Broker License
    Mortgage Tips Blog

   Mortgage Articles

California Mortgages • About Us • Contact Us • California Mortgage Blog • California Mortgage Site Map • Disclaimer
copyright (c) 2006 California-Mortgage-Expert.Com