The the sub-prime mortgage crisis leading to the current global finance crisis many people have ended up stuck with the wrong type of mortgage and are paying too much. The good news is that there as still good deals on mortgages to be had and you could save thousands by refinancing your home loan.
Home loan rates are at historic lows, yet many people have not comparison shopped their current loan. Why not? Just because you got a good deal when the loan was originally taken out doesn't mean it's still the best fit for you now. Especially with the ease and availability of the Internet for research, comparison shopping will take just a little time and no money.
You should be looking for a refinance mortgage, or what is commonly called as a refinance or refi. This is where a lending institution provides you with a new loan at a lower rate, and pays off your old, higher-rate mortgage. The new bank then holds the deed to your home as collateral until the loan is repaid.
A good rule of thumb is that if you can lower your interest rate by 1%, the new home loan will be worth the cost of the refinance. There is no such thing as a free loan. However, shopping around at sites like www.bankrate.com, you can not only become familiar with the common fees charged, but compare the fees charged by various lenders.
There is also a possibility that you as well as your home loan are qualified for an HUD (Housing and Urban Development)- backed loan through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). If you are a veteran, you may qualify for a loan through the Veteran's Administration (VA). Many times these loans will have lower interest rates and fees than a comparable conventional loan. There will be more paperwork and the process may take longer, but the savings with these loans can be substantial. The loans are backed by the federal government, so there is less risk for the lender and that's reflected in the interest rates and fees.
Lenders or mortgage brokers are required to give you an HUD-1 or Good Faith Estimate within three days of appication. You can also ask for one when shopping around. If a lender or broker refuses to provide one so you can comparison shop, consider very carefully if you want to use them. Customer service can be critical after you close on a loan, and now's the time to evaluate that.
Fees are another considerationand that's where the Good Faith Estimate can help you. Every lender has different names for their fees. Origination fees, Broker fees, Discount fees. . . .the list might see endless and the HUD-1 would not even inform you what the fees are for. However, using the Good Faith Estimate can guide you in comparing apples to apples. Regardless of what they call the various charges, they're going to be totaled at the bottom. So long as you're requesting statements regarding the same type of loanfor instance, a 30-year fixed rate at 6.0% with no pointsyou'll be able to see how the fees and charges compare from lender to lender.
Yes, this process can take some time, and many lenders now charge application fees to weed out the "looky loos". But comparison shopping for a mortgage, even if you already have one, can save you literally tens of thousands of dollars. Isn't a few hours of your time worth that?
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