Last Updated: 28th April, 2023
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Is there ever a wrong time for refinancing? It might not be as straightforward as you think.
You can decide whether to refinance your mortgage or keep your existing loan after researching, getting advice and comparing. One factor in your decision will be whether it’s the best time to refinance or not, depending on your situation and needs.
Prior to choosing to refinance your mortgage:
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- Analyse your present financial status
- Use a home loan refinance calculator to compare your alternatives
- Recognise the benefits and drawbacks of refinancing
- Learn the steps and any fees associated with refinancing
When Do Most Homeowners Decide To Refinance?
The most common reason for refinancing is to switch to another lender that has a lower interest rate, but there are several other benefits and drawbacks that you need to consider before making this big decision. People usually consider refinancing their home loan when they are coming to the end of their fixed-rate term. Also, most people consider refinancing their mortgage every 3 to 4 years, even if they’re on a variable rate. Over that time, you will have reduced your loan balance and your property value will hopefully have increased. This puts you in a strong position to shop around with other lenders and look for a better interest rate or a more flexible product. Another common reason to refinance is if your current lender is reluctant to release equity to you for the purposes of buying an investment property. Finally, another popular reason to refinance is debt consolidation, because it allows a borrower to combine some or all of their existing debts into their home loan, which is usually at a much lower interest rate than other debt. We know the tips and tricks to get the most from your home loan and when it’s time to say goodbye to your bank. Call us on 1300 889 743 or fill in our free online assessment form to start your home loan refinance journey today.Am I Eligible To Refinance?
- You owe less than 80% of the property value: Ideally, you should owe less than 80% on your mortgage, otherwise, you may have to pay thousands in Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).
- You are on a variable rate: It’s possible to refinance every 6 months but be aware that you’ll add an enquiry to your credit file every time you submit a new application.
- You can refinance from a low doc to a full doc: If you had a low doc mortgage but now have sufficient income evidence, you may qualify for a standard home loan at a sharper interest rate.
- You can refinance out of a bad credit loan: You can refinance a bad credit home loan back to a major lender if your Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) is 80% or less and the black marks are no longer showing on your credit file.
Refinance Your Home Loan In Three Easy steps
Understand The Basics
It can be challenging and difficult to refinance your home loan. To get you one step closer to paying off your loan faster and for less money, check out our refinance guide.Check Your Savings
To see how much time and money you could save by refinancing, use our straightforward refinance calculator.Apply For A Refinance
You can schedule an appointment to talk with a Home Loan Experts mortgage broker to see your refinancing options by calling on 1300 889 743 or filling in our free online assessment form. Once we’ve helped you select the loan that best suits your needs, we’ll do all the legwork for you.How Often Should I Refinance My Home Loan?
It depends on your overall financial circumstances and objectives. If it’s your family home and you don’t plan to move any time soon, you generally want to look at refinancing only at the end of your fixed term. If you’re on a variable rate, it’s possible to refinance at any time, which typically makes sense when refinancing an investment property and you want to access equity to grow your portfolio. For example, you may have only settled your home loan in the last three months but recently found an investment opportunity and want to use your equity to purchase the property. Your current lender may not allow you to do this but another lender may be able to consider your case.When It Makes Sense To Refinance During A Fixed Term
Yes, you can refinance your mortgage during your fixed loan term.
You may have to pay break costs but, if you recoup these costs within two years of refinancing, it may be worth it. The refinancing calculator can give you a pretty good guide on the costs versus savings of refinancing. It will calculate how much your monthly payment will change and how long it will take to recoup any fees and break costs. It’s recommended that you speak with an experienced mortgage broker so they can assess your financial situation in full.Case study
The Situation
A few years ago, Ross had some personal problems that resulted in him defaulting on his credit-card payments. Despite the default listed on his credit file, he was able to get approved for a home loan with a non-conforming lender that was able to consider the nature of the default. It helped that he was of a good character and had been making payments on his other financial commitments prior to the default. Ross was approved to borrow 90% of the property value on a $560,000 at a 3-year fixed rate of 5.40%. After making his mortgage repayments on time for three years, Ross wanted to see if he was in a position to refinance to a major lender at a much sharper rate.Is This The Right Time For Ross?
His fixed period is coming to an end, which means he either has to pay a higher variable rate or refix his loan. After getting some professional advice from a mortgage broker, he found that it’s better to refinance his loan with a major lender to reduce his mortgage repayments and access equity for investment.Increase In His Property Value
Fast forward to August 2018, and his fixed term is about to end. Ross’ property value has risen to $650,000 and his loan amount decreased to $480,000 through regular home loan repayments. In effect, this reduced his Loan to Value Ratio (LVR) to 73.84%. Because of he owes less than 80% of the property value and his default has been cleared from his credit, Ross is eligible to be approved by a major lender. He’s also in a position to cash out $60,000 to invest in shares.Are There Any Alternatives To Refinancing?
Refinancing costs can be significant and it can take time if you’re switching lenders.
However, there are alternatives if you find that it isn’t the right time for you to refinance.
Negotiate With Your Bank
For example, if your objective is to lower your interest repayments, you could call your lender and check if you can negotiate a lower interest rate or have your repayments fixed for a specific time.
Extend Your Loan Term
Also, you might want to consider extending your loan term, which can also reduce your mortgage repayments.
For example, instead of repaying your home loan over the remaining 27 years of your loan term, your bank may allow you to extend the term to a maximum of 30 years.
Switch To Interest-Only Repayments
Temporarily switching to interest only from principal and interest repayments may be another option for some borrowers, especially those taking parental leave.
Like extending your loan term, switching to interest only helps to reduce your repayments and frees up your cash flow to pay down higher interest debts or to build up your offset account, giving yourself a buffer against interest rate rises.
The added benefit of an offset facility is that you can access these funds easily if and when you need them.
Keep in mind that both of these options should only be considered as short-term solutions because they can make your mortgage more expensive over the long-term.
You can read up on how you can lower your repayments without refinancing.
