If you’re a first-time refinancer, you might be unsure about what to expect in the process. At QHL, our top priority is to provide you with support — let’s start with dispelling some common refinance myths so you can approach your refinance with clarity and confidence.
Myth #1: You won’t save that much money by refinancing.
Refinancing could help you save a significant amount in interest, depending on your current loan’s interest rate and the rates available today. For instance, reducing your rate by just 1/8th of a percent could save you tens of thousands over the life of your loan.
Myth #2: You need 20% equity to refinance.
This is certainly not true. While loans with less than 20% equity may require mortgage insurance, you are still 100% eligible to apply for a refinance. Even with the addition of mortgage insurance, refinancing could still be a good move for you, particularly if it saves you money in the long run.
Myth #3: You haven’t reached the “break-even point” of your current loan.
You may have heard that mortgages come with a “break-even point,” the point in time when you have recouped your original closing costs through the savings of a lower rate. Even if you have not reached the break-even point for your current mortgage, refinancing to achieve a lower rate could help you reach an overall break-even point (and greater savings) even faster.
Myth #4: Refi’s are only about getting a lower rate.
There are many reasons to pursue a refinance other than getting a lower rate. Maybe you have built up equity in your home and want to take some cash out to do renovations or consolidate some other high-interest debts. Or maybe you want to get a shorter loan term to pay off your mortgage sooner to save on interest. There are many ways you can benefit from refinancing beyond the rate and we can help you with them all.
Myth #5: Applications require a lot of documents.
While it’s true that mortgage applications require a good amount of documents, what we need is pretty standard fare across most lenders. At QHL, we make the process faster and easier by personalizing document requests based on your situation, securely pulling in data from third-parties like your bank online, and allowing you to sign and submit documents digitally.
Myth #6: You need cash to cover closing costs.
Refinancing includes closing costs similar to the ones you paid when you got your original mortgage. If you don’t want to pay for closing costs up front, you have a couple of options. The first is to take “lender credits,” which lower your closing costs in exchange for a slightly higher rate. Another option is to “roll-in” your closing costs by adding them to your mortgage balance. Both choices can drastically reduce your closing costs and make a “no-cost” refinance possible.
Myth #7: You’re supposed to be an expert.
This may be the biggest misconception of all. Just because you’ve already purchased your home doesn’t mean you should remember everything about the mortgage process. Your dedicated support team at QHL is always here to help. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about your refinance journey!