A Useful Guide to Mortgage Refinancing

Mortgage refinancing is an option that homeowners in Canada are considering at times especially when they are thinking of doing home improvements. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), mortgage refinancing is a type of loan that lets the homeowners pay the full amount of their first mortgage by getting another loan. The new loan that you will be applying for will have a new interest rate and terms compared to the first one.

How to Apply for Mortgage Refinancing?

If you plan on doing mortgage refinancing, you might want to consider the following steps:

Do you need to apply? Keep in mind that refinancing a mortgage is a serious matter which means that you should have a good reason why you will apply for one. A few good reasons to push through with this are renovating your home, you’re considering buying a new home, or to consolidate debts.
Evaluate. Mortgage refinancing may offer lower interest rates, but it would be better if you do your research first on the value of your property. Talking with mortgage lenders can help.
Budget. It is important that you consider how much you are going to borrow and whether you will be able to pay for the monthly rates regularly. You should also take into account the possibility of an increase in the rates too.
Research your credit score. Take note that your credit rating can affect your loan application. Low credit scores are often considered risky and you may have a hard time getting your loan approved. It is best that you improve your credit score first before applying.
Explore options. Mortgage lenders that offer mortgage refinancing may offer home equity lines of credit, second mortgage, line credit or other types of loans to their borrowers. Before you choose one, make sure you know their pros and cons first before applying.
Calculate the cost. Keep in mind that when you refinance your mortgage, you will not just pay the amount that you have borrowed, but it will also include, title search fees, legal costs, title insurance fees, as well as the cost of having your home appraised.
Apply for a loan. You can choose between applying for your loan on your own or have a mortgage professional work it out for you. Make sure that you have all the documents with you from tax documents to proof of income.
Review the mortgage agreement. Just because your application is qualified, you should still read and review the fine print to ensure that you know all the ins and outs before signing the deal.