Mortgage Refinance - Tips to Help You Cut Fees and Costs

Saving money through a mortgage refi is more than just finding the lowest interest rates. You can further cut fees and costs through the structure of your loan, avoiding PMI, and buying lower interest rates.

Close Credit Card Accounts

Close inactive credit card accounts to improve your credit score, making you eligible for lower interest rate loans. You will need to notify the credit card companies in writing that you wish the accounts closed on your request.

Next, check your credit report after 30 days to be sure closed accounts include the comment "Closed at Customer's Request." You want future lenders to know it was your request and not bad credit that closed your accounts. Also, take the time to check for any mistakes in your credit report that could negatively impact your credit score.

Avoid The Hidden Cost Of PMI

When refinancing a mortgage, as many as 30% of homeowner's cash out part or all of their home's equity. By investing in home improvements or paying off credit cards, this can be a smart. But, if you are borrowing more than 80% of your home's value, you will be hit with private mortgage insurance, costing you hundreds a year.

Pay Points Now

If you are planning to stay in your home for several years, then you can save money by paying points for lower interest rates. You pay up front fees to ensure you have lower interest payments over the course of your loan. Remember, this only works if you keep your mortgage for several months.

Choose A Short-Term Loan

Short-term mortgages offer lower interest rates than long-term mortgages. You save money by the lower interest rates and shorter payment period. The trade off is a larger monthly payment, but this option can save you thousands.

Ask About Fees

Fees are a hidden cost of many mortgage loans. By law, lenders must disclose fees within three days of a loan application. Fees can go by many names like ? document prep fees, courier fees, administrative fees, and more.

When comparing refi options for your mortgage, request a list of fees from several lenders. Add these fees with the interest of a loan. With these figures, you may be surprised that the cheapest loan didn't have the lowest interest rate.

To view our recommended sources for refinance mortgage loans online, visit this page: Recommended Refi Mortgage Lenders Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner ABC Loan Guide, an informational website about various types of loans.


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In The News:


Interest rate drop opens door to refinancing
Austin American-Statesman, TX - 7 hours ago
By Shonda Novak, MS Taboada The recent sharp drop in mortgage interest rates is creating a window for homeowners nationwide to refinance and providing an ...
Looking to refinance? Now might be the time Boston Globe
all 2 news articles

ABC News

Ben Bernanke: Fresh Attack on Mortgage Rates
U.S. News & World Report, DC - 14 hours ago
Lower rates will enable some borrowers to refinance out of adjustable and into fixed-rate loans. But those who need to refinance the most have homes with ...
Is the Fed Taking a Step Toward Explicit Quantitative Easing? Seeking Alpha
Monetizing the Debt Merk Insights
all 943 news articles

Self-Employed Are Frozen Out of Mortgages
Wall Street Journal - 6 hours ago
He's been unable to find a lender willing to refinance the $900000 adjustable-rate mortgage on his primary residence, which he says is worth around $1.1 ...

Md. sees drop in loss of homes
Baltimore Sun, United States - 3 hours ago
Many borrowers took on mortgages at the height of the housing boom, believing they could eventually refinance to a lower loan rate or sell their homes if ...

New York Times

Long Bond Returns Most Since 1995 as Rosenberg Sees ‘Bubble’
Bloomberg - 6 hours ago
Traders are also buying 30-year bonds on speculation the Fed’s purchases may drive mortgage rates lower, spurring homeowners to refinance their home loans ...
Treasury Yields Hit Record Lows, But Will it Last? Housing Wire
REFILE-TREASURIES-Bonds rally, helped by weakening economy Reuters
TREASURIES-Bonds rally on weak economy, Fed fixed-income buys Hemscott
Bloombergall 146 news articles

Wolters Kluwer Financial Services Begins Development of Hope for ...
MarketWatch - 19 hours ago
For borrowers who refinance under H4H, lenders are required to "write down" the mortgage to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)-provided ...

Washington Post

Mortgage rates fall, but many borrowers will have trouble qualifying
Los Angeles Times, CA - Nov 27, 2008
Jeff Lazerson, a Laguna Niguel mortgage broker, said all the customer calls he received Tuesday were from people seeking to refinance, not buy homes. ...
Mortgage-market revival: Try, try again CNNMoney.com
US move cuts mortgages to lowest rate since February Baltimore Sun
Last Call for Smart Homeowners Motley Fool
Bloomberg - AHNall 2,147 news articles

New mortgage crisis looming, experts caution
San Bernardino Sun, CA - 8 hours ago
And since investors no longer want to buy commercial mortgages, banks are reluctant to write new loans to refinance those facing foreclosure. ...

A recession Q&A
Newsday, NY - 2 hours ago
... take measures that will result in lower mortgage rates, "so people can afford to buy up housing inventory and refinance mortgages at affordable rates. ...

Good time to refinance your mortgage?
WKTV, NY - 17 hours ago
By GARY LIBERATORE (WKTV) - If you are in the market to buy a home, it's a really good time, but if you're selling, it's not so good. ...
mortgage refinance - Google News
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