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Refinancing Home Loans Refinancing home loans is much the same process as closing the loan the first time around, but in refinancing there is a major difference. This time the homeowner is more experienced and may know more about what he or she is looking for. For example, a homeowner who initially had an adjustable rate mortgage will refinance for a fixed rate mortgage. Or a homeowner with a an interest rate of 9% and a term of 30 years will refinance for a 5% rate and a 15 year term. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Imperfect Credit The federal government offers many programs for low income or those with blemished credit and special loans for those of you who are teachers or police officers. To find out more about these programs, visit the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website at www.hud.gov, or the Veterans Administration at www.homeloans.va.gov. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Home Construction Loans Home construction loans are unique because they are often considered two loans, one for construction and one for permanent financing. However, a Construction-to-Permanent loan or a One-Time-Close loan combines the two, making the loan process simpler and less expensive for the borrower. Combining the construction financing and loan amount reduces the cost to the borrower by eliminating a second set of closing costs, as well as the requalifying process. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Rates There are many different components to understand when you are trying to find the right loan. How long of a repayment period do you want? Do you qualify for a fixed rate? Is an adjustable rate better suited to your needs? Understanding the factors that create your loan can take the stress out of the decision making process and keep you from taking terms will eventually cost you money. Fill out our free short form to contact up to four lenders about your loan. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mortgage Calc Using a mortgage calc can also help you ensure that your loan terms will not cause negative amortization. Amortization is the schedule of repayment of your mortgage through monthly payments of principal and interest . Negative amortization occurs when the monthly payments set by the lender are not high enough to cover interest and principal. This causes the outstanding balance of the mortgage to increase instead of decrease as the repayment period goes on. Negative amortization can cause a homeowner to default on the loan, and though uncommon, all borrowers should be certain that set monthly payments are high enough to cover both the interest and principal of the loan. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Mortgage Refiancing It is also possible to refinance your home loan for a higher amount than the previous mortgage, leaving you with money left over. This is called cash-out refinancing. When cash-out refinancing the amount of money borrowed above what is owed in the first mortgage is borrowed against home equity. Home equity is the value of your house that remains after the current mortgage is subtracted from the current market value of the home. Lenders will often let homeowners borrow up 85% of this equity in addition to the amount of the original mortgage. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Refinancing Your Home Also, if you are refinancing to change terms or to take cash out to cover a major purchase and are not as concerned about your rate, money down can be exchanged for an increased interest rate. Generally this is when a homeowner pays, or does not pay, the points that can affect the loan’s interest rate. One point is the same as one percent of the loan. On $100,000 loan, one point would be $1,000. Usually, each point unpaid adds 1/8 to ¼ of one percent to the interest rate. Depending on the borrower’s priorities, points may be paid or a higher interest rate may be taken. Borrowers should be careful of lenders offering refinancing that includes no points. This often means that higher interest rates are built in. 1 2 3 4 5 6
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