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Adjusting the length of your mortgage
|
Monthly payment | Total interest | |||
30-year loan @ 6.0% | $1,199 | $231,640 | ||
15-year loan @ 5.5% | $1,634 | $ 94,120 |
Tip: Refinancing is not the only way to
decrease the term of your mortgage. By paying a little extra on
principal each month, you will pay off the loan sooner and reduce the
term of your loan. For example, adding $50 each month to your principal
payment on the 30-year loan above reduces the term by 3 years and saves
you more than $27,000 in interest costs.
If you have an adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, your monthly
payments will change as the interest rate changes. With this kind of
mortgage, your payments could increase or decrease.
You may find yourself uncomfortable with the prospect that your
mortgage payments could go up. In this case, you may want to consider
switching to a fixed-rate mortgage to give yourself some peace of mind
by having a steady interest rate and monthly payment. You also might
prefer a fixed-rate mortgage if you think interest rates will be
increasing in the future.
Tip: If your monthly payment on a fixed-rate
loan includes escrow amounts for taxes and insurance, your payment each
month could change over time due to changes in property taxes,
insurance, or community association fees.
If you currently have an ARM, will the next interest rate adjustment
increase your monthly payments substantially? You may choose to
refinance to get another ARM with better terms. For example, the new
loan may start out at a lower interest rate. Or the new loan may offer
smaller interest rate adjustments or lower payment caps, which means
that the interest rate cannot exceed a certain amount. For more
details, see the
Consumer Handbook on Adjustable-Rate Mortgages.
Tip: If you are refinancing from one ARM to
another, check the initial rate and the fully-indexed rate. Also ask
about the rate adjustments you might face over the term of the loan.
Home equity is the dollar-value difference between the balance you
owe on your mortgage and the value of your property. When you refinance
for an amount greater than what you owe on your home, you can receive
the difference in a cash payment (this is called a cash-out
refinancing). You might choose to do this, for example, if you need
cash to make home improvements or pay for a child’s education.
Remember, though, that when you take out equity, you own less of your
home. It will take time to build your equity back up. This means that
if you need to sell your home, you will not put as much money in your
pocket after the sale.
If you are considering a cash-out refinancing, think about other
alternatives as well. You could shop for a home equity loan or home
equity line of credit instead. Compare a home equity loan with a
cash-out refinancing to see which is a better deal for you. See
What You Should Know about Home Equity Lines of Credit.
Tip: Many financial advisers caution against
cash-out refinancing to pay down unsecured debt (such as credit cards)
or short-term secured debt (such as car loans). You may want to talk
with a trusted financial adviser before you choose cash-out refinancing
as a debt-consolidation plan.
The amortization chart shows that the proportion of your payment that is credited to the principal of your loan increases each year, while the proportion credited to the interest decreases each year. In the later years of your mortgage, more of your payment applies to principal and helps build equity. By refinancing late in your mortgage, you will restart the amortization process, and most of your monthly payment will be credited to paying interest again and not to building equity.
Amortization of a $200,000 loan for 30 years at 5.9% [d]
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A prepayment penalty is a fee that lenders might charge if you pay off your mortgage loan early, including for refinancing. If you are refinancing with the same lender, ask whether the prepayment penalty can be waived. You should carefully consider the costs of any prepayment penalty against the savings you expect to gain from refinancing. Paying a prepayment penalty will increase the time it will take to break even, when you account for the costs of the refinance and the monthly savings you expect to gain.
The monthly savings gained from lower monthly payments may not exceed the costs of refinancing--a break-even calculation will help you determine whether it is worthwhile to refinance, if you are planning to move in the near future.
Determining your eligibility for refinancing is similar to the
approval process that you went through with your first mortgage. Your
lender will consider your income and assets, credit score, other debts,
the current value of the property, and the amount you want to borrow.
If your credit score has improved, you may be able to get a loan at a
lower rate. On the other hand, if your credit score is lower now than
when you got your current mortgage, you may have to pay a higher
interest rate on a new loan.
Lenders will look at the amount of the loan you request and the
value of your home, determined from an appraisal. If the loan-to-value
(LTV) ratio does not fall within their lending guidelines, they may not
be willing to make a loan, or may offer you a loan with less-favorable
terms than you already have.
