Robbie T. James asked:




Home is where the heart is. Home is where you hang your hat. Home… well, you get the picture. The home holds a dear place in the heart, minds and souls of pretty much everyone on the planet.

And yet, from a less sentimental perspective, the home can be seen yet another way: it is where we invest a heck of a lot of money.

Yes, besides the sentimental and practical value of our homes, they also represent a very significant financial investment for each and every homeowner. Not only are there the up-front closing costs and down payments associated with buying a home, but there are the ongoing, monthly expenses as well. No matter the value or price of your home, it is almost a sure bet that it wasn’t cheap to buy.

Maybe you have been able to make your mortgage payments for a number of months or years, but then something happens in life that makes it harder to keep up. Maybe you are able make your mortgage payments, but doing so causes you to sacrifice too much in other important areas of your life. Or, maybe you have been consistently late in making your payments – and may even be risking default.

In those cases, a mortgage loan refinance may be in order.

When To Consider Mortgage Loan Refinancing

Regardless of whether you actually have trouble making your monthly mortgage payments or whether you would just like to save some money like everybody else, an excellent way to reduce your payments is to refinance your loan.

While there is no single magic formula for knowing when it is best to refinance your home, there are some rules of thumb that can help. You should consider refinancing if:

a. you notice that mortgage rates (such as 15 year fixed or 30 year fixed) have gone down since the time you got your current mortgage by at least 0.5% to 1%

b. your credit score has improved since the last time you refinanced

c. you would like to extend the term of your loan to 30 years from 15 or 20 years

d. you have equity in your home that you would like to cash out (turn into cash)

Mortgage Loans Refinance: Home Loan Tips

If you are considering refinancing, the next step is to shop for the best deal. Here are 3 tips that can help you make the right decisions:

1. Research the best mortgage loan refinance lenders in your area: Start by making a list of at least 5-6 lenders who specialize in refinancing.

2. Figure out the ideal mortgage term for your new loan: Use an online mortgage calculator. By plugging in different payment terms (e.g., 15 years, 30 years, etc.) you can figure out how this will affect your future monthly payment amount.

3. Apply to multiple lenders: Be sure to apply to all of the lenders on your list. Remember, more lenders means more choices, which means a better chance of landing an excellent rate.

Follow these 3 tips to get the best-possible interest rate on your new mortgage loan refinance.

Jesus

Rebecca Oconnor asked:




Writer Dan Ackman notes in an article at http://www.forbes.com that a recent report by Goldman Sachs shows “in 2004, Americans withdrew $640 billion in equity from their homes–by selling them, taking home equity loans or by refinancing. This was twice the total of 2001, showing that cash-outs have been rising even faster than home prices, which is very fast indeed.” No doubt about it, Americans are using their equity!

The home equity process is streamlined these days as more and more consumers utilize their computers in acquiring loans. Information is limitless on the internet with websites such as http://www.about.com and search engines allowing consumers to answer their questions with a few keystrokes. Gone are the days of going from bank to bank to find the best rate and product. Loan applications now start online. There’s no time better than the present to take a closer look at how equity loans work and how to make your equity work for you.

What is a Home Equity Loan?

Equity loans are 2nd mortgages that are secured by the value of your home. Today you can get a 2nd mortgage without having to refinance your current mortgage. The amount of equity available to you is based on the loan to value ratio, which is the value of the loan against the fair market value of your home. So a loan of $65,000 on a $100,000 home has a loan to value ratio of 65 percent. The standard ratio is 80%, but some lenders have loans with a loan to value of 100% or even 125%.

There are two types of these second mortgages. You can either get a home equity line of credit (HELOC) or a home equity loan. An HELC works much like a credit card. It’s a revolving line of credit that can be paid off and used again. Equity lines of credit however, have a variable interest rate. Home equity loans on the other hand, involve getting all of your cash out at once and have a fixed interest rate. These work more like a standard loan.

Are Second Mortgages Right for you?

Home equity loans are considered as secure as a primary mortgage and usually the home equity rate is lower rate than credit cards and auto loans. This lower rate can make an equity loan a good choice for home improvement financing, loan consolidation and tuition expenses. The lower rate can mean monthly savings if you consolidate your debt. The interest can also be a tax deduction. Depending on your situation, this savings may make a home equity loan a good choice for you.

Home equity terms vary depending on the product. They will also depend on your credit score. Good credit will give you more options than bad credit. Home equity loans also have varying costs. There may be closing costs, appraisals, credit reports and points you will need to factor in to the cost of the loan. You should also be aware that if you refinance your existing first mortgage, the lender that holds the second mortgage must sign a subordination agreement, or the loan must be paid off with your new mortgage. The best loan for you will depend on your situation. If you know how your equity loan works, you can make sure that it works for you.

Donald

justin narin asked:


If you are considering taking out a secured loan against your home, two of your options are home loan mortgage refinancing with cash-out or home equity loans. Depending on your particular situation one may be better for you financially that the other.

Cash-Out Refinancing

A cash-out refinance is refinancing your mortgage for more than the current balance on your first mortgage. Home loan mortgage refinancing usually has a lower interest rate than home equity loans, but if you borrow more than 80% of your home’s value then you may have to pay private mortgage insurance. If you have had your mortgage long enough that you are paying more principal than interest each month or if you currently have a good interest rate, it does not make much sense to refinance and a home equity loan will probably be a better option.

Home Equity Loan

A home equity loan is a loan on the difference between the market value of your home and the balance that you still owe on your mortgage. As a separate loan in addition to your mortgage, you do not usually pay the closing cost associated with a mortgage and the interest is usually tax deductable. Home equity loans are a good choice if your penalties for pre-payment on your original mortgage make refinancing impossible.

Which is Best?

Investments in the value of your home, starting a small business, or life-saving medical treatment are all good reasons to consider a cash-out refinance. However, you may end up paying more for your total interest than if you refinance your current mortgage at a lower interest rate and take out a home equity loan for a shorter term. Your final decision will depend on what you can afford for your monthly payments and if you are comfortable paying a larger total interest in exchange for lower monthly payments and lower interest rates.

If you are interested in debt consolidation, you may be able to get a lower interest rate with a cash-out refinance, but you lengthen the amount of time over which to pay off your loan. You might want to look into a home equity loan with a short term or simply re-budget and tackle your highest interest debt first and try to pay off your credit cards. This last method will probably same you more money in interest paid over time.

Remember that whether you opt for a cash-out refinance or a home equity loan, in either case failure to repay your loan can cost you your home. For more articles on Mortgage Refinance, visit: http://www.bills.com/mortgage-refinancing/



DANA