With interest rates hitting all-time lows over the past few weeks, many homeowners are opting to refinance. To decide if refinancing your home is the best option for you and your family, start by asking yourself these questions:
Why do you want to refinance?
There are many reasons to refinance, but here are three of the most common ones:
1. Lower Your Interest Rate and Payment: This is the most popular reason. Is your current interest rate higher than what’s available today? If so, it might be worth seeing if you can take advantage of the current lower rates.
2. Shorten the Term of Your Loan: If you have a 30-year loan, it may be advantageous to change it to a 15 or 20-year loan to pay off your mortgage sooner rather than later.
3. Cash-Out Refinance: You might have enough equity to cash out and invest in something else, like your children’s education, a business venture, an investment property, or simply to increase your cash reserve.
Once you know why you might want to refinance, ask yourself the next question:
How much is it going to cost?
There are fees and closing costs involved in refinancing, and The Lenders Network explains:
“As an example, let’s say your mortgage has a balance of $200,000. If you were to refinance that loan into a new loan, total closing costs would run between 2%-4% of the loan amount. You can expect to pay between $4,000 to $8,000 to refinance this loan.”
They also explain that there are options for no-cost refinance loans, but be on the lookout:
“A no-cost refinance loan is when the lender pays the closing costs for the borrower. However, you should be aware that the lender makes up this money from other aspects of the mortgage. Usually charging a slightly higher interest rate so they can make the money back.”
Keep in mind that, given the current market conditions and how favorable they are for refinancing, it can take a little longer to execute the process today. This is because many other homeowners are going this route as well. As Todd Teta, Chief Officer at ATTOM Data Solutions notes about recent mortgage activity:
“Refinancing largely drove the trend, with more than twice as many homeowners trading in higher-interest mortgages for cheaper ones than in the same period of 2018.”
Clearly, refinancing has been on the rise lately. If you’re comfortable with the up-front cost and a potential waiting period due to the high volume of requests, then ask yourself one more question:
Is it worth it?
To answer this one, do the math. Will it help you save money? How much longer do you need to own your home to break even? Will your current home meet your needs down the road? If you plan to stay for a few years, then maybe refinancing is your best move.
If, however, your current home doesn’t fulfill your needs for the next few years, you might want to consider using your equity for a down payment on a new home instead. You’ll still get a lower interest rate than the one you have on your current house, and with the equity you’ve already built, you can finally purchase the home you’ve been waiting for.
Bottom Line
Today, more than ever, it’s important to start working with a trusted real estate advisor. Whether you connect by phone or video chat, a real estate professional can help you understand how to safely navigate the housing market so that you can prioritize the health of your family without having to bring your plans to a standstill. Whether you’re looking to refinance, buy, or sell, I know the best protocol as well as the optimal resources and lenders to help you through the process in this fast-paced world that’s changing every day. Call me today at 714.343.9294 or email [email protected]
Mortgage Relief Tracker: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief For Homeowners
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shut down U.S. cities and forces individuals into semi-isolation, some people are already out of work for the foreseeable future and others are likely to become so. How will those suddenly without income be able to keep a roof over their heads? We encourage you to call your Mortgage lender TODAY if you are experiencing economic hardship and seek relief measures.
The federal government and states are starting to step in to provide protection for homeowners and renters. These initiatives are in their early stages and as COVID-19’s economic impact spreads, these relief programs will likely spread too. This list will be updated regularly as new programs and initiatives come on line.
Federal Relief Programs
FHA-Insured Mortgages
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was ordered by President Trump on March 18 to suspend evictions and foreclosures for the next 60 days. The moratorium only applies to homeowners with mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), a part of HUD that insures home loans made by FHA-approved lenders. The moratorium only covers FHA mortgages for single family homes.
The order not only prevents new foreclosure actions but also suspends all foreclosure actions currently in process.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan banks, is providing payment forbearance to borrowers impacted by the coronavirus for up to 12 months due to hardship.
Public Housing
Secretary of HUD Ben Carson said in a tweet Thursday that HUD is working with Congress to prevent evictions in public housing programs. There are no specific details available yet.
California
California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order halting all evictions during the pandemic. The order is in effect through May 31, with the option of being extended, and halts evictions for both renters and homeowners. The order does not relieve a tenant from paying rent, and a landlord still has the ability to recover rent that is due. However, individuals cannot be evicted from their home for nonpayment. The order also requests that financial institutions halt foreclosure activity and protects against utility shutoffs for individuals affected by COVID-19.