If housing prices fall, your home may not be worth as much as you
owe on the mortgage. Even if home prices stay the same, if you have a
loan that includes negative amortization (when your monthly payment is
less than the interest you owe, the unpaid interest is added to the
amount you owe), you may owe more on your mortgage than you originally
borrowed. If this is the case, it could be difficult for you to
refinance.
It is not unusual to pay 3 percent to 6 percent of your outstanding
principal in refinancing fees. These expenses are in addition to any
prepayment penalties or other costs for paying off any mortgages you
might have.
Refinancing fees vary from state to state and lender to lender.
Here are some typical fees and average cost ranges you are most likely
to pay when refinancing. For more information on settlement or closing
costs, see the
Consumer’s Guide to Settlement Costs.
Tip: You can ask for a copy of your settlement cost papers (the HUD-1 form) one day in advance of your loan closing. This will give you a chance to review the documents and verify the terms.
Application fee. This charge covers the
initial costs of processing your loan request and checking your credit
report. If your loan is denied, you still may have to pay this fee.
Cost range = $75 to $300
Loan origination fee. The fee charged by the lender or broker to evaluate and prepare your mortgage loan.
Cost range = 0% to 1.5% of the loan principal
Points. A point is equal to 1 percent of the
amount of your mortgage loan. There are two kinds of points you might
pay. The first is loan-discount points, a one-time charge paid to
reduce the interest rate of your loan. Second, some lenders and brokers
also charge points to earn money on the loan. The number of points you
are charged can be negotiated with the lender.
Cost range = 0% to 3% of the loan principal
Tip: The length of time that you expect to keep the mortgage helps you determine whether it is worthwhile to pay points up front to reduce your interest rate. Unlike points paid on your original mortgage, points paid to refinance may not be fully deductible on your income taxes in the year they are paid. Check with the Internal Revenue Service to find the current rules for deducting points.
Tip: Ask the company carrying your current title insurance policy what it would cost to reissue the policy for a new loan. This may reduce your cost.
Survey fee. Lenders require a survey, to
confirm the location of buildings and improvements on the land. Some
lenders require a complete (and more costly) survey to ensure that the
house and other structures are legally where you say they are. You may
not have to pay this fee if a survey has recently been conducted for
your property.
Cost range = $150 to $400
Prepayment penalty. Some lenders charge a fee
if you pay off your existing mortgage early. Loans insured or
guaranteed by the federal government generally cannot include a
prepayment penalty, and some lenders, such as federal credit unions,
cannot include prepayment penalties. Also some states prohibit this
fee.
Cost range = one to six months' interest payments
Lenders often define “no-cost” refinancing differently, so be sure to
ask about the specific terms offered by each lender. Basically, there
are two ways to avoid paying up-front fees.
The first is an arrangement in which the lender covers the closing
costs, but charges you a higher interest rate. You will pay this higher
rate for the life of the loan.
Tip: Ask the lender or broker for a comparison of the up-front costs, principal, rate, and payments with and without this rate trade-off.
Tip: When lenders offer a “no-cost” loan, they
may include a prepayment penalty to discourage you from refinancing
within the first few years of the loan. Ask the lender offering a
no-cost loan to explain all the fees and penalties before you agree to
these terms.
Use the step-by-step worksheet below to give you a ballpark estimate of the time it will take to recover your refinancing costs before you benefit from a lower mortgage rate. The example assumes a $200,000, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 5% and a current loan at 6%. The fees for the new loan are $2,500, paid in cash at closing.
Example | Your numbers | |
|
$1,199 | |
|
- $1,073 | |
|
$ 126 | |
|
0.72 | |
|
126 x 0.72 | |
|
$ 91 | |
|
$2,500 | |
|
$2,500 / 91 | |
|
27 months |
Tip: Calculate the financial benefit of
refinancing in one, two, or three years. Does the benefit compare with
your plans for staying in your home?
If you plan to stay in the house until you pay off the mortgage, you
may also want to look at the total interest you will pay under both the
old and new loans.
You may also want to compare the equity build-up in both loans. If
you have had your current loan for a while, more of your payment goes
to principal, helping you build equity. If your new loan has a term
that is longer than the remaining term on your existing mortgage, less
of the early payments will go to principal, slowing down the equity
build-up in your home.
