Refinance Benefits - Refinancing Could Save You Money

The most common reason most people refinance is to save money, but many people refinance for various other reasons.

1. Refinancing to Lower Your Monthly Payment for an Existing Loan.

You can refinance your existing loan at a lower interest rate thus reducing your monthly loan payments. With interest rates at their lowest for years, you can find some excellent rates - sometimes far much lower than what you're paying for your current loan or mortgage. Refinancing your mortgage or loan when rates are down could save you hundreds of pounds every month and thousands over the life of your loan.

2. Refinancing to Consolidate Debts.

You may choose to refinance in order to consolidate debts and replace high-interest loans with a low-rate loan. The loans being consolidated may include higher purchase loans, student loans and credit cards. You can clear all your existing credit cards, loans and other debts and replace them all with one low cost cheaper monthly payment. On a Ł12,000 loan some homeowners can save in excess of Ł250 a month which is a considerable saving. A debt consolidation loan is a smart solution for anyone who has many outgoing monthly payments. A Refinance loan allows you to repay existing loans from the proceeds of a new loan - the loan is usually secured on property or your home.

3. Refinancing to Reduce the Term of the Loan.

Reducing the term of your loan can help you save money over the life of the loan. For example, refinancing from a 7-year loan to a 3-year loan might result in higher monthly payments, but the total of the payments (or total cost of the loan) made during the life of the loan can be reduced significantly. You'll also be able to build up your equity faster. Use this free loan calculator (http://www.commercial-mortgage-guide.org.uk/calculator/) to see how the total cost of the loan reduces when the repayment period is shortened. A refinance loan can save you thousands in interest charges over the life of your loan.

4. Refinancing to Switch From Variable to Fixed Rates.

You can also refinance in order to switch from a variable rate loan to a fixed rate loan. The main reason behind this type of refinance is to obtain the stability and the security of a fixed loan. Fixed loans are very popular when interest rates are low, whereas variable rate loans tend to be more popular when rates are higher. When rates are low, you can refinance to lock in low rates. When rates are high, you may prefer the short term discounted variable rate loans to obtain lower payments. A major benefit to refinance is the ability to lock in a low interest rate for the duration of your loan.

5. Refinancing to Switch from One Lender to Another.

Some lenders offer better mortgage or loan deals than others. They may offer better customer support services, more flexible loan repayment terms or just a service that is more suitable for your needs. Refinancing your loan can allow you to drop your current lender and switch to a new one with a better loan or mortgage package.

You should carefully consider the savings you can make by refinancing against the costs and penalties. Any homeowner can refinance, but the point is to find a deal that will improve on your existing mortgage or loan. More articles about refinancing are available at: http://www.commercial-mortgage-guide.org.uk/refinancing/

© Copyright 2005, Bwalya Mwaba writes for the The Commercial Mortgage Guide. Visit our website for mortgage related news, articles, tools and more: http://www.commercial-mortgage-guide.org.uk/

This article may be reprinted as long as all the above links are active and clickable and this author box (byline) is not edited.

In The News:


Reuters

US housing agency expands mortgage aid program
Reuters - 14 hours ago
WASHINGTON, July 8 (Reuters) - The Federal Housing Administration will loosen its mortgage refinance program to help more delinquent borrowers and those ...
Facing foreclosure? Help on way Bradenton Herald
all 16 news articles

Refinance.com Expands National Footprint
Business Wire (press release), CA - Jul 7, 2008
Refinance.com is one of the nation’s leading mortgage companies with nearly twenty years of mortgage refinancing expertise. The company has assisted ...

AFP

Mortgage Fears Cast Shadow Over 2 Agencies
New York Times, United States - 6 hours ago
One of the strongest warning signs came as the week began, when shares of the nation’s most important mortgage companies, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ...
The Cracks in Congress’s Housing Rescue FOXBusiness
Shares in top US lenders plummet BBC News
GSE's Falling Into the Abyss Financial Sense Online
International Herald Tribune - New York Timesall 1,018 news articles

IndyMac depositors pull cash as mortgage woes grow
guardian.co.uk, UK - 6 hours ago
But as rates rose and home prices fell, many borrowers found themselves unable to refinance, and defaults surged. IndyMac shares have skidded 99 percent in ...
IndyMac to exit most home lending, slash 3800 jobs Los Angeles Times
IndyMac Downsizing Likely Los Angeles Business Journal (subscription)
IndyMac to exit most home lending, slash 3800 jobs Los Angeles Times
guardian.co.ukall 330 news articles

Fed preparing to tighten mortgage lending rules
Los Angeles Times, CA - 8 hours ago
... preparing to adopt new rules designed to curb irresponsible mortgage lending and help some struggling homeowners refinance into more-affordable loans. ...

Earthtimes (press release)

Paulson Touts Covered Bonds As Way to Boost Homebuying
Wall Street Journal - 9 hours ago
... homeowners to refinance," Mr. Paulson said in the written text of his speech. Covered bonds, which are widely used in Europe, are a mortgage-backed ...
Paulson Says Collapse In Subprime Mortgage Market Adds Hurdles To ... Trading Markets (press release)
all 341 news articles

Telegraph.co.uk

Fed Sees Turmoil Persisting Deep Into Next Year
New York Times, United States - 3 hours ago
Under the plan, homeowners would be eligible to refinance even if they have missed up to three monthly mortgage payments over the previous 12 months. ...
Bernanke grabs reins on economy Chicago Tribune
McCain says supports Fed move to extend lending guardian.co.uk
all 1,427 news articles

CNBC

UPDATE 1-US mortgage refinance applications plunge -MBA
Reuters - Jun 18, 2008
... rates choked off refinancing opportunities and soured the housing outlook, an industry group said on Wednesday. The Mortgage Bankers Association said ...
US MBA's Mortgage Applications Index Fell 8.8% Last Week Bloomberg
Mortgage applications down 8.7% last week: MBA MarketWatch
Weekly mortgage applications fall 8.7% as rates rise BloggingStocks
Housing Wire - WFMJall 61 news articles

Keep ARM now? Good way to get hit with high rates
Boston Herald, United States - Jul 7, 2008
It went like this: “Refinance your adjustable-rate mortgage now, if you can.” That’s the logical interpretation of the Fed’s current position. ...

Mortgage rescue plan draws Senate support
The Associated Press - 22 hours ago
There is broad agreement on using the FHA to help struggling homeowners refinance into mortgages they can afford. The Bush administration has twice ...
mortgage refinance - Google News

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