Home Mortgage Refinancing - Things to Consider When Looking to Get Cash Out on a Refinance

When you refinance your home mortgage, lenders often tempt you with the option of cashing out part of your home's equity. Cash at a comparably low interest rate may seem like a good option, but make sure you will financially benefit from it first.

Raising Your Home's Value

Only some home improvements raise the value of your home. Bathroom and kitchen upgrades are one example of this. However, with most remodel jobs, you will not see a financial gain. If you are using your home's equity to fund projects, make sure that your investment will pay off.

Saving On Interest Payments

Paying off credit cards with your home's equity will save you money in two ways. First of all, you will save on interest payments. Secondly, the interest you pay on your mortgage is tax deductible, unlike credit card interest.

PMI Penalty

Private mortgage insurance kicks in if you borrow more than 80% of your home's value. These extra payments can add up to several hundred dollars a year, so be careful how much you borrow. Other lines of credit may be more cost efficient when you factor in the cost of PMI on your mortgage.

The Length Of The Loan

While it may see smart to take out equity at a low interest rate with your mortgage, it may be cheaper to cash out through a home equity loan. Home equity loans allow you to deduct interest payments from your taxes, but they require a shorter repayment period.

Interest rates on a home equity loan are higher, so you will need to compare the costs between refinancing and a home equity loan. Generally, if your mortgage is long-term, a home equity loan is a better deal.

Your Financial Situation

To decide whether to cash out the equity of your home, you have to make decisions around what is best for your financial situation. There are no hard rules for this type of decision.

For example, purchasing a car with your home's equity may be a wise investment if you need a car and would struggle with a car payment. In the end, financial decisions are about making trade-offs.

To view our recommended sources for refinance mortgage loans online, visit this page: Recommended Refi Mortgage Lenders Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.

In The News:


ABC News

Two-Thirds of Homeowners Might Find Hope
Housing Wire - 16 hours ago
Two-thirds of homeowners surveyed in September said they met criteria for a mortgage refinancing program available through Hope for Homeowners, according to ...
CCCS of Greater Atlanta survey: 65% qualify for housing bill relief Bizjournals.com
Federal bailout lacks control of home loans to aid owners Boston Globe
Bailout skips strapped homeowners, advocates say San Jose Mercury News
MLive.com - News Sentinelall 599 news articles

Boston Globe

The right solution
Baltimore Sun, United States - 6 hours ago
In the past 18 months, at least 8100 homeowners took it upon themselves to refinance mortgages to get a better, more stable rate, according to state figures ...
Deal May Bring Mortgage Assistance Hartford Courant
Mortgage relief deal Chicago Sun-Times
Cox Announces Michigan Settlement With Mortgage Lender Countrywide MarketWatch
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Southtown Starall 1,258 news articles

Christian Science Monitor

Mortgage refinancing wave seen silver lining to market woe
Reuters - Sep 15, 2008
Yields on mortgage-backed securities that also dictate rates lenders can offer also fell, albeit to a lesser degree. The 30-year fixed rate on Monday ...
Lower rates don't guarantee homeowners can refinance Seattle Post Intelligencer
Applications to refinance mortgages surge as rates drop below 6% USA Today
Lenders' woes could aid borrowers Boston Globe
Newsday - Wall Street Journalall 221 news articles

House of cards built with good intentions
The Australian, Australia - 37 minutes ago
Americans can take out a mortgage loan more or less as a one-way bet. If you can't afford the repayments and can't refinance, you just send the keys back to ...

TopNews

Many pieces go flying from mortgage implosion
Dallas Morning News, TX - Oct 5, 2008
"People were [refinancing] to pay off other debts," said Ms. Watson. "The saying was, 'Why get a car loan when you can get a mortgage loan and write off ...
Protect Taxpayers Hartford Courant
all 107 news articles

Mortgage Loan Applicants Are Welcomed at Family First Federal ...
MarketWatch - 23 hours ago
The credit union provides various mortgage services including construction loans, mortgage refinance and home equity options. Anyone who lives, works, ...

Marwan Bin Ghalita
Kipp Report, United Arab Emirates - 15 hours ago
Last year, Amlak announced plans to become a founding shareholder of the Egyptian Mortgage Refinance Company (EMRC) through Amlak Egypt. ...

Special Offer: Refinance Your Business-Occupied or Commercial Real ...
Emediawire (press release), WA - 5 hours ago
Mortgage rates are starting at 5.99% on a 10-year term that is amortized over 20 years, this means lower payments for borrowers on their business occupied ...

Not Everyone Should Own a Home
Wall Street Journal - 23 hours ago
Americans can take out a mortgage more or less as a one-way bet. If you can't afford the repayments and can't refinance, you just send the keys back to the ...

How You May Qualify For a “Short Pay” Refinance
TransWorldNews (press release), GA - 19 hours ago
If you are upside down and have no lates on your mortgage, you may qualify for what is called a “Short Pay” refinance. Basically, what the Government is ...
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