Mortgage & Refinancing Information

Refinancing Your House - How to Know Whether to Refinance or get a Second Mortgage


Refinancing your house's mortgage is not the same thing as getting a second mortgage. While both allow you to cash out your home's equity, terms and rates differ between the two types of loans. To know which financing option is best for you, learn each loan's features and pick the one that best meets your needs.

Refinancing Your Mortgage

Traditional refinancing is basically replacing one mortgage loan with another. Typically, refinancing lowers mortgage payments through lower interest rates or longer loan terms. You can also cash out part or all of your home's equity while refinancing.

Refinancing requires paying closing fees. To recoup these costs, you usually need to stay in the house for a couple of years. However, you will save money with better terms than if you choose a second mortgage.

Second Mortgage Option

Second mortgages, also known as home equity loan, have slightly higher rates than mortgages, but you have less or no closing costs. Second mortgages also only charge interest on the amount you borrow, not the total amount you are approved for. You can take out your equity over the course of several months or years. Terms vary widely between second mortgage lenders, so watch out for balloon payments or repayment fees.

If you want tap into your equity to make some home improvements but plan to sell soon, then a second mortgage would be better than refinancing your mortgage. Second mortgages also are a better choice when your current mortgage interest rate is lower than those being offered by refinancing lenders.

Factors To Consider

When deciding which financing option to choose, consider the purpose of the loan. If you want to reduce monthly payments, then refinance. If you simply want to tap into your home's equity, then apply for a second mortgage.

Also, consider how long you want to stay in your house. You can lose money refinancing your mortgage if you don't stay in your home. However, if you sell your home or refinance, you will have to pay off your second mortgage.

Remember, only you know which loan best fits your financial needs.

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.


MORE RESOURCES:

Mortgage Refinance Options to Think About
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 26, 2008
Mortgage refinance options are always available no matter what type of mortgage you already have in place on the home you are living in. ...


What’s A Divorce Got to Do with Your Mortgage Refinance?
Corsavoo.com, France - Aug 25, 2008
When you’re the aggrieved partner, you silently wish that things will suddenly take a better turn, especially with an unpaid mortgage. Refinance plans have ...


Q: Can points from a refinanced mortgage be deducted on my taxes?
Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Aug 29, 2008
A: If the points were paid solely to refinance the mortgage, they can be deducted as mortgage interest but must be spread out over the life of the loan. ...


Taking Home Mortgage Loans
3x24 - Your Newspaper and News Magazine, Germany - Aug 25, 2008
... you find your exact Loans and Credit Cards. Visit us now to get your Free Mortgage Refinance Loans Quotes Get your free report on Guaranteed Credit Cards.


Hartford National Title Enters Into Strategic Partnership with ...
PR-CANADA.net (press release), Montenegro - 2 hours ago
... Hartford National Title will continue to offer its real estate closing services for mortgage refinance transactions throughout all 50 states. ...


MLive.com

Family's money woes center on the house
MLive.com, MI - Aug 2, 2008
File: Leisa Thompson, The Ann Arbor NewsJay and Betty Jahnke: Still worried about their mortgage payment and tuition bills for their daughter. ...


Refinance your Home Loan and Get Extra Cash
Corsavoo.com, France - Aug 23, 2008
There are online sites offering access to a complete and up-to-date list of lenders dealing with mortgage refinance and this will make the process a lot ...


Borrowers feel fallout from mortgage giants' woes
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - Aug 20, 2008
By Alan Zibel AP Jeff Jaye, a mortgage broker in Northern California, used to rely on homeowners looking to refinance their loans for more than two-thirds ...


Ask the Biz Brain
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com, NJ - Aug 11, 2008
I have a pre-payment penalty on my mortgage loan for three years. I'd like to refinance sooner. Is there a way a lender can waive the penalty? ...


Area last in state in home prices
Toledo Blade, OH - Aug 27, 2008
By JON CHAVEZ The Toledo metro area was the worst spot in Ohio for home prices and mortgage refinance values in the past year, dropping nearly 4 percent. ...

Mortgage-Refinance - Google News

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