Options for loan refinancing
Life’s hard to predict. As you settle into your home and pay off the first few years of your mortgage, the needs and wants of your family can change. In many cases, refinancing your mortgage can get you a lower interest rate or let you adjust the length of your loan to better fit your situation. And with the amazing surge of refinancing seen across the country this year, it’s clearly a great time to look into this option.
Prior to engaging in a refinance loan you should be clear about your financial goals and what you aim to accomplish. Would you like a lower rate? Or to trade your adjustable rate for a fixed? Do you need to tap into equity? Do you plan on purchasing a property in cash but would like most of the cash back?
Take a look at what these common refinance loans have to offer and see what type fits you best.
Rate-and-term refinance
A rate-and-term refinance allows you to lower your rate, change your loan program (from a 5-year ARM to a 30-year fixed, for example) or both. If you would like to take advantage of lower rates and a different loan program, this type of refinance loan is a good option.
Say you're looking to trade your 7-year adjustable rate mortgage for long-term stability. A fresh 30-year fixed rate loan could be your best bet. If you're not ready to reset the clock on a new 30-year refinance, consider a lower rate and pay off your mortgage faster with a 15-year loan. Refinancing your rate and term could lower your monthly mortgage payments.
Refinancing an FHA loan
Streamline refinancing is available to existing FHA-insured mortgages. Streamline is a reference to the limited amount of documentation and underwriting required by a lender. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, streamline refinances must meet four basic requirements:
- The mortgage to be refinanced must already be FHA-insured.
- The mortgage may not be delinquent.
- The refinance results in a net tangible benefit to the borrower.
- Cash in excess of $500 may not be taken out on mortgages refinanced using the streamline refinance process.
Cash-out refinance
A cash-out refi lets you take advantage of current market rates and keep one mortgage loan. If your home is worth more than you owe on your existing mortgage, you may be able to pull out equity and secure a lower interest rate. The tradeoff? A larger loan amount and a prolonged loan amortization. As a general rule of thumb, you may want to consider a cash-out refinance if you need more than $50,000. In order to take advantage of the best rates, you will not want to exceed a 60 percent loan-to-value ratio (what your home is worth versus what you owe) and have at least a 740 credit score.
Cash-out refinancing is also something to consider if you're paying cash for a home but need the money back right away. The benefit of paying cash for your home eliminates the stress of meeting the contract deadlines as well as the process of obtaining financing for your purchase.
HELOC refinance
Financing your home with a home equity line of credit allows you to refinance by paying it off with a traditional first mortgage. If you have a first and second mortgage, you can combine them into one loan once their balances are low enough to allow this type of refinance loan. The amount of cash you need will determine whether or not a second lien or cash-out refinance is best for your financial needs.
Remember, it's important to have a clear goal when refinancing. Having a clear understanding of your financial goals will help when deciding what type of refinance or second loan you need. Always discuss all of your refinance options with a mortgage professional.
Guaranteed Rate Affinity is a private corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. It has no affiliation with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, the US Department of Agriculture or any other government agency.