2 Signs It's Time To Refinance Your Mortgage

8 October 2015
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If you're a homeowner, there's a good chance that your monthly mortgage payments eat up a significant chunk of your income--especially when you factor in the cost of home insurance, property taxes, private mortgage insurance (if applicable), and the like. Have you ever considered that you might be able to save yourself a nice chunk of change each month by simply refinancing your mortgage? There are a few common situations in which refinancing can make a lot of financial sense.

You're Looking to Buy a Vacation Home

So, you've reached a point in your life where you've built up a decent amount of equity in your home, and you're interested in buying a vacation home. The only problem is that you don't quite have enough money to put a down payment on your dream vacation home. If this is the case, you might consider applying for a cash-out refinance. If approved, you could not only save on your monthly mortgage payments, but you could use your current equity towards a down payment on your vacation home.

You Just Got a Huge Promotion or New Job

When you first applied for your current mortgage, your lender took a lot of factors into consideration, such as your income, your credit score, your debt-to-income ration, and the like. If you've gotten a significant promotion/raise since when you first bought your home or even secured a higher-paying job, you might now be able to get approved for lower interest rates on a mortgage. This is where applying to refinance your existing mortgage can make all the difference, saving your thousands or even tens of thousands in interest over the remainder of your loan term.

Your Credit Score Has Increased Significantly

How was your credit when you first bought your home? If it was along the lines of average and you now have an improved credit score, now may also be a good time to consider va refinancing. A higher credit score can make you eligible for lower interest rates and more favorable mortgage terms over all. If you're not sure about your credit score, consider requesting a free copy of your credit report from one of the reporting bureaus. Doing so will also allow you to review your credit history over the past several years, so you can see just how much it has increased since when you first took out your initial home loan.