Refinancing is replacing your existing home loan with a new one over the same property asset.

Homeowners decide to refinance their property for a variety of reasons. Whether it’s accessing a better home loan, releasing equity or consolidating debts, refinancing may be a smart way to improve your financial situation.

Refinancing is available for both owner occupied and investment home loans.

1. Debt consolidation

One of the common reasons borrowers decide to refinance their home loan is to consolidate their debts.

Depending on your financial circumstances, you could bring all your outstanding loans, such as your mortgage, car loan, credit card and personal loan, into one credit facility.

Ideally, this would result in a single repayment, with one interest rate and one set of fees, which can help you manage your finances better.

Tip:

Before taking any steps to consolidate multiple debts, do your research and speak with a lending specialist. They will look at your full financial position, listen to your long term goals, and present you with options to consider.

2. Switching to a lower rate

Many people consider refinancing to tap into a home loan with a lower interest rate as a lower interest rate means less repayment. It is a good idea to review your current loan with a lending specialist who will present you with a free comparison report and take you through the best options for you.

Tip:

Banks and non-bank lenders increase and reduce the rates they charge on their loan products for many reasons, so don’t feel tempted to refinance just to chase a slightly better rate. It’s not advisable to choose a new lender solely for a lower interest rate without reading the fine print.

There could be fees and charges involved in moving your loan to a new lender, so do your research before you make the switch or speak to a lending specialist to see if refinancing will put you in a better position financially.

3. Added features to your home loan

Everyone’s circumstances change – it’s not just the movement of interest rates that can trigger your interest in refinancing. If you’ve outgrown the home loan you originally organised, refinancing can help bring it up to date and open up a raft of useful features that can benefit your financial position.

For instance, choosing a loan with an offset sub account  can allow you to use your savings to reduce interest payable on your home loan, without paying it straight into the mortgage itself. LJ Hooker Home Loans offers a number of product options with an off-set feature – without a big bank annual fee!

Tip:

Many borrowers choose to use their offset sub-account in place of their everyday transaction account. This is a common method of money management, as it allows your existing funds to reduce your payable interest. But, if you’re intending to use the sub-account to pay your home loan off faster by reducing the interest, you should consider the account more like a savings account and avoid using the funds.

4. Releasing equity

If your property has increased in value, perhaps due to a hot real estate market or improvements you’ve made, you can access this increase in equity by drawing from your existing home loan. These funds can be used as a deposit for an investment property, or a home improvement project.

This is only an option if your home is worth significantly more than you paid for it. Lenders require a formal valuation before allowing you to access the equity. A lending specialist can arrange a valuation on your behalf – most of the time at no cost.

Tip:

There are certain risks associated with releasing built-up equity in your home. For example, if you release too much money now, you might find that you do not have enough equity later on when you need it. Consider your options carefully before making the move to use your home’s equity.

While there are benefits when it comes to refinancing, there may also be fees associated with refinancing.

 

If you’d like to know more about LJ Hooker Home Loans refinance package options please complete your contact details below and one of our lending specialists will be in touch. Our team are available for a simple phone or web based chat.

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This article is prepared based on general information. It does not take into account individual financial objectives or needs and is not financial product advice.