If you want to save money on your mortgage, now might be a great time to refinance. When you refinance your home loan, you replace the existing mortgage with a different one. You can refinance your home to withdraw cash, shorten the term of the loan, or reduce your interest rate. Not everyone can refinance the house, so take a look at a few key rules you need to follow to qualify for a refinance.
Have A Mortgage In Solid Standing
First, your mortgage must be in solid standing with your lender. If you are behind on your mortgage payments, the lender might not let you refinance. Try to stay on top of your monthly mortgage payments. As long as you haven’t owed any late fees or missed any payments entirely, your lender should consider letting you refinance your existing home loan.
Have Enough Equity In Your Home
You also need to have enough equity in your home. A lot of first time homebuyers my only put 3.5 percent down on their house. Even though this makes buying a house more affordable, it does not necessarily mean there’s enough equity for a refinance. If you have 20 percent equity or more in your home, your lender might allow you to refinance. Every lender is different, so be sure to talk to a loan officer about their specific requirements.
Have A High Credit Score
When you go through the refinance process, you are applying for another home loan. Therefore, the traditional rules will still apply. Your credit score must be high enough to qualify for a refinance. You can improve your credit score by collecting and accuracies on your credit report, paying your bills on time, and controlling your debt to income ratio. If you have a solid credit score, your lender should allow you to go through the refinancing process. Remember that you can check your credit score for free once per year.
Refinance And Save Money
These are the basic rules you need to follow if you want to refinance your home loan. Refinancing your home loan can help you save tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. You might even pay off your mortgage more quickly.