Many online mortgage calculators are designed to calculate the
effect of refinancing your mortgage. These calculators usually require
information about your current mortgage (such as the remaining
principal, interest rate, and years remaining on your mortgage), the
new loan that you are considering (such as principal, interest rate,
and term), and the upfront or closing costs that you will pay for the
loan. Some may ask for your tax rate and the rate of interest you can
get on investments (assuming you will invest your savings). Refinance
calculators will show the amount you will save compared with the costs
you will pay, so that you can determine whether the refinancing offer
is right for you. The National Bureau of Economic Research has an
example of a refinancing calculator
.
Shopping around for a home loan will help you get the best financing
deal. Shopping, comparing, and negotiating may save you thousands of
dollars. Begin by getting copies of your credit reports to make sure
the information in them is accurate (go to the Federal Trade Commission's website for information about free copies of your report).
The
Mortgage Shopping Worksheet--A Dozen Key Questions to Ask - PDF (33 KB) may help you. You can also use our
In-Depth Mortgage Shopping Worksheet PDF (34 KB).
Take one of these worksheets with you when you talk with each lender or
broker, and fill out the information provided. Don’t be afraid to make
lenders and brokers compete with each other for your business by
letting them know that you are shopping for the best deal.
If you plan to refinance, you may want to start with your current lender. That lender may want to keep your business, and may be willing to reduce or eliminate some of the typical refinancing fees. For example, you may be able to save on fees for the title search, surveys, and inspection. Or your lender may not charge an application fee or origination fee. This is more likely to happen if your current mortgage is only a few years old, so that paperwork relating to that loan is still current. Again, let your lender know that you are shopping around for the best deal.
Shop around and compare all the terms that different lenders
offer--both interest rates and costs. Remember, shopping, comparing,
and negotiating can save you thousands of dollars.
Lenders are required by federal law to provide a “good faith estimate”
within three days of receiving your loan application. You can ask your
lender for an estimate of the closing costs for the loan. The estimate
should give you a detailed approximation of all costs involved in
closing. Review these documents carefully and compare these costs with
those for other loans. You can also ask for a copy of the HUD-1
settlement cost form one day before you are due to sign the final
documents.
Tip: If you want to make sure the interest
rate your lender offers you is the rate you get when you close the
loan, ask about a mortgage lock-in (also called a rate lock or rate
commitment). Any lock-in promise should be in writing. Make sure your
lender explains any costs or obligations before you sign. See the
Consumer’s Guide to Mortgage Lock-ins.
Ask for information in writing about each loan you are interested in
before you pay a nonrefundable fee. It is important that you read this
information and ask the lender or broker about anything you don’t
understand.
You may want to talk with financial advisers, housing counselors,
other trusted advisers, or your attorney. To contact a local housing
counseling agency, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development toll-free at 800-569-4287, or visit the agency online to find a center near you.
Your local newspaper and the Internet are good places to start shopping for a loan. You can usually find information on interest rates and points offered by several lenders. Since rates and points can change daily, you’ll want to check information sources often when shopping for a home loan.
Any initial information you receive about mortgages probably will come
from advertisements, mail, phone, and door-to-door solicitations from
builders, real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, and lenders. Although
this information can be helpful, keep in mind that these are marketing
materials--the ads and mailings are designed to make the mortgage look
as attractive as possible. These advertisements may play up low initial
interest rates and monthly payments, without emphasizing that those
rates and payments could increase substantially later. So get all the
facts and make sure any offers you consider meet your financial needs.
Any ad for an ARM that shows an introductory interest rate should also
show how long the rate is in effect and the annual percentage rate, or
APR, on the loan. If the APR is much higher than the initial rate, that
is a sign that your payments may increase a lot after the introductory
period, even if market interest rates stay the same.
Tip: If there is a big difference between the initial interest rate and the APR listed in the ad, it may mean that there are high fees associated with the loan.
Choosing a mortgage may be the most important financial decision you will make. You should get all the information you need to make the right decision. Ask questions about loan features when you talk to lenders, mortgage brokers, settlement or closing agents, your attorney, and other professionals involved in the transaction--and keep asking until you get clear and complete answers.
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