Posts Tagged ‘mortgage refinance’
December 3rd, 2010 | 
Author: Refinancing both your first and second mortgage will lower your monthly mortgage payment and qualify you for overall lower rates. It will also save you money on closing costs and application fees. And while you are looking at rates and terms, you can reevaluate your loan’s payment schedule to better fit your budget needs.
Why One Mortgage Is Better Than Two
Lending companies prefer financing one total mortgage rather than two separate loans. So second mortgage rates are at least a point higher than first mortgage rates.
Refinancing your two mortgages into one will qualify your for a lower rate mortgage. Since lenders charge flat application fees, you will save money by going through the process only once. Closing costs can also be cheaper.
Readjusting Terms
In all likelihood, your mortgages have different terms. Refinancing is a good time to reevaluate those terms and decide what would best meet your budget concerns.
If lower payments are your concern, then choose a longer term. While this will increase your total interest costs, it will ease your immediate budget concerns. Then when your financial situation improves, you can make principal payments to offset the interest costs.
When concerned about interest costs, it’s best to opt for a shorter term with its lower rate. You can also pay points to further lower your rates. But this is only wise if you plan to keep the loan for several years in order to recoup the costs.
Separate Is Sometimes Better
In some cases, it is better to keep two separate mortgages to save money. In some instances, refinancing your mortgages individually will get you better rates overall. This is especially true if your total mortgage principal equals more than 80% of your home’s value.
If you plan to cash out part of your home’s equity while refinancing, you may also want to finance a second mortgage separately. Cash out refi loans automatically boost your loan’s rate.
In order to find your best option, request quotes for refinancing your mortgages together and separately. Also look at several different lenders to be sure you are getting the most competitive offer.
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Do 1.25% interest rates really exist? Neg am mortgages calculate several mortgagerates. One is called the payment rate the other is the actual interest rate. Fortunately, the payment rate is capped at 7.5% of the previous payment. The true interest rate is calculated as simply the index plus the margin without periodic caps. When the interest rate resets to a higher rate with a negative amortization Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM), the mortgage payment doesn’t change. Instead, the additional interest expense is added to the loan balance.
Homeowners are given a choice of which rate to pay, which is why negative amortization loans are also referred to as “payment option” loans and option ARMs. Cost of Funds Index (COFI), Cost of Savings Index (COSI), and Monthly Treasury Average (MTA or MAT) are all examples of Alt-A negative amortization loans. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America (MBA) says alt-A loans’ share rose from 8% to 11%. Why? Because of the flexibility these loans offer, not to mention affordability for a home purchase loan or if you want to cash out on your home equity with a mortgage refinance.
Another affordable loan option is the interest only loan. With an interest-only loan, you pay only the interest on the mortgage in monthly payments for a fixed term. After the end of that term, usually five to seven years, you must refinance, pay the balance in a lump sum, or start paying off the principal, which increases your monthly payments substantially. Like neg am loans, interest-only loans are option ARMs because borrowers have the option of paying only the interest or paying principal and interest.
Negative amortization and interest-only loans can be useful if you are primarily concerned with cash flow instead of building equity. If you only pay the payment rate, the overall monthly mortgage payment might be lower than a typical 30-year, amortization loan. If you’re a short-term borrower who plans to refinance or sell the home within a period of a few years or if you have unsteady sources of income or too little documented income to qualify for a traditional loan, you may want to consider a neg am loan or an interest only home loan.
