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Refinancing Your Home Loan

Published April 13th, 2011

Refinancing loans is ideal if you are shifting home, building a new one or merging debts into one account. Though it involves entry and upfront fees, it lets you save more through the duration of the term. Refinancing loans also has perks like the removal of monthly fees if the balance of the loan is at least $50,000.

The refinancing loan application process lasts for five weeks on the average. But before switching to another loan, you should know your existing home loan first just like the palm of your hand. You must determine its features, interest rates and monthly repayments and compare your potential new loan.

Again, you must determine the features of your current home loan and determine the ones that you truly need. This process guarantees that you are not paying for features that you will not need or not use.

Then, you must talk with your mortgage broker about merging your debts into one account. After that, you may calculate the exit fees of the present loan and the establishment fees of the new home loan to determine the deal that can save you more money.

When switching lenders, you ask your broker as to when the savings will be in effect and if the money is flowing. You may also ask your lender if there will be exit fees if you switched to another home loan that they are offering.

Also, you must not send too many refinancing applications to different lenders in hopes of landing one. This process can print a negative mark to your credit rating that lending firms use in determining whether you can satisfy the terms and conditions of the loan.

Meanwhile, you must be honest in filling up the application form for refinancing and leave non-applicable sections blank. If there are matters in the form that you do not fully understand, you may clarify it with the lender before proceeding. Once you are done, it would be better if you have your own copy of the form for easier reference.

Understanding Home Loan Interest Rates

Are you worried about rising interest rates? Here at low-interestrates.com.au, we aim to help you with some simple tips how to beat rising interest rates.

1. The first and best tip is to borrow less from the outset. Prior to signing up for a home loan, calculate a 2% increase on the current interest rate. This is an exercise that can ensure you understand how interest rate increases can affect your repayments. Remember that the less you borrow, the less your home loan will be affected by increasing interest rates.

2. Consolidate your debts. Do you have credit card debts and personal loans? These are also affected by rising interest rates. Contact a home loan lender like eChoice to consolidate all your debts under one loan, namely your home loan so that you receive one low interest rate instead of credit card rates.

3. Think home loans with the redraw facility, which allow you to make extra repayments when you have left over money and make redraws when you need it. This is a great home loan feature. When interest rates are low, you can make extra repayments and if times get tough, you always can take out the extra repayments you have previously made.

4. To reduce the amount you borrow in a home mortgage, you may try to pay all home loan fees and charges up front. Most lenders will let you include these costs in your home loan but it may be better for you to simply reduce your loan amount. So when you are saving up for the deposit on your home loan, try to also have a separate account for all home loan fees and charges.

For a more information on beating rising interest rates go to eChoice.com.au. For actual interest rates in Australia please visit finance.news.com.au. To apply for great home loan contact eChoice home loan lenders.