Home Mortgage Refinancing

When you refinance your home mortgage, lenders often tempt you with the option of cashing out part of your home's equity. Cash at a comparably low interest rate may seem like a good option, but make sure you will financially benefit from it first.

Raising Your Home's Value

Only some home improvements raise the value of your home. Bathroom and kitchen upgrades are one example of this. However, with most remodel jobs, you will not see a financial gain. If you are using your home's equity to fund projects, make sure that your investment will pay off.

Saving On Interest Payments

Paying off credit cards with your home's equity will save you money in two ways. First of all, you will save on interest payments. Secondly, the interest you pay on your mortgage is tax deductible, unlike credit card interest.

PMI Penalty

Private mortgage insurance kicks in if you borrow more than 80% of your home's value. These extra payments can add up to several hundred dollars a year, so be careful how much you borrow. Other lines of credit may be more cost efficient when you factor in the cost of PMI on your mortgage.

The Length Of The Loan

While it may see smart to take out equity at a low interest rate with your mortgage, it may be cheaper to cash out through a home equity loan. Home equity loans allow you to deduct interest payments from your taxes, but they require a shorter repayment period.

Interest rates on a home equity loan are higher, so you will need to compare the costs between refinancing and a home equity loan. Generally, if your mortgage is long-term, a home equity loan is a better deal.

Your Financial Situation

To decide whether to cash out the equity of your home, you have to make decisions around what is best for your financial situation. There are no hard rules for this type of decision.

For example, purchasing a car with your home's equity may be a wise investment if you need a car and would struggle with a car payment. In the end, financial decisions are about making trade-offs.

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.

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
all 156 news articles

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 ...

Washington Post

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
all 2,157 news articles

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
all 19 news articles

Resources