It depends on your particular situation. Three major factors should be considered when deciding whether to pay points:
• How much you can afford to pay up front?
• How long do you expect to make payments on your mortgage?
• What is the length of your loan and how long do you plan to live in the home?
Many people looking for a long-term mortgage opt to pay points to ease the monthly payments over the long term of the loan. People looking at a mortgage with a shorter term or looking to stay in the home for a shorter period of time often opt to make a larger down payment instead of paying points.
You can refinance your home for a number of reasons, most of which typically result in a more favorable financial situation. Some of the benefits of refinancing include:
Lower your monthly payments: By obtaining a lower interest rate, you may lower your monthly payment – keeping more money in your pocket. Refinancing can reduce your monthly payment initially, but that doesn’t always mean it will save you money in the long run. Fees and interest rates need to be considered when calculating if your new mortgage will save you money over the entire life of the loan. A licensed loan officer will be able to help you decide if refinancing is right for you. We’ll help you calculate at which point you will break even and begin to save.
Shorten your loan term: Maybe you’re making more money now than you were when you first got your mortgage and can afford to put more money toward it. By shortening your loan term, you’ll pay off your mortgage sooner. Short term means you’ll pay less interest over the life of your loan. An example would be refinancing a 30-year mortgage into a 20-year or 15-year mortgage.
Extend your loan term: Maybe you want a lower monthly payment and are willing to extend your mortgage out several years to get it. It’s important to understand that you’ll pay more over the long term in interest, but you’ll have a lower payment each month.
Get cash out: As you pay on your mortgage, you build equity. Eventually, you can refinance through certain programs to get access to funds from that equity. These funds can be used in a variety of ways, such as paying bills, making a special purchase, improving or repairing your home or paying for college tuition.
Stabilize an underwater mortgage: As a result of the 2008 financial crisis, many homeowners watched their home values plummet below the outstanding balance on their mortgages. With a HARP refinance, you can refinance an underwater mortgage and regain control.
