You’ve probably heard pitches and received letters in the mail touting the benefits of refinancing your mortgage.
What does that mean for you? When you refinance your mortgage, you get a new home loan to replace your current one. The appeal is a lower interest rate to help you save money on your monthly payment, or the ability to access your home’s equity as cash.
According to NerdWallet, refinancing could save you more than $150 a month, even if you purchased or refinanced a home as recently as May 2019. Peapack-Gladstone Bank can help you understand the benefits of refinancing a home in New Jersey and decide whether it makes sense for you.
The Benefits of Refinancing a Mortgage in New Jersey
Refinancing your mortgage can help you get ahead financially in numerous ways, including:
- Reducing your monthly mortgage payment by securing a lower interest rate
- Providing a shorter loan term (e.g., 15 vs. 30 years) to help you pay off your mortgage faster
- Helping you pay down high-interest credit card debt by tapping into your home’s equity
- Changing your mortgage term from adjustable to fixed to align with your current needs
How to Qualify for a Mortgage Refinance in NJ
Lenders will assess these factors to determine your eligibility for refinancing.
- The amount of equity in your home: Typically, lenders require at least 20% equity before you can refinance. If you’re not there yet, consider making an extra mortgage payment or paying more than your monthly payment to reduce your principal.
- A good credit score: If your credit score has decreased since you took out your mortgage, you may not qualify for refinancing. Before you apply, be sure to improve your credit score. You may also consider tapping into a government program that can offer assistance, like FHA.
- Job and income stability: If you were unemployed or have switched jobs over the last several years, you might not qualify for a lower rate. Lenders also like to see that you have extra cash on hand in case you lose your job. Homeowners who are living paycheck to paycheck or carrying significant credit card debt aren’t typically rewarded with a lower rate. If you’re in this position, consider a co-borrower and start building an emergency fund.
Deciding Whether to Refinance Your NJ Mortgage
Refinancing your home loan isn’t free. At a minimum, you’ll pay closing costs, attorney fees and bank fees. The money you save by refinancing, however, could outweigh these up-front costs. To find out if refinancing makes sense for you, calculate your break-even point. This will help you determine how long it would take for the refinance to pay for itself in savings. Here’s how it’s calculated:
Break-even point (in months) = Closing costs/monthly savings
Consider this example:
- $7,000 in closing costs (with taxes)
- $150 of monthly savings
Using the figure above, it would take 46 months to break even on the cost of refinancing. In general, if you plan to stay in your home for longer than the break-even point, refinancing can be beneficial.
Before you choose to refinance, keep an eye on current mortgage rate trends. Use our mortgage calculator to estimate your potential new monthly payment or view our current mortgage rates.
Refinancing can help homeowners save money or obtain cash, but everyone’s situation is personal and unique. Connect with one of our Peapack-Gladstone Bank home loan experts in New Jersey to learn more about your refinancing options.