Mortgage Refinancing

Hopefully your ego has never had to experience the words, "It's okay honey. Size doesn't matter." After all, what's important is the quality right? In a perfect world, perhaps this is true, but in the realm of mortgage refinancing, what is best is usually based on length. Let me explain.

The majority of mortgages are given at terms of either 15 or 30 years. This simply means that if you have a mortgage of $150,000, you will have to pay it off in pre-calculated payments (fixed mortgage) over the next 15 or 30 years depending on which loan you have chosen.

Both long term (30 years) and short term (15 years) loans have their benefits and drawbacks. With a long term loan, you are going to benefit from having significantly lower monthly payments. This makes sense because the loan amount is spread out over a longer period of time. However, because the length of the loan is extended over 30 years, you will be paying higher interest rates and subsequently, more money in interest as opposed to a shorter termed loan.

On the other hand, a home mortgage loan with a length of 15 years is going to have a much higher monthly payment than a 30 year mortgage. However, the tradeoff is that you are going to pay much lower in interest due to shorter terms carrying an overall lower interest rate.

Some financial analysts recommend a 15 year mortgage as the best home mortgage loan. They believe that although you are paying more monthly, you benefit from having the mortgage paid off quicker which saves thousands in interest. Also, by paying more on your mortgage in a shorter period of time, you are increasing the rate at which your equity is being built.

Yet again, other lenders and economists recommend the 30 year mortgage for the lower payments and tax benefits. If you are concerned about length, they recommend purchasing a 30 year mortgage (minus prepayment penalties) and pay extra on the principal. This allows you to benefit from the lower monthly payments and tax benefits as well as having the loan paid off in less than 30 years.

The "best" mortgage length for you depends on what you are willing to compromise on. Both 15 and 30 year loans have their advantages and disadvantages. My advice is to use a mortgage payment calculator and see which term works best for your financial situation. Regardless of the choice, take pride in knowing that you are a homeowner.

Ben Morgan is the author of Home Mortgage Refinancing. Every day this site gives away countless valuable tips, information, and breaking news to help you make the best mortgage refinancing decision.

Latest News


Ben Bernanke: Fresh Attack on Mortgage Rates
U.S. News & World Report, DC - Dec 1, 2008
Lower rates will enable some borrowers to refinance out of adjustable and into fixed-rate loans. But those who need to refinance the most have homes with ...
Long Bond Returns Most Since 1995 Amid ‘Bubble’ Talk (Update2) Bloomberg
Treasury Yields Hit Record Lows, But Will it Last? Housing Wire
REFILE-TREASURIES-Bonds rally, helped by weakening economy Reuters
Hemscott - Bloomberg
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Looking to refinance? Now might be the time
Boston Globe, United States - Dec 1, 2008
Mortgage rates have been stubbornly high for quite some time but the government's recently announced $800B plan to bolster mortgages and consumer loans had ...
Are looking for a new mortgage? We want to hear from you Louisville Courier-Journal
all 3 news articles

Interest rate drop opens door to refinancing
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 17 hours ago
By Shonda Novak, MS Taboada The recent sharp drop in mortgage interest rates is creating a window for homeowners nationwide to refinance and providing an ...

Md. sees drop in loss of homes
Baltimore Sun, United States - 13 hours ago
Many borrowers took on mortgages at the height of the housing boom, believing they could eventually refinance to a lower loan rate or sell their homes if ...

Telegraph.co.uk

Mortgage rates fall, but many borrowers will have trouble qualifying
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 27, 2008
Jeff Lazerson, a Laguna Niguel mortgage broker, said all the customer calls he received Tuesday were from people seeking to refinance, not buy homes. ...
Mortgage-market revival: Try, try again CNNMoney.com
US move cuts mortgages to lowest rate since February Baltimore Sun
Last Call for Smart Homeowners Motley Fool
Bloomberg - AHN
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Self-Employed Are Frozen Out of Mortgages
Wall Street Journal - 16 hours ago
He's been unable to find a lender willing to refinance the $900000 adjustable-rate mortgage on his primary residence, which he says is worth around $1.1 ...

Mortgage Delinquencies Set to Soar: Report
Housing Wire - 7 hours ago
“The credit ding makes refinancing that much more difficult,” said one source that spoke with HW Tuesday morning, a loss mitigation counselor at a large ...

New mortgage crisis looming, experts caution
San Bernardino Sun, CA - 18 hours ago
And since investors no longer want to buy commercial mortgages, banks are reluctant to write new loans to refinance those facing foreclosure. ...

A recession Q&A
Newsday, NY - 12 hours ago
... take measures that will result in lower mortgage rates, "so people can afford to buy up housing inventory and refinance mortgages at affordable rates. ...

Are You An Idiot To Keep Paying Your Mortgage?
NewsNet5.com, OH - 5 hours ago
If you took out a home-equity loan or did a cash-out refinance to buy a car, you'll still owe tax on that debt if it is canceled. For state income taxes, ...
Some buyers may see higher loan rates Boston Herald
Global slowdown to drive market direction Moneycontrol.com
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