Mortgage Refinance Information - How to Lower Your Monthly Mortgage Payment

If your financial situation is different today than when you financed your home or you need to free up cash in your budget for other reasons, refinancing your mortgage to lower the monthly payment could be your answer. There are a number to of things to consider when deciding if refinancing is beneficial; here is mortgage refinance information to help you decide if mortgage refinancing is right for you.

Mortgage Refinance Information: The Benefits

If you are homeowner with an adjustable rate mortgage that will adjust in a month or two, you might want to lock in a fixed interest rate before your payment goes up. If your financial situation and credit has improved since when you purchased the home, you might find that you qualify for a much better interest rate. If you just need the lowest payment possible there are ways to accomplish this even if your credit prevents you from qualifying for a better interest rate.

Mortgage Refinance Information: The Risk

There are always risks associated with refinancing your mortgage. After you refinance the loan you are starting from scratch with your loan's amortization. This means the majority of your payment in the early months of the loan is paid directly to the lender in interest; mortgage loans are "front loaded" with interest and very little of your payment is applied to pay down the loan balance during this time. If you are lowering your monthly payment by extending the term, you will pay more over the course of the loan for this lower payment. This is fine if you plan on refinancing again later; however, if you keep this mortgage for a long period of time it will cost you significantly more.

Mortgage Refinance Information: Extend The Loan Term

Qualifying for a better interest rate to lower your monthly payment amount is a no-brainer; however, what if your credit prevents you from getting a better interest rate? You can still lower your monthly payment by choosing a mortgage with a longer term length. Term length is the amount of time your lender grants you to repay the loan. Common term lengths are 15 to 30 years; however, there are now 40 and 50 year mortgages that will give you the lowest payment amount possible. If you extend the term and qualify for a lower interest rate you will have an even lower payment amount.

Additional Sources For Mortgage Refinance Information

You can learn more about refinancing your mortgage and avoiding costly mortgage mistakes by registering for a free mortgage guidebook.

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