Your servicer wants to refinance your mortgage for two reasons: 1) to make money; and 2) to avoid you leaving their servicing portfolio for another lender. Some servicers will offer lower interest rates to entice their existing customers to refinance with them, just as you might expect.
The short answer is yes, though your options are very limited. You may qualify for a mortgage rate reduction, if you're facing financial turmoil. But in most cases, you'll either need to take another route to cut your mortgage costs or work toward getting a refinance approval.
In general, a larger down payment means a lower interest rate, because lenders see a lower level of risk when you have more stake in the property. So if you can comfortably put 20 percent or more down, do it—you'll usually get a lower interest rate.
Mortgage rates vary from lender to lender because lenders have different appetites for risk and different overhead costs.
If your lender has cut its prime rate, your mortgage rate will also decrease. Your new rate will drop by the same amount your lender has dropped its prime rate (because your rate is calculated by its relation to prime.)
Saving $100 per month, it would take you 40 months — more than 3 years — to recoup your closing costs. So a refinance might be worth it if you plan to stay in the home for 4 years or more. But if not, refinancing would likely cost you more than you'd save.
Refinancing will hurt your credit score a bit initially, but might actually help in the long run. Refinancing can significantly lower your debt amount and/or your monthly payment, and lenders like to see both of those. Your score will typically dip a few points, but it can bounce back within a few months.
Lower Interest Rate is Not Always a Savings in the Long Run. Interest rates are important, but a lower interest rate is not the only thing to consider when choosing a home loan. The lowest interest rate does not always save you the most money or get you the best deal.
There's no absolute answer when it comes to whether a mortgage lender or a bank will offer a better rate. The mortgage rate you are offered will mostly be based on your credit score, how much debt you already have, where your property is located, your down payment, and the size of the loan you are applying for.
Right now, a good mortgage rate for a 15-year fixed loan might be in the high-3% or low-4% range, while a good rate for a 30-year mortgage is generally in the high-4% or low-5% range.
Most homebuyers start their house hunt expecting to negotiate with sellers, but there's another question many never stop to ask: “Can you negotiate mortgage rates with lenders?” The answer is yes — buyers can negotiate better mortgage rates and other fees with banks and mortgage lenders.
A mortgage rate lock is a commitment between you and your lender. As long as your home loan closes by the agreed-upon date, your lender cannot change your rate — even if current rates suddenly skyrocket. This provides great peace of mind for borrowers. Once you've locked, there won't be any surprise price increases.
A mortgage rate lock float down lets you adjust your interest rate if it changes from the time you lock the rate until closing on your loan. Learn how float-down programs work and when it does (and doesn't) make sense to switch to a lower rate after you've locked in.
If you are buying a home and have some extra cash to add to your down payment, you can consider buying down the rate. This would lower your payments going forward. This is a particularly good strategy if the seller is willing to pay some closing costs. Often, the process counts points under the seller-paid costs.
As a rule of thumb refinancing to save one percent is often worth it. One percentage point is a significant rate drop, and it should generate meaningful monthly savings in most cases. For example, dropping your rate a percent — from 3.75% to 2.75% — could save you $250 per month on a $250,000 loan.
Easier Approval
In general, credit unions are more likely to lend to people with poor credit scores and offer options for smaller down payments. Credit unions are also more likely to hold onto the mortgages they originate, rather than selling them like banks often do.
Due to the scope of a bank's financial activities, most banks service their mortgage loans. So after your loan closes, you will still make monthly payments to the same bank that originated the loan. Many see this as an advantage to using a full service bank.
When it comes to rates, there's no hard-and-fast rule about mortgage lenders vs. banks. The rate you're offered has more to do with your qualifications — credit score, down payment, loan amount — than the specific lender.
The lower the loan amount, the better off you would be by choosing the low closing cost option. Conversely, let's say you are buying or refinancing your “forever home”. You should look for the lowest rate possible, even if you have to pay points to buy down the rate.
It depends on your needs and preferences. If cash is a problem but monthly income is strong, a higher rate might be your best choice. If you have lots of cash, buying down the rate can be a good strategy if you expect to be a long-term owner. To better understand your options, it's best to run the numbers.
Your home's equity remains intact when you refinance your mortgage with a new loan, but you should be wary of fluctuating home equity value. Several factors impact your home's equity, including unemployment levels, interest rates, crime rates and school rezoning in your area.
Although ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally credit scores from 580 to 669 are considered fair; 670 to 739 are considered good; 740 to 799 are considered very good; and 800 and up are considered excellent.
While mortgages can be refinanced immediately in certain cases, you typically must wait at least six months before seeking a cash-out refinance on your home, and refinancing some mortgages requires waiting as long as two years.