Homeownership comes with a lot of decisions to make to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your investment and to ensure that your loan has the best terms possible. Have you found yourself wondering “should I refinance my home?” and it really is a great question to be asking. Every day lots of people just like you ask the same question, and the answer can vary based on a whole variety of factors.

What does it mean to Refinance a Home?

Before we get into pros and cons, it’s important to go over a definition to make sure we’re all on the same page. Refinancing your home is, essentially, trading your old mortgage loan for a new one. Sometimes this even includes a new balance that can be higher or lower than your current one. The new mortgages often contain new terms for the agreement, including length of the mortgage and interest rates.

Common Reasons people Refinance their Homes.

The reasons why someone might want to refinance vary, but often people are looking to accomplish one or multiple of several things. They could be trying to get a lower interest rate so that more of their mortgage payments are going towards their home than the interest on their bill. Others are simply looking to shorten the duration of their loan agreement. Many people don’t want to continue being locked into a 30-year agreement, so they opt to get a shorter one, often around 15 years. Still, others are looking to turn some of the equity they’ve earned with their house into cash they can spend elsewhere.

What Happens when you Refinance?

Knowing the exact mechanics of any transaction can be vital when moving forward in the decision-making process. Typically, your new bank or lender will pay off the remainder of your mortgage with your old bank or lender so you can move forward with your new mortgage with the new financial institution that you have chosen.

When is a Good Time to Refinance?

Most people seek out refinancing their home when interest rates are lower than they were when they acquired their mortgage. It can be advantageous to refinance when you see lower interest rates because it will save you money. If you’re looking for a shorter term for your mortgage you could reasonably do so whenever you like, although it’s still recommended to wait until interest rates are lower or at least the same as they were when you first signed your mortgage. Doing so ensures that you won’t spend more money on your home loan than you have to.

Another type of refinancing is called a cash-out refinance, and this involves refinancing up to 80% of your current home value for money you can use for other things. This doesn’t necessarily save you any money, but it does allow you to take on home improvement projects such as adding a new room to your home. You don’t have to spend this money on home improvement, but that would be a good way to ensure that you’re using this type of refinancing to help your investment to its full potential.

Move Forward with Confidence.

If you’re already doing your homework, you’re on the right path to ensure that you make the best decision for your home. There are lots of companies that would be happy to assist with your refinancing and lots of trained professionals that would be happy to answer any specific questions about your property to ensure that this would be a good move for you. If you are unhappy with the terms of your mortgage and you feel it’s time for a change, it may be a good time to reach out to a bank or lending company to see if now is a good time to move forward on this path.