Although there are many advantages to refinancing your mortgage, doing so isn’t always the best course of action.
Here are certain circumstances in which it would not be wise to refinancing your mortgage, whether you’re trying to do so to get a cheaper interest rate, cash out part of your equity, or transfer from a variable rate to a fixed one.
6 Reasons Refinancing Your Mortgage is Not a Good Idea
1. Takes Longer to Break Even
Although you could end up saving money by refinancing your mortgage, the process is expensive up front. It is thus a good idea to perform a fast break-even analysis to identify when you will begin to realize the savings from your new loan.
Let’s imagine your closing fees were $5,000 and that you would save $100 a month by refinancing. In this case, it will take 50 months for your remortgage to pay for itself.
If you don’t want to wait that long or don’t expect to live in the house that long, it could make sense to shop around to see if another lender can offer you better terms. If not, you might wish to wait and save the cash you would have paid on closing expenses.
2. More Expensive in the Long Run
While refinancing can decrease your interest rate, it usually causes your payback term to be increased to a 15-, 20-, or 30-year period. Even though you save money each month, the longer term may cause you to pay more interest altogether.
The average homeownership duration is 13.2 years, so this issue probably won’t affect most homeowners. This issue may only arise if you want to remain in the property for the whole loan term. However, while you explore your alternatives, it is still something to take into account.
In addition, you may not be able to afford the new payments. Your new monthly payment can wind up being greater than your current one if you want to reduce your repayment period or obtain a cash-out mortgage refinancing.
3. When Your Credit Score Isn’t Looking Good
If your credit score has improved since you took out your existing mortgage, refinancing may make sense. However, if your credit score hasn’t changed or has decreased, you might not be able to take advantage of the perks that refinancing can offer.
It’s always a good idea to check your credit score and credit report if you’re considering asking for credit to determine where you stand and to take actions to improve your credit so you’ll have a greater chance of obtaining favorable conditions.
4. Interest Rates are Higher
Even if your credit has improved, it could be more financially smart to stay onto your current loan rather than applying for a new one due to rising interest rates. However, if you want to access part of your home’s value, it can make more sense to choose a home equity loan or line of credit rather than a refinancing.
Although the interest rates on those second mortgage loans will also be higher, you will only have to pay closing charges and the higher interest rate on the amount you are taking out of your equity as opposed to the complete mortgage loan plus the cash-out part..
However, keep in mind that it might still be advantageous to refinance in this scenario so you can change from a variable interest rate to a fixed interest rate, particularly if you anticipate that interest rates will continue to rise and you want to lock in a fixed rate to prevent rising mortgage payments.
5. You Can’t Afford the Closing Costs
Closing expenses for a refinancing of a mortgage typically run between 2% and 6% of the loan amount.
Waiting until you can refinance your house more affordably may make sense if you are unable to cover those payments or would have to deplete your savings, leaving you without cash for emergencies.
The closing expenses can sometimes be rolled into a refinancing loan by many lenders, but doing so eventually raises your monthly payment and overall interest charges over the course of the loan. Before you act, carefully consider any potential long-term repercussions.
6. You Don’t Have Enough Equity
Many lenders only let you borrow up to 80% of your home’s worth with the new loan if you’re thinking about a cash-out refinancing.
Refinancing could not even be a possibility if your home’s equity is less than 20%. Additionally, if your ownership is only a little bit higher than 20%, you could not receive enough money to justify the procedure and associated costs.
It should be noted that while some lenders could be ready to let you borrow up to 90% of the value of your property, doing so raises the possibility that you could end up upside down on your mortgage if home prices in your neighborhood decrease.
Final Thoughts
Refinancing can be beneficial or detrimental, but there is no hard and fast rule.
It all depends on your financial situation. Many homeowners find that refinancing their mortgages is a smart financial decision, especially if they want more assistance than what mortgage relief can offer.
However, not every refinance is a good idea. Whether it’s a good idea or a bad idea just depends on what’s right for you. Before choosing, make sure to consider all your possibilities.