When you refinance your mortgage, you usually pay off your original mortgage and sign a new loan. With a new loan, you again pay most of the same costs you paid to get your original mortgage. These can include settlement costs, discount points, and other fees. You also may be charged a penalty for paying off your original loan early, although some states prohibit this. The total expense for refinancing a mortgage depends on the interest rate, number of points, and other costs required to obtain a loan.All costs associated with your refinance will be reflected on your good faith estimate (GFE). The GFE will itemize each of the costs associated with the loan, and can be subject to change if the terms of the loan change. When comparing loan programs and interest rates between companies, always be sure to get a copy of the GFE. This way you will be able to see the overall costs of the refinance between the companies.
Your mortgage professional should consider the new costs involved in your refinance to determine if refinancing is in your best interest. The refinance should make obvious sense. If you are only going to save a small amount of money each month, you will probably be spending a lot more money on the new loan than you will be saving.
When you refinance your home loan their will generally be title charges associated with your refinance. These charges will be associated with the title company handling your mortgage transaction. Some of the title fees may or can be: settlement fee, title insurance, title binder, closing fee, overnight delivery fee, wire fee, notary fee, and a package handling fee. There are other title fees that can be associated with your refinance also and these fees can be charged by different title companies in different variations. One title company may charge a closing and settlement fee and another may only charge a closing fee. This is why it is a good reason to look over your good faith estimate to make sure the title charges seem reasonable. Question anything you are unsure of and what it is for.
Refinancing can sometimes be accomplished without closing costs. The interest rate will be higher but, depending upon how long you plan to keep the loan, it may work out to your advantage. Ask your mortgage professional to discuss both alternatives with you and lay out the advantages and disadvantages of each approach for your specific situation.
Be sure that you compare the final closing fee's with your original GFE. If the closing costs vary by a wide margin you have 3 days to cancel the transaction.
