Owning a home is a dream come true for many of us, but it also comes with a significant financial responsibility. Paying off a mortgage can take decades, and during that time, you may find yourself wishing for a way to reduce your monthly payments or pay off your home loan sooner.
Fortunately, home loan refinancing could provide you with a solution to help. By refinancing your home loan, you could potentially secure a better interest rate, shorten your repayment term, or access the equity in your home.
Refinancing your home loan can be a complicated process that requires careful consideration and research. After all, what may work for one homeowner may not necessarily be the best option for another. That’s why it’s important to take the time to understand the cost to finance a home loan, research home loan offers and compare your options before making a decision.
In this mortgage refinance guide, we'll take a closer look at the main things you need to know about refinancing your home loan, so you can make an informed decision and achieve your financial goals.
What is Home Loan Refinancing?
Home loan refinancing is the process of replacing your existing mortgage with a new one. The new mortgage is usually obtained from a different lender, although it's also possible to refinance with your current lender.
Essentially, when you refinance your home loan, you're taking out a new loan to pay off the old one, but with different terms and conditions.
What Are The Benefits of Refinancing?
With careful consideration and research, refinancing may be able to help you achieve the following benefits.
Shorten the repayment term
One of the most significant advantages of refinancing your home loan is that it can help you shorten your repayment term. If you're currently on a 30-year mortgage, for example, you might be able to refinance to a 15-year mortgage, with higher repayments. This means that you could be debt-free much sooner and potentially save a considerable amount of money in interest over the life of the loan.
Get a better interest rate
Another common reasons to refinance is that it can help you get a lower interest rate. Interest rates can fluctuate over time, and if rates have changed since you first took out your mortgage, you might be able to refinance to a lower rate. This may significantly reduce your monthly mortgage payment and save you money in the long run.
Access equity
If your home has increased in value since you first took out your mortgage, you might be able to access the equity in your home by refinancing. Equity is the difference between your home's current value and the outstanding balance on your mortgage. Refinancing can allow you to tap into that equity by taking out a larger loan or through a cash-out refinance.
How Refinancing Works
So, how easy is it to refinance a home loan?
The process of refinancing your home loan is similar to obtaining a new mortgage. After you’ve chosen a finance lender and compared interest rates and terms, you'll need to submit an application and provide documentation, such as income verification and proof of homeowners insurance. The lender will then evaluate your application and determine if you qualify for the new loan.
If you're approved, the lender will pay off your old mortgage, and you'll start making payments on the new loan. You might also need to pay closing costs, which can include fees for things like an appraisal, title search, and origination.
It’s also necessary to note that there is no exact answer to the question of how long it takes to refinance a home loan. The total amount of time will vary on a variety of factors, including the complexity of your application and the time it takes to gather documentation, as well as the lenders application review process.
When considering a new loan to refinance your home, you’ll need to carefully weigh the potential benefits against the costs involved. In addition to closing costs, which can add up to thousands of dollars, there may be other fees and charges associated with refinancing. It's essential to factor these costs into your decision and determine if the savings from refinancing will outweigh the costs.
It's also important to keep in mind it may not be the best option for everyone to refinance their home loan, meaning you’ll need to closely consider your individual circumstances and financial goals before committing to the process. For example, if you plan on moving down the track, the costs of refinancing may outweigh any potential savings. Alternatively, if you have a significant amount of equity in your home, it may be more beneficial to consider a home equity loan or line of credit instead of refinancing.
If you do decide to refinance, it's crucial to choose a lender that meets your needs and provides competitive interest rates and terms.
At Qudos Bank, we offer a range of home loan refinancing options to help you achieve your financial goals. Our experienced lending specialists can guide you through the mortgage refinance process and help you choose the best option for your situation. You can also access our home loan calculators, which can give you an estimate of the cost to refinance your home loan and how much interest you could potentially save through refinancing.
Contact Qudos Bank today to speak with a lending specialist who can answer your questions and provide you with guidance on your refinancing options.
Loans are subject to approval. Lending criteria, terms and conditions and fees and charges apply. Mortgage insurance is required for home loans over 80% and is subject to approval. Qudos Mutual Limited trading as Qudos Bank ABN 53 087 650 557 AFSL/Australian Credit Licence 238 305.
Published August 2023
