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Solving The Decision For Refinance Your Mortgage

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It 's often assumed that interest rate is what matters most when it comes to making a decision to refinance your mortgage. To a large degree, that 's true. But it 's hardly the whole story. True, a lower interest rate means that you 'll pay less for your mortgage in the long run, but you also have to consider non-financial factors in the decision to refinance. In certain situations you may not save money by refinancing. And in a few others, it may actually end up costing more than you save.

Consider the Bigger Picture

Though it 's tempting to think that the refinance decision is fundamentally a math equation, there are actually very important personal considerations to evaluate to determine if it 's the right move for you.

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Is your credit strong enough to get the best deal? No matter what rates you see advertised, the best rates are reserved for people with the best credit profiles. If your credit has deteriorated since you first purchased the home, the rate on the new loan may be adjusted higher. It 's even possible that the rate on the new loan will be higher than what you have right now, due to negative changes in your credit profile.

What is your employment situation? Is there any possibility that you could be transferred on your job? That 's more common in some occupations than in others. If yours happens to be one of them, and you find yourself getting transferred out of town a few months after doing a refinance, it 's almost certain that the refinance will cost you more money you will save.

Are you looking to get out of an unaffordable house payment? If the primary reason why you want to refinance is because you 're struggling to make your house payment, a refinance may not solve the problem. Yes, it will lower your monthly payment, but it 's unlikely to make it fundamentally more affordable. If that 's what you 're looking to accomplish, the better course of action may be to sell your home downside to a less expensive one.

Will a Refinance Actually Save You Money?

This is where we get into the number crunching side of evaluating a

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