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Wednesday, 11 July 2018

Tips For Homeowners Looking To Refinance Their Real Estate Loans

By George Gray


Popular opinion suggests that financing a property is the hardest part of home ownership. As it turns out, however, this doesn't always hold true. Most real estate loans Brooklyn New York remain fixed to a large extent, but the same can't be said of borrowers' needs. If that sounds familiar, it's well guaranteed that you'll need to reassess your financial situation going forward. This could involve refinancing your mortgage, a process that can be packaged in 2 ways:

Rate-and-term Refinance: This arrangement involves paying off the original loan and replacing it with one sporting a lower rate and/or friendlier terms. Otherwise, the principal remains unchanged, the exception being the case when closing costs are added to the remaining balance. Speaking of which, take note that no money will change hands when you'll be closing the deal.

Cash-Out Refinance: As the name suggests, this involves borrowing more money on top of the existing mortgage. It's thus fair to say that this is a way of converting equity into cash. There's nothing wrong with that per se, but it's what makes cash-out loans be priced higher than other alternatives.

Industry opinion suggests that refinancing only makes sense if there's a potential to lower one's interest rate by at least two percentage points. Other than that, it usually takes about 3 years to realize fully the savings resulting from this reduction, given the cost of taking out a refinance. Be sure to weigh these factors when figuring out your next move. That aside, the process will be easier when you know what steps you'll need to take:

Review Your Credit Status: This is part of what lenders will use to determine your eligibility for refinancing. As such, it makes sense to review your credit report early on, of course checking to see if there are any errors in the same. Make sure to limit these inquiries to a two-week window to avoid lowering your score.

Contact Multiple Lenders: Much as you may be tempted to go with your current lender, it's quite likely that there's a better package available out there. It's therefore worth taking the trouble to consult multiple institutions and see what they have to offer. Feel free to ask lots of questions during your consultations.

Apply for Refinancing: It's not until you find the best loan package that you can start filling out application forms. This will of course involve providing lots of financial information supported by appropriate documents. A high level of preparation in advance will translate to a smoother application process.

Get a Rate Lock: Most lenders take between 30 and 60 days to process refinancing applications. What's more important to note is that your rate won't be protected from market fluctuations during this period. As such, it makes sense to lock it in while it's still available.

As always, you'll want to know what it is it is you're getting into before taking out a refinance. Also be sure to weigh your current position against where you'll be after the deal is finalized. Similar to any other investment, refinancing will only make sense if it helps you fulfill your objectives.




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