Is now the time to REFI

Vince Murray with Tidewater Mortgage services Refi’s Is refinancing your home a good idea even if you’ve been in the house for a short period of time? Yes, the rates are in the 4’s now and it makes sense especially if you go with a 15 year loan. These rates are lower, sometime by a ½ % or more for a “par” rate comparison. Par is the going rate without paying any discount points to achieve that rate- meaning”0” points to buy down the rate. [You can pay up front to lower the interest rate.] In some instances the switch to a 15 year rate does not increase the monthly payment that much, especially if the client has paid on the 30 year note for a few years. With the reduced loan amount and the new reduced mortgage rate sometimes it can actually be lower per month. A recent loan I had done involved a single woman that had paid 8 years into a 30 year loan. I was able to knock off 7 years of the loan and reduced the payments by about $93 a month. She had financed less money for a shorter term and at a better rate. I believe that it was less than 2 % difference in the two loan rates. This same woman referred a neighbor of hers to me. In this case, her neighbor refinanced the original 30 year loan amount for 15 years and kept the cash difference to apply to some remodeling work. Her payment went up $106 a month, but knocked 8 years off her loan, and she was able to pay for the cost of the remodeling job. These are probably two exceptions to the general rule, but a 15 year loan saves so much money that it is worth it in the long run if you can afford the difference, since the rates are so low now. Whether it is a new purchase or a Refi, the time is now. When the government decides the value of the dollar is too low or you hear the word inflation in the news a few times during a weeks’ period, watch out- higher rates will follow the next week. I try to encourage people to act now and find out what can done for them because I don’t want them to say, “I wish I had refinanced when the rates were lower.” I know that has happened to me on more than a few occasions. The rates are at an all-time low now and it brings great satisfaction helping people get the most for their money. Especially afterwards when they say “that was easier than I thought.” Since completing the new testing and licensing requirements, I am more excited about the mortgage business. The new changes have been very positive. I have been receiving more new referrals and I can say that I have made many great new acquaintances. It’s nice to be involved in a business where you can help people actually find “new” money by refinancing or by giving them a peace of mind that they are getting the best deal available on buying their house.