Unlocking Equity Through Refinancing Via Bridgewater Bank
Thank you to our partners at Bridgewater Bank for the below article:
Renewing vs. refinancing a mortgage
What’s the difference between refinancing and renewing your mortgage? The terms are often used interchangeably, but they are different processes:
Renewing a mortgage applies to the current mortgage loan. You will be looking for a new term and interest rate based on the amount remaining in your mortgage at the end of your term. This is a great time to look at ways to reduce the principal amount by making a lump sum payment or changing payment amount and frequency.
Refinancing a mortgage is a renegotiation of an existing mortgage loan and is usually used to access the equity in the home or take advantage of better mortgage terms. It’s a more involved process than renewing, especially if the loan amount is changing because it is essentially a new mortgage.
Reasons to refinance a mortgage
There are many reasons you may wish to refinance your mortgage. For example:
You may be in the middle of a higher interest term and want to take advantage of a lower rate. Although there may be prepayment penalties to get out of the current mortgage, it might be worth it for the long-term savings of a lower rate. Your mortgage broker can help you weigh the options.
If you have a lot of high-interest debt, you may wish to refinance and consolidate your debt into a single payment at a lower rate.
You may wish to access the equity in your home to fund a renovation, purchase a second property, or invest.
Pros and cons of refinancing a mortgage
There are advantages and disadvantages to refinancing a mortgage. What you consider a benefit depends on your situation. Here are some things to consider:
Additional costs of refinancing
When you refinance your mortgage, there may be some additional fees to keep in mind. Depending on how close you are to the end of your mortgage term, there might be penalties for paying out your term early. Your lender may also require you to get an appraisal on your home because the amount they will refinance is based on the current appraised value.
Peace of mind from refinancing
Finances can be a major stressor and removing financial pressure is priceless. Consolidating debt into a single monthly payment has its benefits. You’ll likely spend less of your monthly budget on debt payments, and you won’t be juggling your money trying to pay down multiple debts (which may pay more toward interest than principal). That said, if you can’t manage your debt payments now and you’ll be paying roughly the same with the new mortgage, you’re putting your home at risk.
